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The UK government has announced plans to reform its outdated Computer Misuse Act to provide statutory defenses for ethical hackers and security researchers, aiming to protect them from prosecution when responsibly disclosing vulnerabilities. British security minister Dan Jarvis emphasized the need for these changes, acknowledging that the current law constrains legitimate research and that updated legislation would help strengthen the country's cyber resilience. The proposed reforms would allow researchers to spot and share vulnerabilities under certain safeguards, aligning the UK with similar protections already enacted in countries like the Netherlands, France, and Belgium.
Meanwhile, Portugal has passed new legislation granting protections to security researchers, provided they do not seek financial gain or breach data protection laws. This move has been welcomed by the security community and increases pressure on the UK to modernize its own laws. The Portuguese law is described as "tightly scoped," requiring that security actions be strictly proportionate, and is seen as a positive step toward creating a safer environment for responsible vulnerability disclosure across Europe.
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The UK government said it intends to examine reforms to the 1990 Computer Misuse Act, including creation of a statutory defense for security researchers, signaling a policy shift but not yet a finalized change.
Portugal amended its cybersecurity law to protect security researchers who identify and disclose vulnerabilities in good faith, provided their actions are proportionate, in the public interest, and not aimed at improper economic gain.
The UK Computer Misuse Act became law in 1990, creating offenses for unauthorized access that later drew criticism for exposing good-faith security researchers to legal risk.
Security researcher Daniel Cuthbert was convicted under the UK Computer Misuse Act for good-faith testing, a case frequently cited as evidence of the law's inflexibility toward ethical hacking.
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The UK government is actively considering amendments to the Computer Misuse Act, a law originally enacted in 1990 to criminalize unauthorized access to computer systems. Security Minister Dan Jarvis announced that the government is exploring the introduction of a "statutory defense" for security researchers, aiming to ensure that individuals engaged in responsible vulnerability discovery and bug bounty programs are not penalized under the current legal framework. This move is in response to longstanding concerns from the cybersecurity community that the existing law inadvertently stifles legitimate research and weakens the resilience of UK digital infrastructure. The proposed changes would allow security researchers to "spot and share vulnerabilities" without fear of prosecution, provided their actions are responsible and in good faith. The government acknowledges the critical role these researchers play in identifying and mitigating unknown vulnerabilities, and the potential legal reform is seen as a step toward fostering a more collaborative and secure cybersecurity environment in the UK. The initiative has been welcomed by industry experts who have advocated for clearer legal protections to support the growth and effectiveness of the British cybersecurity sector.
Jun 29, 2026
Portugal has amended its cybercrime law to provide a legal exemption for good-faith security researchers, establishing a safe harbor for activities previously considered illegal, such as unauthorized system access or data interception. The new provision, Article 8.o-A, titled "Acts not punishable due to public interest in cybersecurity," outlines strict conditions under which security research is exempt from criminal liability, including requirements that the research aims solely to identify vulnerabilities not created by the researcher, contributes to cybersecurity, and does not seek economic gain beyond normal compensation. Additional stipulations mandate that researchers must promptly report discovered vulnerabilities to system owners, relevant data controllers, and the CNCS, limit their actions to what is necessary for detection, avoid service disruption or data alteration, and refrain from using prohibited techniques such as DoS attacks, social engineering, or malware deployment. Any data obtained must remain confidential and be deleted within 10 days of remediation. The law also exempts acts performed with the system owner's consent, provided vulnerabilities are reported to the CNCS, thereby clearly defining the boundaries and protections for ethical hacking in Portugal.
Jun 29, 2026
The UK government is moving to update the Computer Misuse Act (CMA), originally enacted in 1990, to better protect ethical hacking and legitimate cybersecurity research. The lack of exemptions for researchers in the original law has long been a concern, and recent recognition of the growing scale of cybercrime and the need for robust research has prompted calls for reform. The changes aim to ensure that cybersecurity professionals can conduct research without fear of prosecution, reflecting the evolving threat landscape and the importance of proactive defense. In parallel, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has highlighted the value and risks of cyber deception technologies such as honeypots and decoy accounts. Findings from the NCSC's Active Cyber Defense 2.0 program indicate that, when properly implemented, these tools can provide valuable threat intelligence and disrupt attacker confidence. However, the NCSC warns that poor implementation can generate noise, create vulnerabilities, or foster a false sense of security, emphasizing the need for clear strategy and ongoing management. The NCSC is working to help organizations invest in and deploy these technologies effectively as part of a modern defense strategy.
Jun 29, 2026