Under the rules that take effect on Sept. 1, people who "knowingly acquire, sell or cover up illegally obtained data or network control will be subject to judicial penalties," xinhua news agency said, citing a statement.
"These types of activities have become increasingly uncontrolled, even giving rise to large online transaction platforms. Criminalizing these violations helps separate the chain of profits from piracy and other related crimes," he added.
Although the United States says many hacking attacks appear to come from China, often targeting human rights groups as well as U.S. companies, China says it is one of the biggest victims of cyberattacks.
"A crime that endangers a computer security network poses a threat not only to computer security but also to national and public security interests," the news agency said, adding that the new rules were intended to combat such crimes more forcefully.
In 2009, more than 42,000 Chinese websites were "distorted" by hackers, Xinhua said.
Data from the Ministry of Public Security shows that the number of viruses circulating on the Internet is up 80 percent in the past five years from a year earlier, according to Xinhua.
The ministry also estimates that eight out of 10 computers connected to the Internet are controlled by hackers, he added.
In its annual report to the U.S. Congress on China's military on Wednesday, the Pentagon warned that cyberattacks from China could one day be used for overtly military purposes, rather than just trying to access data.
Source: Reuters
