Temporary National Data Center (PDNS)

History

2024: Data Center Hack

At the end of June 2024, it became known that cybercriminals hacked the National Data Indonesia Center (PDNS), wreaking havoc at local airports. For restoring the performance of systems, attackers demand a ransom of $8 million.

The hacking intrusion has reportedly triggered disruption to a number of government services, including immigration services. As a result, long queues formed at the document verification racks. At the same time, some automated machines continued to function normally.

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Indonesian Communications Minister Budi Arie Setiadi said the attackers used a new version of the existing malicious software Lockbit 3.0, without elaborating. This ransomware is used by criminals to organize attacks on companies around the world. Moreover, enterprises from Indonesia have previously become victims of Lockbit. The ransomware works according to the "ransomware as a service" (RaaS) scheme. Customers pay a deposit, order an attack and profit through a "partner program."

Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan, general director of information technology at the Indonesian Ministry of Communications, said the attack affected a total of 210 institutions at the national and local levels. As a result of the intrusion, certain data was unavailable due to encryption. Specialists of law enforcement agencies and specialized structures are investigating the incident. As of the end of June 2024, there is no information about whether the ransom was paid.

Now we are focused on restoring the work of the affected national data center, which supports various services, including immigration, - notes Setiadi.[1]

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