Misuse of Computer Assets

This is another form of computer crime, although it may be more correctly described as computer abuse. It involves the use of company assets, in this case computers, by employees for non-authorised activities.

Again, this is very much dependent on the policies and procedures within a company.

At the trivial end of the spectrum is the use of computers to generate personal correspondence. However, e-mail is now widely regarded as a corporate asset, provided by the employers to enable employees to be more productive. Many employers do not regard the abuse of e-mail privileges as a trivial matter since the cost to the company in lost productivity by employees can be considerable.

At the other extreme is the use of computer facilities to run an unofficial business venture.