Cyber Attack Temporarily Under Control

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JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The WannaCry ransomware attacked the information system of a number of public service institutions in Indonesia, such as hospitals, universities and state-owned enterprises. However, due to the quick response of the institutions’ management, the attack did not disrupt the services and operational activities of those institutions.

Based on an observation on Monday (15/5), the software attacked the computer network of Dharmais Cancer Hospital, Jakarta; Jember State University library, East Java; and PT Semen Padang, West Sumatera.

Meanwhile, other institutions such as the Yogyakarta administration; Sardjito Public Hospital in Yogyakarta; and the Surabaya city administration, East Java,were prepared for the attack. Other than backing up important data, they had also updated their computers’ security software. All their data was confirmed to be secured.

Dharmain Cancer Hospital director general Abdul Kadir said that although they had been hit by the cyberattack, their services to patients continued even though things had to be done manually.

According to Kadir, the attack on the Dharmais Cancer Hospital’s information system occurred on Saturday (13/5) morning as a hospital staffer was trying to input data onto a computer. In the end, the internet connection had to be cut off. As many as 60 units from a total of 600 computers in the hospital were infected by the virus.

Every service task, such as supporting check-ups, medicine provision and patient data input, were done manually and therefore took up more time. The hospital’s management updated the Windows operating system of the hospital’s computers, installed the latest antivirus software and backed up patient data and maintained network installation.

Head of Jember University (Unej) library, Ida Widyawati, said that the library’s hours of operation would remain unchanged. However, visitors would notbe able to check out books until computers returned to normal.

The computers that have been infected by the WannaCry virus include public computers and the check-out registration computer. The university has removed these computers in an effort to help prevent the virus from infecting other systems.

PT Semen Padang spokesperson Nur Anita Rahmawati said that the company only learned of the attack on Monday, after all data in 10 of its computers had been infected. The attack came with a message asking for US$300 in exchange for the key to the “locked” data.

To ensure that the attack does not spread, the PT Semen Padang Information Technology and Communication team acted quickly. All the computers infected by the virus were replaced with new ones. The team also inspected working units to secure the emails of employees. “The Wi-Fi connection has also been temporarily turned off because the team is building a new firewall,” Anita said.

Communications and Information Ministry: On high alert

Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara, after meeting with Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Minister Wiranto in Jakarta on Monday, asked the Transportation Ministry and the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, as well as the Financial Services Authority and institutions under them, to be on high alert in regard to their networks and data.

The Indonesian National Police has formed a special team together with the Communications and Information Ministry and Microsoft Indonesia to track down malicious software,which attacks server data of public service institutions. “This (team) aims to identify the culprit and location that the software is operated from,” said National Police spokesperson Gen. Rikwanto.

(SAN/MHD/WIN/ADH/GER/HRS/WER/DIM/ZAK/ETA/ELD)

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