SingaporeSomeone hacked into my computer. What law applies?
The Computer Misuse Act applies — unauthorised access to your computer is a criminal offence punishable by up to 2 years’ jail and/or a $5,000 fine.
What the Law Says
Singapore’s Computer Misuse Act makes it illegal for anyone to access your computer without your permission — even if no damage or data theft occurs.
Section 3 of the Computer Misuse Act criminalises unauthorised access to any computer or computer system. This covers hacking, remote intrusion, password cracking, or using stolen credentials to log in — regardless of intent to cause harm or steal data.
The law applies whether the hacker is in Singapore or overseas, as long as the affected computer is in Singapore or the offence has a substantial connection to Singapore.
It does not matter if the hacker accessed only one file, browsed briefly, or left no trace — the act of unauthorised access itself is enough to breach the law.
Statutory Text3.—(1) Any person who causes a computer to perform any function with intent to secure unauthorised access to any program or data held in any computer shall be guilty of an offence.
— Computer Misuse Act, s. 3 — Unauthorised access to computer
What to Do
Preserve evidence: Do not shut down or restart the computer; take screenshots of unusual activity or open windows.
Report immediately to the Singapore Police Force via the e-Filing portal (https://www.police.gov.sg/e-Filing) or call 999 for urgent cases.
Notify the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) via https://www.csa.gov.sg/report-cyber-incident.
Change all passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and scan devices with updated antivirus software.
Consider filing a civil claim for damages if you suffered financial loss — though criminal prosecution is handled separately by the police and Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.