Authorization is usually the question
The federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and New York's own computer crime laws, center on accessing a computer without authorization or beyond it. The Supreme Court has read the federal law narrowly for people who misuse access they already had, so the question often turns on whether you were permitted into that part of the system at all, rather than on your reasons. Using a former colleague's password, logging in after access was revoked, or getting around a technical barrier tend to be treated differently from misusing data you were allowed to see. The same law also gives companies a civil claim, so a computer fraud dispute may arrive as a lawsuit rather than a charge. Contract terms, employment agreements, and trade secret claims frequently travel with it.
Leaving devices and accounts alone
Do not delete files, wipe a laptop, clear browser history, or close accounts once you know a dispute exists, even if the material seems harmless. Deleting evidence can create an obstruction or spoliation problem larger than the original claim. If you still hold company devices or data, ask counsel how to return them in a way that is documented, rather than sending them back on your own. Keep copies of your employment agreement, any access policies you were given, and messages showing what you were allowed to do. Do not log in to the systems again to check what you did.
What we sort out first
Early on we try to learn whether this is a criminal investigation, a civil claim, or both, and who is behind it. We look at what access you had, when it ended, and how that was communicated to you. If a demand letter or a court order requires you to return or preserve data, we deal with those obligations first, because missing one can harm you. We also consider whether the claim is really a business or employment dispute that the computer fraud allegation is meant to strengthen. That understanding shapes whether the next step is negotiation, a response in court, or a careful conversation with investigators.
