would afford the protections i think people are looking for. >> reporter: prosecuting these cases can be difficult, in part because of complicated digital trails that obscure who is responsible. and even when cases are pursued, courts are sometimes hesitant to send people to jail. >> it's very hard to un-ring the bell because you can't take back images. you can't cause people to un-see what they have seen. and it's almost impossible to completely scrub the web. so although you may have the ability technically to pursue someone criminally or civilly, the ability to find them and to obtain peace of mind and to what you would say "obtain closure" is very remote. >> reporter: there is a federal law some prosecutors are beginning to use to go after this type of crime. the computer fraud and abuse act is an anti-hacking law. charlie, it includes five to 20- year prison sentences for those