Which situation exemplifies a computer being used as an instrument of crime?

The situation that exemplifies a computer being used as an instrument of crime is the illegal access of stored electronic communication. This act involves penetrating the security of a system to retrieve messages or communications that are meant to be kept confidential, thereby violating privacy laws and regulations designed to protect individuals' data.

This particular scenario highlights a direct misuse of computing resources and technology to perpetrate a crime, as it involves the unauthorized access to sensitive information that individuals or organizations intended to safeguard. It showcases the malicious use of computers in committing offenses that can have significant legal ramifications for the offender.

In contrast, while knowingly accessing a protected computer to commit fraud, accessing a computer system without authority, and breaching the confidentiality of protected computerized data all involve illegal activities, the option of illegally accessing stored electronic communication specifically illustrates the act of leveraging computer technology to execute a crime, particularly in relation to privacy and communication.