Ballot counting vulnerable to hackers: Agency<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The agency in charge of compiling the votes for the 2004 general
\nelections ballots says that their computers are vulnerable to a
\nhacker attack.<\/p>\n
Basuki Suhardiman, an information technology (IT) member of
\nthe General Elections Commission (KPU), said on Saturday that his
\nteam had prepared layered security measures to minimize such
\nattacks.<\/p>\n
\"There must be someone out there who'd like to hack into a big
\nevent like this,\" he told the Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The IT team will limit those with access to the online ballot
\ncounting system by giving them each a special password.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri and KPU chairman Nazaruddin
\nSjamsuddin are among those who will be given passwords in
\naddition to KPU staff at the subdistrict level.<\/p>\n
\"Although some of them will only have the right to read the
\ndata, in theory they could still change the data.<\/p>\n
\"So we will do our best to create a layered security wall so
\nthat those who only have the right to read data will not have the
\nability to add new data,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Megawati also chairs the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle, one of the parties contesting the 2004 general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Basuki added that the IT team would also be ready to handle
\nany computer virus attacks from hackers once it published the
\nresult of the ballot counting over the Internet.<\/p>\n
\"But if a virus attacks our system at our server for instance,
\nthe attacked server will automatically shut down and back-up
\nserver will replace it,\" he said, adding that the attacked
\nservers would be repaired within two or three days.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-
\nJakti who visited the KPU IT office on Friday told the KPU to
\nprevent computer virus attacks that may disrupt the whole
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
\"The information technology (IT) team of KPU must handle this
\nissue seriously as the ballot counting is a very sensitive issue.
\nDo not underestimate this,\" he told the team.<\/p>\n
The team is led by Toemin A. Masoem from the Agency for the
\nResearch and Application of Technology (BBPT), with several
\nmembers including Aryana Haribawa of the BPPT and Basuki from the
\nBandung Institute of Technology (ITB).<\/p>\n
Dorodjatun said the IT team should hold a rehearsal so that
\nthey would be prepared in the event that their computers came
\nunder attack.<\/p>\n
General elections for legislators will be on April 5, 2004,
\nwhile presidential elections will be held on July 5, 2004 for the
\nfirst round and Sept. 20 for the second round.<\/p>\n
Some 145 million out of a population of 214 million people
\nliving in 32 provinces, 416 regencies, 5,000 subdistricts, are
\neligible to vote. Ballot counting will start using the online
\nsystem when the counted ballots reach the subdistrict
\nheadquarters.<\/p>\n
Dorodjatun, however, was concerned about the amount requested
\nfor the costs to establish the online system that was reportedly
\nin the range of Rp 50 billion (US$5.8 million) to Rp 110 billion.<\/p>\n
The KPU IT team has said the Rp 50 billion fund would be
\nrequired to equip all 32 provinces, and 376
\nregencies\/municipalities with the system. But with Rp 110
\nbillion, the KPU would be able to set up an online system in all
\n446 regencies\/municipalities and 4,985 subdistricts, it said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ballot-counting-vulnerable-to-hackers-agency-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}