An announcement board warning against a virus attack is displayed at the patients\' registration room at Dharmais Hospital in Jakarta on Monday (15/5). The WannaCry ransomware hack struck several countries last week, crippling businesses such as automobile manufacturing and hospitals. In Indonesia, the virus attacked Dharmais Hospital, forcing the institution to temporarily conduct their services manually.
We frequently hear about the hacking of internet sites and accounts. However, an attack such as the one that struck several countries over the weekend has sparked anxiety.
As we have seen on the news, a Ransomware rogue computer program named WannaCry has attacked thousands of computers using the Window 8 operating system or earlier versions. If attacked, data on the computer is locked and cannot be opened. Access is again possible if the user pays the hacker US$300 in compensation.
According to The Washington Post on Saturday (13/5), these attacks were done by exploiting weaknesses identified in United States’ National Security Agency (NSA) documents, which were leaked by criminal group Shadow Brokers last year. The recent ransomware hacking was first reported in the United Kingdom by the National Health Office (NHO), then spread through the internet and crossed national borders. Besides Britain, attacks have also occurred in the US (Fed-Ex), Russia, China and Indonesia (Dharmais Hospital).
We appreciate the efforts of the Ministry of Communication and Information, which immediately issued preventive measures, such as updating the operating system, securing data and installing an up-to-date antivirus program.
The outbreak of the Ransomware virus convinces us of at least two things. First, malicious behavior, which can paralyze various services— whether it is health, telecommunications and corporations — can appear any time. Technology, which has thus far helped us for various affairs, becomes a weak point.
So far, the use of digital technology has been fortified by various antivirus programs, which are continuously updated. However, bad people will never cease to cause disorder.
And second, which is no less strategic, we have entered the era of cyber warfare, where there are parties who deliberately paralyze the information systems of other countries they consider to be opponents.
Since the beginning of the decade, or the early years of the 21st century, the US has been formulating the doctrine of digital war as reported by Business Week. In one of its editions at the beginning of this decade, the Bloomberg Businessweek ran its “Cyber War Has Begun” report.
We hear that the Indonesian Ministry of Defense has also developed a cyber defense system. However, seeing the existing scope and technological advancement of these attacks, we still have to be more aggressive in intensifying our readiness.
The cyber attacks are an example of irony. Indonesia is faced with various urgent problems that require all our energy and intellect. How unfortunate this country would be if, in the middle of the siege of challenges and problems, our energy and minds are wasted on political affairs and intolerance.
