In the world of finance, one of the greatest risks to sensitive financial information is hacking. When a hacker breaks into a company’s archives, emails or network, there is a real possibility that personal information could be stolen along with financial data.

Hacking into an organization’s network is against the law unless a person has permission to do so to find gaps in security. Misusing data, such as credit card numbers or personal identification information, obtained through a hack could lead to federal charges.

Is it possible to defend yourself against hacking charges?

Yes, it is, but you will need to be sure that you have a highly technical defense to meet the technical nature of the charges. It’s smart to work with an attorney who has a history of fighting hacking charges (and winning) because this charge could result in severe penalties and jail time. Merely accessing a computer without permission -- even just to look around -- could net you between one and five years for a single offense under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

Aside from obtaining unauthorized access into a protected computer, hacking can include a variety of behaviors, including actions like:

• The unauthorized access of a computer with an intention to defraud someone (phishing)
• Selling computer passwords or obtaining other private user information
• Damaging a computer system or the files on a computer
• Locking a computer system down until a ransom is paid

These are by no means the only potential crimes associated with hacking, just some of the most common.

Don’t face federal charges without the support you need

If you've been charged with a hacking-related crime, the situation is very serious. You need to understand all of the potential options available for your defense.