Cyber Crimes: The Concept of Buffer Overflow

As computer and the Internet are fast becoming inevitable parts of our lives, so are stories of their misuse, amounting to cyber crimes. Cyber terrorism is one of the latest problems faced by the Internet users worldwide and which amount of violation of the laws of the land. Butter overflow is one such problem.

Butter overflow, the latest entrant to the world of cyber crimes, is also known as input overflow or buffer overrun. One of the most preferred computer programs used by hackers for invading a computer, the program allows surplus input of data into a computer. The extra data enters into various areas of computer memory, thus enabling the hacker to insert executable code. This code allows the hacker to have full control over the computer memory and data.

This program allows the attacker to gain illegal access to a computer and extract confidential data, thus leading to the commission of fraud or cyber crimes. As per the provisions of IT Act, a cyber attacker can be punished with a jail term of up to 10 years or be fined; in case a person helps the hacker in accessing a computer in an unauthorized manner, he may be fined up to Rs.1 crore to be paid as compensation to the victim.

Cyber Crimes: A Case of Buffer Overflow

In the landmark case of Briggs v. State of Maryland, Citation (348 Md. 470 (1998), it was ruled that the law of the State of Maryland, which prohibits unauthorized access to computers, was enacted with an intention to prevent the use of computers by unauthorized people. However, the law does not hold employees liable for using the computers of their employers, even if they are not authorized to do so.