Indonesia’s national data centre hit by ransomware

Indonesia's national data centre has been compromised by a hacking group. The hackers are now asking for an $8 million ransom that the government won't pay. The cyberattack is said to have disrupted services of more than 200 government agencies at both the national and regional levels since June 20. The attackers have held data hostage and offered a key for access in return for the $8 million ransom.

Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi however told journalists that the government won’t pay the ransom.

“We have tried our best to carry out recovery while the (National Cyber and Crypto Agency) is currently carrying out forensics,” Setiadi added.

Some government services have returned, with immigration services at airports and elsewhere being now functional, but efforts continue at restoring other services such as investment licensing.

PT Telkom Indonesia’s director of network & IT solutions, Herlan Wijanarko said the company, in collaboration with authorities at home and abroad, is investigating and trying to break the encryption that made data inaccessible.