The recent cyberattack on multiple Indonesian government entities has brought the country’s inadequate oversight of data centers to the forefront. Following the revelation that the majority of information stored in state data centers was not backed up, President Joko Widodo has ordered an urgent audit of government data centers. This attack has highlighted Indonesia’s susceptibility to such cyber threats and the necessity for stronger protective measures.
The cyberattack, which occurred last week, was the most severe in Indonesia in recent years, causing disruption to various government services, including immigration and operations at major airports. With over 230 public agencies affected, the government has taken a firm stance against paying the $8 million ransom demanded to retrieve the encrypted data.
In response to this critical situation, Indonesia’s state auditor has been instructed to conduct a thorough examination of the country’s data centers. The audit will cover governance and financial aspects, according to Muhammad Yusuf Ateh, the head of Indonesia’s Development and Finance Controller (BPKP).
Hinsa Siburian, an official from Indonesia’s cyber security agency (BSSN), revealed that 98% of the government data stored in one of the compromised data centers had not been backed up, emphasizing that the main problem lies in governance and the lack of a backup system. However, some lawmakers have dismissed this explanation, labeling it as “stupidity” rather than a mere lack of governance.
While the cyberattack has sparked criticism of Indonesia’s communications minister, Budi Arie Setiadi, for the government’s failure to back up the data due to budget constraints, the minister has assured that this will soon be made mandatory. The attack itself is believed to have been carried out by a “non-state actor” seeking financial gain, and the government expects full restoration of government services by August.
In a separate incident, Indonesian immigration officials announced the arrest of 103 Taiwan passport holders suspected of running a cybercrime operation on Bali island. The raid was a significant development, and the authorities are poised to deport the individuals after arresting them in a sting operation at a villa in Bali’s Tabanan district.
The detained individuals, who are also suspected of misusing their visas, were found to be engaging in suspicious cyber activities, as revealed by the Bali immigration director, Saffar Muhammad Godam. However, Taiwan’s foreign ministry has indicated that of the 103 foreign nationals arrested, at least 14 are suspected to be Taiwanese, and it has requested their return to Taiwan upon completion of the investigation.
Overall, the series of cyber events has underscored the urgent need for Indonesia to strengthen its cybersecurity measures and data protection protocols. The government’s response to these incidents will be crucial in averting future threats and protecting the country’s digital infrastructure.
*Edited and revised by Jim Pollard, cited sources – Reuters*
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