BEWARE: if you create a fake login to access and obtain information from a website you could be violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
This is what was alleged in a lawsuit against AtHomeNet, Inc. in the lawsuit Associateionvoice, Inc. v. AtHomeNet, Inc. Ultimately the parties reached a settlement that led to the entry of a Final Judgment against AtHomeNet, Inc. and included a relatively broad permanent injunction prohibiting it from using any information gained through the improper access to the website. The court filings do not indicate whether there was a financial component to the settlement. To read more about the lawsuit go HERE where you can view a copy of the Final Judgment.
The lesson here is that you, your company, and your employees should not access websites in violation of their Terms of Service and/or through the use of fake login information. That is a no-no that can get you in trouble under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
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- 3 Recent Computer Fraud and Abuse Act Cases Worth Noting (shawnetuma.com)
- An Adequate Disclaimer for Computer Fraud and Abuse Act? (shawnetuma.com)
