Which of the following is an element of obtaining computer services by fraud?

Obtaining computer services by fraud typically involves the intentional deception or misrepresentation that leads to the unauthorized gain of those services. This element reflects the core principle of fraudulent activity, which is to obtain something of value—in this case, computer services—through deceitful means.

When one fraudulently obtains computer services, it signifies that the act was carried out with the intent to deceive, thereby bypassing legal or authorized access. This distinguishes the act from other options that may involve technical or legal nuances regarding accessing networks or using software legitimately.

Consequently, while accessing secured networks without credentials may involve unlawful access and could be a related crime, it does not specifically encapsulate the element of fraud as defined by intent to deceive. Similarly, installing monitoring software legally or engaging in ethical hacking activities denotes lawful actions under appropriate circumstances, failing to meet the fraudulent component necessary for this definition.