While the definitions of hacking are numerous and varied the one you are probably referring to is unauthorized access into a computer system - PC, server, network, website etc. For more detailed information, do refer to the following sites:

• Hackers, crackers and Trojan horses: A primer
• Definition of a hacker

Yes, hacking is an offence under the Computer Misuse Act.

• You can protect both by first installing a firewall on your computer. A properly configured firewall can effectively block hacking attempts. Do ensure that your firewall is active whenever you are online.

  Among the popular firewalls are:

  • ZoneAlarm
  • Norton Personal Firewall
  • McAfee Firewall
  • BlackIce Defender
  
  
  

• Protect your password. Do not store your password in your PC, share it with others or write it down somewhere that others can see. Change passwords regularly; if you don't want to keep coming up with so many passwords, what you can do is have a few passwords that can be rotated regularly. Ensure that these passwords are not easily guessed passwords such as someone's name, your birthdate etc. Your password should be at least 8 characters long and should contain a good mix of letters and numbers.

Firewall support is provided by the firewall vendor; do refer to the vendor for assistance on configuring the firewall. Alternatively, you may refer to the vendor's website or search the Internet for FAQs and instructions on configuration. Following are some links to FAQs on popular firewalls:

• ZoneAlarm
• Norton Personal Firewall 2002
• BlackIce
• McAfee

You may report the incident to the other user's service provider. You can trace the service provider by checking the IP address in your firewall log at any of the following WHOIS services:

• SecuritySpace
• IP-WHOIS database lookup
• GeekTools

Ensure that you provide the full log of that particular attempt when sending the report. It is recommended that you send a separate report for different IP addresses. This makes it easier for the service provider to investigate each attempt.

If the attempt originated from a SingNet IP address, you may make a report online at the Internet Abuse Incident Report.

There are legal restrictions preventing the release of a subscriber's particulars unless pursuant to an official request by the police or a Court Order, etc. If you feel that you have grounds for legal action against the spammer, please consult your lawyer for further advice.

Check your computer for possible virus or worm infections or Trojan horses. These may be the cause of the hacking attempts trace to your account. You should also check the software installed on your computer - some software run background programs/ activities which may be interpreted as hacking attempts.