BSSN stresses data protection amid cyber threats
Denpasar (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN) has stressed the importance of data protection amid rising cyber threats that can target a range of electronic systems, including critical national infrastructure.
“Cyberspace has now become an arena for global competition and has changed the landscape of geopolitical relations,” BSSN Deputy Chief Police Commissioner General Albertus Rachmad Wibowo said at Bali Tech Week in Denpasar, Bali, on Tuesday.
He explained that cyberattacks are no longer constrained by geographic boundaries and can be carried out remotely, without the perpetrators being physically present.
Society’s growing reliance on digital technology has made the security of electronic systems an increasingly complex challenge. According to him, cyberattacks can exploit vulnerabilities in interconnected systems.
The consequences are not limited to disruption of electronic devices; they can also spread to supply chains and economic activity.
Rachmad cited reports of attacks on Internet of Things (IoT) devices in Europe, including refrigerators. Although the targeted devices may seem simple, disruptions could affect supply chains and cause losses when food spoils.
He warned that no electronic system is completely immune to attack. Security must therefore be implemented in layers, from policies, procedures and security awareness to physical safeguards, perimeter defence, network and device security, application security and data protection.
“No system is 100 per cent secure. The only secure system is one that is switched off. So, a system is secure if it is turned off,” he said.
Rachmad identified data as one of the most important elements of cybersecurity. Data is not only a source of information for decision-making; it can also be misused if it falls into the wrong hands.
He said sensitive data is still being stored or exchanged without encryption, leaving it readable as plain text. This is a concern as the government continues to integrate data across ministries and agencies.
According to Rachmad, protection must cover the entire data lifecycle: when data is stored (at rest), transmitted (in transit) and processed (in use).
One measure that can be taken is to strengthen the use of cryptography. This technology helps protect the confidentiality and integrity of information, verify who is authorised to access data, and support accountability in digital information exchanges.
Alongside threats to systems, Rachmad highlighted the risk of personal data being misused, particularly data relating to children.
Drawing on his experience as Director of Cyber Crime Investigation at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri), he said the hacking of data on a child’s mobile phone had previously caused serious harm to the victim.
He said BSSN works with international partners to address crimes against children in the digital space, including through the Virtual Global Task Force, which brings together several law enforcement agencies and international organisations.