Regency's website attacked by hackers

Jon Afrizal, The Jakarta Post, Jambi

Tanjungjabung Barat regency administration is hunting down hackers responsible for vandalizing its official website two days ago, an official said on Tuesday.

In a bold move, hackers placed a pornographic photograph on the website, www.pemkab-tanjungjabungbarat.go.id., along with a "signature" -- "hacked by Dian Maulani", and the message "security is a lifestyle", an apparent criticism of the web site's lack of security.

"The administration will take legal action in this case," spokesman, Mardi Barus, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, adding that the act was a crime and would be prosecuted under law.

He said the website had already been repaired by computer technicians and was operating normally as of Tuesday. "The administration depends on the website to lure investors, especially foreign investors," he said.

The website, he added, made available much useful information for investors, such as listing investment opportunities in the regency as well as information on surveys of the regency's market potential and development opportunities.

The vandalization of the site was the latest following on the high-profile hacking of the General Elections Commission (KPU)'s state-of-the-art website last year. Police in that case arrested a computer technician employee of the commission.

Hacking violates Article 22 of Law No. 39/1999 on telecommunications. The article prohibits unauthorized manipulation of telecommunications services or networks.

If found guilty, hackers face a maximum sentence of six years in prison and/or a Rp 600 million (US$60,000) fine.