Hand over accounts when leaving a job; do not delete databases, leave backdoors or lock systems, even if wages are owed
A company-issued password does not authorize continued access after departure. Unauthorized control can carry up to 3 years in China. Deleting data so systems cannot operate carries up to 5 years, or more for especially serious consequences. A dismissed senior engineer who used an old administrator account to delete data and logs caused over RMB 120,000 losses and received 3 years suspended for 5 years, plus RMB 30,000.
What it takes
Free. Recover unpaid wages through labor arbitration; see Chapter 7. Resist touching systems in anger.
What you may gain
Serious illegal control of computer systems carries up to 3 years and/or a fine; particularly serious cases carry 3–7 years. Deleting or modifying functions or data so a system cannot operate normally carries up to 5 years when consequences are serious, and more than 5 years when especially serious. Dismissed senior IT engineer Lü accessed the company's shared server using the former administrator account, changed its password and deleted data and logs, causing over RMB 120,000 losses. The sentence was 3 years suspended for 5 years and RMB 30,000. Software employee Bai deliberately inserted faulty code into an upgrade, preventing customers from signing in and causing over RMB 40,000 losses; Bai was prosecuted for damaging computer information systems. Chinese law applies.
Context & considerations
Possessing a password supplied by the company does not preserve authorization after departure. Using the old account can constitute illegal control. Data-recovery costs count toward loss, and losses of tens of thousands of RMB can support a criminal case.
Research & references
National People's Congress of China (2020). Criminal Law incorporating Amendment XI, Articles 285(2) and 286. https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index.html; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2024). Typical Cases of Punishing Cybercrime and Supporting Cyberspace Governance, case 6. https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbh/202402/t20240223_644505.shtml; Supreme People's Procuratorate (2025). Enterprise Data Security Cases, case 7. https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbh/202501/t20250124_680670.shtml