Does attempting to hack into a system constitute a cybercrime by itself?
<p>If someone tries to attack or gain unauthorized access to a given system but fails eventually, could that person get arrested for the mere attempt?</p>

<p>I know laws differ from one state/country to another, but is there some sort of a generic answer?</p>

<p>In the US, hacking i.e. gaining unauthorized access violates <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1030" rel="nofollow noreferrer">18 USC 1030(a)</a>. 
18 USC 1030(b) then says</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Whoever conspires to commit or attempts to commit an offense under
  subsection (a) of this section shall be punished as provided in
  subsection (c) of this section.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So conspiracy and attempts are treated the same as success.</p>

criminal-law hacking