A technology offense involving unauthorized access, interference, deception, or unlawful interception using electronic systems. It is defined by authorization status, protected system or data, and the required intent or harm elements where applicable. It does not include authorized access or communications conduct that satisfies applicable consent requirements. It safeguards system and data integrity and commonly supports restitution and forfeiture remedies. The concept is generally stable, though coverage expands as technical methods evolve over time.

Principle

The organizing idea is wrongful occupation of computational resources: using CPU, storage, bandwidth, or session state in a manner the legitimate operator has not consented to.

Demonstration

A compromised device runs a hidden cryptocurrency miner that consumes server CPU cycles, or a botnet establishes persistent sessions on cloud hosts to relay spam.

Misapplication

Calling any incidental or transient network traffic 'trespass'—for example, a single ping or legitimate short-lived connection—when there is no sustained unauthorized occupation or meaningful resource consumption.

Consequence

Proper identification leads to removal of the occupier, remediation of affected systems, and possible criminal or civil remedies for resource appropriation and interference with service.

Reversal

Permitted occupancy: scheduled or consented use of system resources such as allocated virtual machines, guest accounts, or approved background tasks.

Boundary

Embraces sustained use or occupation of computing resources; excludes mere observation, reading of publicly shared resources, or transient network interactions without material impact.

Semantic Tension

Closely related to unauthorized network access but distinguished by the sustained consumption or occupation of resources; differs from tampering where the primary act is modification rather than occupation.

Synthesis

Computer trespass is the wrongful and persistent use of computing resources or system space without permission, producing interference with legitimate operations and potential resource loss.