Extortion occurs when a person communicates a threat to damage a protected computer system with the goal of obtaining some reward, such as money. This element of the law addresses a widely publicized trend in the 1990s involving hackers who sought to profit from their ability to infiltrate the security of computer systems.

Unauthorized access with intentional extortion is an offense when committed upon any of the following:

• Person
• Firm
• Association
• Educational Institution
• Financial Institution
• Government entity
• Other legal entity

Minimum penalties may include fines, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.