Washington § 19.270.020 - Unlawful activities — Unauthorized transmission of software.

Full text of Washington Revised Code of Washington § 19.270.020 — Unlawful activities — Unauthorized transmission of software., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 19.270.020. Unlawful activities — Unauthorized transmission of software.

It is unlawful for a person, without the authorization of the owner or operator, to transmit, or procure the transmission of, software to the owner or operator's computer with actual knowledge or conscious avoidance of actual knowledge that the software does any of the following:

(1) Modifies, through deceptive means, settings that control any of the following:

(a) The page that appears when an owner or operator launches an internet browser or similar computer software used to access and navigate the internet;

(b) The default provider or web proxy the owner or operator uses to access or search the internet;

(d) The toolbars or buttons of the owner or operator's internet browser or similar computer software used to access and navigate the internet;

(2) Collects, through intentionally deceptive means, personally identifiable information through the use of a keystroke-logging function or through extracting the information from the owner or operator's hard drive;

(3) Prevents, through intentionally deceptive means, an owner or operator's reasonable efforts to block the installation or execution of, or to disable, computer software;

(4) Misrepresents that computer software will be uninstalled or disabled by an owner or operator's action;

(5) Through intentionally deceptive means, removes, disables, or renders inoperative security, antispyware, or antivirus computer software installed on the computer, or through intentionally deceptive means disables the ability of such computer software to update automatically;

(6) Accesses or uses the modem or internet service for such computer to cause damage to the computer or cause an owner or operator to incur financial charges for a service that is not authorized by the owner or operator;

(7) Opens multiple, sequential, stand-alone advertisements in the owner or operator's computer without the authorization of the owner or operator and that a reasonable computer user cannot close without turning off the computer or closing the internet browser;

(8) Uses the owner or operator's computer as part of an activity performed by a group of computers for the purpose of causing damage to another computer or person including, but not limited to, launching a denial of service attack;

(9) Transmits or relays commercial electronic mail or a computer virus from the owner or operator's computer, where the transmission or relaying is initiated by a person other than the owner or operator;

(10) Modifies any of the following settings related to the computer's access to, or use of, the internet:

(a) Settings that protect information about the owner or operator in order to make unauthorized use of the owner or operator's personally identifiable information; or

(b) Security settings in order to cause damage to a computer; or

(11) Prevents an owner or operator's reasonable efforts to block the installation of, or to disable, computer software by doing any of the following:

(a) Presenting the owner or operator with an option to decline installation of computer software and with knowledge or conscious avoidance of knowledge that when the option is selected the installation nevertheless proceeds; or

(b) Falsely representing that computer software has been disabled.

[ 2008 c 66 s 2; 2005 c 500 s 2.]

Source: official Washington text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Washington § 19.270.020

What does Revised Code of Washington § 19.270.020 cover?

Section 19.270.020 ("Unlawful activities — Unauthorized transmission of software.") is part of the Revised Code of Washington, the codified statutory law of Washington. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Washington § 19.270.020?

A common citation format is "Revised Code of Washington § 19.270.020" (Washington). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Washington law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Washington official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Washington attorney.

How does Washington § 19.270.020 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Washington can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Official text of § 19.270.020 at the Washington source

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Washington.