Hackers who steal data or manipulate large number of computers may be jailed for up to seven years, according to a proposed amendment to the Chinese Criminal Law. The penalties will also be applicable to those who offer software or tools for hacking to any intruder. The existing law offers punishment only for intruding into networks of governments, national defense or leading science sectors; or altering the functions of personal computer systems. However, the amended law will be the first legal tool to curb increasing data theft from civil-use computers in China.