Semarang (ANTARA) – The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) consists of three branches: the Indonesian Army (TNI AD), the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), and the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU). Recently, there has been increasing talk of the need for a fourth branch: a dedicated cyber military force.
Andi Widjajanto, former governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas), believes it is crucial that the government acts quickly on this idea.
The creation of a cyber military force becomes inevitable, given that state and non-state entities can now launch attacks against countries via cyberspace, which does not involve the deployment of conventional warfare equipment, he said.
Pratama Persada, a cybersecurity expert from the State Intelligence College (STIN), highlighted the potential dangers of cyberwarfare. He warned that an attack launched in cyberspace can cripple a targeted country’s economy, especially if its banking and financial sectors are targeted.
An unconventional war of this type can disrupt critical infrastructure and facilities related to energy, telecommunications, transportation, and even the administration of a state. Ignoring the possibility of a cyberattack preceding a conventional attack would be unwise. A nation caught off guard could find itself very vulnerable.
Indonesia is not without its cybersecurity assets. The National Intelligence Agency (BIN), the National Police (Polri), the National Cyber and Cryptography Agency (BSSN), and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology all play a role.
However, none of these institutions has the sole responsibility of strengthening Indonesia’s defenses and repelling cyber attacks. Therefore, creating a cyber force within the TNI could provide the country with an institution focused exclusively on cyber threats.
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Although the TNI already has a cyber unit, its activities and operations are internal and support the military’s core tasks.
The need for a cyber military force has become even more pressing after a recent cyberattack by a foreign hacker disrupted the TNI’s Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) system.
The head of the TNI’s information center, Major General Nugraha Gumilar, confirmed that the compromised data was already publicly available earlier this year.
On June 24, a hacker posted a screenshot of BreachForums on X, announcing that he had hacked BAIS’s systems and data. The screenshot showed alleged data samples and offers for the entire set at a price.
The same hacker claimed to have compromised the police’s Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (INAFIS) networks two days earlier. The perpetrator claimed to have obtained sensitive data such as fingerprint images, emails and application configurations, demanding $1,000 in exchange.
BSSN Director Hinsa Siburian downplayed the threat, saying the compromised data was outdated and that the INAFIS breach had not disrupted operations.
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He also clarified that this incident was not related to a separate ransomware attack on the Temporary National Data Center (PDNS) 2 in Surabaya, East Java, on June 20.
The government announced on June 24 that 211 government agencies had been affected by the PDNS attack, with that number rising to 282 the following day.
At a parliamentary meeting on June 27, Minister of Communication and Information Technology Budi Arie Setiadi assured everyone that the cyberattack was carried out by non-state actors and did not result in any data leaks.
STIN’s Persadha said the TNI needed to reform its recruitment system to identify and train the best soldiers who could handle cyber threats. He said the TNI needed personnel who could analyze cyber threats and strengthen its internal systems.
Before creating a fourth force, the TNI must ensure that its existing branches have personnel capable of monitoring and conducting cyber intelligence operations.
Infrastructure and skilled personnel are essential to defend Indonesia against the latest threats. Without them, all efforts will be in vain.
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