New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 156.05 — Unauthorized use of a computer
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 156: Offenses Involving Computers; Definition of Terms, New York Penal Law.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 156.05
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
156.05 Unauthorized use of a computer.
A person is guilty of unauthorized use of a computer when he or she
knowingly uses, causes to be used, or accesses a computer, computer
service, or computer network without authorization.
Unauthorized use of a computer is a class A misdemeanor.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
What class of misdemeanor is unauthorized use of a computer in New York?
Unauthorized use of a computer is a Class A Misdemeanor in New York under N.Y. Penal Law § 156.05.
Which New York statute covers unauthorized use of a computer?
Unauthorized use of a computer is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 156.05 (Unauthorized use of a computer).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.