SUBCHAPTER B
HACKING AND SIMILAR OFFENSES
Sec.
7611. Unlawful use of computer and other computer crimes.
7612. Disruption of service.
7613. Computer theft.
7614. Unlawful duplication.
7615. Computer trespass.
7616. Distribution of computer virus.
Cross References. Subchapter B is referred to in sections 7605, 7606 of this title.
§ 7611. Unlawful use of computer and other computer crimes.
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits the offense of unlawful use of a computer if he:
(1) accesses or exceeds authorization to access, alters, damages or destroys any computer,
computer system, computer network, computer software, computer program, computer database,
World Wide Web site or telecommunication device or any part thereof with the intent
to interrupt the normal functioning of a person or to devise or execute any scheme
or artifice to defraud or deceive or control property or services by means of false
or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises;
(2) intentionally and without authorization accesses or exceeds authorization to access,
alters, interferes with the operation of, damages or destroys any computer, computer
system, computer network, computer software, computer program, computer database,
World Wide Web site or telecommunication device or any part thereof; or
(3) intentionally or knowingly and without authorization gives or publishes a password,
identifying code, personal identification number or other confidential information
about a computer, computer system, computer network, computer database, World Wide
Web site or telecommunication device.
(b) Grading.--An offense under this section shall constitute a felony of the third degree.
(c) Prosecution not prohibited.--Prosecution for an offense under this section shall not prohibit prosecution under
any other section of this title.
Cross References. Section 7611 is referred to in section 7603 of this title.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
13
cases (
2 in the last 5 years), 2007–2026 · leading case:
Commonwealth v. Manivannan, 186 A.3d 472 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).
Commonwealth v. Manivannan, 186 A.3d 472 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).
· cites it 2× “39 unlawfully accessed Faith Beck's Gmail account five times on July 12, 17, and 18, 2014, as required for the convictions for unlawful use of a computer under 18 Pa.C.S. § 7611(a)(2) ? Appellant's Brief at 2-3 (some formatting added).”
Verloic, G. v. Doe, J., 123 A.3d 781 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).
· cites it 4× “§ 7611, provides that a person commits the offense if he: (1) accesses or exceeds authorization to access, alters, damages or destroys any computer, computer system, computer network, computer software, computer program, computer database, World Wide Web site or…”
Schell v. Guth, 88 A.3d 1053 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2014).
“, Guth accused Schell of violating 18 Pa.C.S. § 7611(a)(2) (relating to unlawful use of a computer and other computer crimes), a felony, and 18 Pa.”
N. Berks Reg'l Police Comm'n v. Berks Cnty. FOP, Lodge 71, 196 A.3d 715 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2018).
· cites it 2× “) Further, the trial court concluded that Hobart's reinstatement could cause the Department to violate 18 Pa. C.S. § 7611(a), which criminalizes the unlawful use of a computer when a person exceeds his authority to access a computer database.”
M.T. Ex Rel. A.T. v. Cent. York Sch. Dist., 937 A.2d 538 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2007).
· cites it 6× “[3] The School Board further concluded that Student *542 had violated Sections 7611(a)(2) and (a)(3) of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 7611(a)(2) and (a)(3), which prohibit unlawful use of a computer.”
Com. v. Berry, M. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).
· cites it 5× “In ____________________________________________ 8 The trial court instructed the jury, inter alia, that to find Appellant guilty of 18 Pa.C.S. § 7611 it must find that Appellant “accessed or exceeded authorization to access all or any part of any computer or computer system .”
Veloric, G. v. Doe, J. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).
· cites it 4× “§ 5552(b);8 18 Pa.C.S. § 7611 (Unlawful Use of A Computer and Other Computer Crimes).”
Com. v. Derr, E. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2026).
· cites it 2× “: FILED MAY 07, 2026 Appellant, Eric Bradley Derr, appeals from the judgment of sentence of 28 months’ probation, with the first 12 months to be served on house arrest, imposed after a jury found him guilty of 28 counts of unlawful use of a computer, 18 Pa.C.S. § 7611(a). We…”
Com. v. Laverde, K., Nestor, A. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).
“§ 5111; computer offenses under 18 Pa C.S. § 7611 and 18 Pa C.S. § 7615; and Criminal Conspiracy under 18 Pa.”
Guiliano Law Grp. v. Majux Mktg. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2024).
“J-A01022-24 18 Pa.C.S. § 7611. Because Plaintiff stated on the cover sheet of its complaint that the amount in controversy did not exceed $50,000, the action was scheduled for compulsory judicial arbitration under 42 Pa.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7611(a) — 6 cases
Verloic, G. v. Doe, J., 123 A.3d 781 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).
“§ 7611, provides that a person commits the offense if he: (1) accesses or exceeds authorization to access, alters, damages or destroys any computer, computer system, computer network, computer software, computer program, computer database, World Wide Web site or…”
N. Berks Reg'l Police Comm'n v. Berks Cnty. FOP, Lodge 71, 196 A.3d 715 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2018).
“) Further, the trial court concluded that Hobart's reinstatement could cause the Department to violate 18 Pa. C.S. § 7611(a), which criminalizes the unlawful use of a computer when a person exceeds his authority to access a computer database.”
Com. v. Berry, M. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).
“In ____________________________________________ 8 The trial court instructed the jury, inter alia, that to find Appellant guilty of 18 Pa.C.S. § 7611 it must find that Appellant “accessed or exceeded authorization to access all or any part of any computer or computer system .”
Com. v. Derr, E. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2026).
“: FILED MAY 07, 2026 Appellant, Eric Bradley Derr, appeals from the judgment of sentence of 28 months’ probation, with the first 12 months to be served on house arrest, imposed after a jury found him guilty of 28 counts of unlawful use of a computer, 18 Pa.C.S. § 7611(a). We…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7611(a)(1) — 1 case
Com. v. Berry, M. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).
“In ____________________________________________ 8 The trial court instructed the jury, inter alia, that to find Appellant guilty of 18 Pa.C.S. § 7611 it must find that Appellant “accessed or exceeded authorization to access all or any part of any computer or computer system .”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7611(a)(2) — 4 cases
Commonwealth v. Manivannan, 186 A.3d 472 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).
“39 unlawfully accessed Faith Beck's Gmail account five times on July 12, 17, and 18, 2014, as required for the convictions for unlawful use of a computer under 18 Pa.C.S. § 7611(a)(2) ? Appellant's Brief at 2-3 (some formatting added).”
Schell v. Guth, 88 A.3d 1053 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2014).
“, Guth accused Schell of violating 18 Pa.C.S. § 7611(a)(2) (relating to unlawful use of a computer and other computer crimes), a felony, and 18 Pa.”
M.T. Ex Rel. A.T. v. Cent. York Sch. Dist., 937 A.2d 538 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2007).
“[3] The School Board further concluded that Student *542 had violated Sections 7611(a)(2) and (a)(3) of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 7611(a)(2) and (a)(3), which prohibit unlawful use of a computer.”
Com. v. Derr, E. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2026).
“: FILED MAY 07, 2026 Appellant, Eric Bradley Derr, appeals from the judgment of sentence of 28 months’ probation, with the first 12 months to be served on house arrest, imposed after a jury found him guilty of 28 counts of unlawful use of a computer, 18 Pa.C.S. § 7611(a). We…”
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