National Data Center Attacked by Ransomware, Hacker Demands IDR131 Billion Ransom

Author: Dhita Ariiqoh Putri
June 25, 2024

Photo: Biro Pers Sekretariat Presiden

SEAToday.com, Jakarta - Communications and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi confirmed on Monday (6/24) that the National Data Center (PDN) had been hit by a ransomware cyberattack since Thursday (6/20). Minister Budi said the hackers, who attacked with the LockBit 3.0 virus, demanded 8 million dollars, or about 131 billion rupiahs. The variant of the virus is said to be similar to the one that attacked Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI)’s customer data in May last year.

Previously, BSSN Chairman Hinsa Siburian said the cyber attack occurred at the Temporary National Data Center in Surabaya, East Java. The disruption caused the digital services of the Directorate General of Immigration of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights to fail. In addition, the Admission Selection System (PPDB) service was also disrupted in the regions, prompting local governments to extend the registration period.

The government declared it would not pay the ransom and said it would immediately resolve and recover the temporary PDN data. (DHITA/ DKD)