It is illegal to hack to hitch a ride on another person’s WiFi connection.
Both the person using a WiFi hacking device and the supplier of such a device are liable under Sections 236 and 239 of the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission Act 1998.
Section 236 states that a person who commits “fraud and related activity in connection with access devices” can upon conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding RM500,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.
It also states that a person who produces, assembles, uses, imports, sells, supplies or lets for hire any hardware or software used to obtain unauthorised access to any network service, applications services or content applications service is committing an offence.
Section 239, meanwhile, governs the “unlawful use, possession or supply of non-standard equipment or device” and those found guilty are liable to a fine not exceeding RM100,00 or to imprisonment not exceeding two years or to both.
Unlawful access of a computer system falls within the Computer Crimes Act 1997 and is under the jurisdiction of the police.
According to Cybersecurity Malaysia, software for hacking WiFi connections is easily available online.
(Cybersecurity Malaysia is the national cybersecurity specialist agency under the Science, Techno-logy and Innovation Ministry).
