If someone figured out my password and accessed my accounts(e-mail, Facebook, etc.) are there any legal actions that can be taken? Would they have to pay a fine or would I be able to have them prosecuted in some way?

I think it really depends on what they actually did with that information.
Yes, there is invasion of privacy, but nothing is truly private on the internet.

Legally, US Federal law prohibits unauthorized access to a private network. So this would be illegal.

Practically, no prosecutor is going to spend time and money prosecuting this, without a major impact in money.

I suspect that someone got into a few of my accounts; I can't really say they've "done" anything with the information in there. I know if they were using my credit card or something like that, it would be a different issue.

I was just wondering what - if anything - could be done if they had somehow gained access without my consent.

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Originally Posted by this8384

I suspect that someone got into a few of my accounts; I can't really say they've "done" anything with the information in there. I know if they were using my credit card or something like that, it would be a different issue.

I was just wondering what - if anything - could be done if they had somehow gained access without my consent.

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The person accessed their girlfriends personal emai account after guessing their password, found inappropriate emails from another boyfriend and then confronted their girlfriend with that information

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Originally Posted by Mike1966

The person accessed their girlfriends personal emai account after guessing their password, found inappropriate emails from another boyfriend and then confronted their girlfriend with that information

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And what was the result?

Best bet, always check what email address is assigned to any account, so you know where your messages from that account is going. Change your passwords every few months ( or every month)

Never use a password that has anything to do with children's names, pets names, work places. Also include capital letters, and numbers and even things like $ signs if allowed to add more security in a passcode.

Don't use the same passcode on different sites, email, Facebook, this site all should be different passcodes

Just saw this - sorry. Here was my experience. Tried to sign on to my account and could not. Called AOL (my carrier) and was told my password had been changed. In order to change my password someone had to provide AOL with my credit card info - and the person who changed the password had that info. That person then went into my Paypal account and ordered merchandise - sent to her address.

I filed fraud charges with the State Police (we have no local Police). Interestingly, Paypal and Amazon (where Paypal was used) would not provide me with ANY info concerning the delivery address for the merchandise. They simply returned the money to my account.

After a great deal of (literally) badgering the Police they obtained a Subpoena for the info.

AOL refused to provide it, stating it violated their policy.

I now use complicated passwords but could do NOTHING about that change of password situation.

- and we all know I was hacked recently.