2C:20-23 Definitions.
As used in this act:
a. Access means to instruct, communicate with, store data in, retrieve
data from, or otherwise make use of any resources of a computer,
computer storage medium, computer system, or computer network.
b. Computer means an electronic, magnetic, optical, electrochemical or
other high speed data processing device or another similar device
capable of executing a computer program, including arithmetic, logic,
memory, data storage or input-output operations and includes all
computer equipment connected to such a device, computer system or
computer network, but shall not include an automated typewriter or
typesetter or a portable, hand-held calculator.
c. Computer equipment means any equipment or devices, including all
input, output, processing, storage, software, or communications
facilities, intended to interface with the computer.
d. Computer network means the interconnection of communication lines,
including microwave or other means of electronic communications, with a
computer through remote terminals, or a complex consisting of two or
more interconnected computers, and shall include the Internet.
e. Computer program means a series of instructions or statements
executable on a computer, which directs the computer system in a manner
to produce a desired result.
f. Computer software means a set of computer programs, data, procedures,
and associated documentation concerned with the operation of a computer
system.
g. Computer system means a set of interconnected computer equipment intended to operate as a cohesive system.
h. Data means information, facts, concepts, or instructions contained in
a computer, computer storage medium, computer system, or computer
network. It shall also include, but not be limited to, any alphanumeric,
hexadecimal, octal or binary code.
i. Data base means a collection of data.
j. Financial instrument includes but is not limited to a check, draft,
warrant, money order, note, certificate of deposit, letter of credit,
bill of exchange, credit or debit card, transaction authorization
mechanism, marketable security and any computer representation of these
items.
k. Services includes but is not limited to the use of a computer system,
computer network, computer programs, data prepared for computer use and
data contained within a computer system or computer network.
l. Personal identifying information shall have the meaning set forth in
subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:21-17, and shall also include passwords and
other codes that permit access to any data, data base, computer,
computer storage medium, computer program, computer software, computer
equipment, computer system or computer network, where access is intended
to be secure, restricted or limited.
m. Internet means the international computer network of both federal and
non-federal interoperable packet switched data networks.
n. Alter, damage or destroy shall include, but not be limited to, any
change or impairment to the integrity or availability of any data or
other information, data base, computer program, computer software,
computer equipment, computer, computer storage medium, computer system,
or computer network by any means including introduction of a computer
contaminant.
o. User of computer services shall include, but not be limited to, any
person, business, computer, computer network, computer system, computer
equipment or any other device which makes use of any resources of a
computer, computer network, computer system, computer storage medium,
computer equipment, data or data base.
p. Computer contaminant means any set of computer instructions that are
designed to alter, damage, destroy, record or transmit information
within a computer, computer system or computer network without the
authorization of the owner of the information. They include, but are not
limited to, a group of computer instructions commonly called viruses or
worms, that are self-replicating or self-propagating and are designed
to contaminate other computer programs or computer data, consume
computer resources, alter, damage, destroy, record or transmit data or
in some other fashion usurp the normal operation of the computer,
computer program, computer operations, computer services or computer
network.
q. Authorization means permission, authority or consent given by a
person who possesses lawful authority to grant such permission,
authority or consent to another person to access, operate, use, obtain,
take, copy, alter, damage or destroy a computer, computer network,
computer system, computer equipment, computer software, computer
program, computer storage medium, or data. An actor has authorization if
a reasonable person would believe that the act was authorized.
L.1984,c.184,s.2; amended 2003, c.39, s.1.
