Cybercrime laws need urgent reform to protect UK, says report

Lawyers say ineffectiveness of act exposes UK to harm by 'cybercriminals and hostile nations'

Britain's cyber-defences are being endangered by the outdated Computer Misuse Act, which prevents investigators from dealing effectively with online threats while over-punishing immature defendants, according to a legal report.

Thirty years after hacking became a criminal offence, a study by the Criminal Law Reform Now Network (CLRNN) calls for urgent revision of the legislation governing illegal access to computers, denial of service attacks and other digital crimes.