Cybersecurity at Risk: Financial Data Breach

Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Security Mahfud MD confirmed on Monday (9/12) that data of high-ranking government officials had been leaked - adding to the ever-growing worry of the recent data insecurity controversy. Recently, a hacker going by the name Bjorka has been a topic of conversation after declaring its move on divulging information sourcing from registered SIM data, the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), and the General Election Commission (KPU). From selling 105 million data of Indonesian citizens to obtaining government bureaucrats’ data, the authority has taken active swift measures as a response to Bjorka’s deranged acts. Under President Joko Widodo’s directive, the Indonesian government has made a Data Protection Task Force that involves the National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN), BIN, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo), and the Police to deal with the matter. Executive director of the Institute of Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), Wahyudi Djafar, believes that the recent data breaches are only the thin end of the wedge. He claimed that the country’s cyber security is only bound to worsen if the government fails to construct an out-and-out legal framework for data insurance. In response to the issue, the Head of BSSN, Hinsa Siburian stated that the agency is currently working with the owners of the data suspected of being hacked to conduct a system valuation. Moreover, Communications and Information Minister, Johnny G. Plate, conveyed that private companies are also responsible for securing data owned by members of the public by elevating their digital talents’ capabilities. In line with the digital literacy advancement worldwide, information technology continues to face countless threats over the years.