KPU Anticipates Hacker Attacks Ahead of Presidential Election

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Commissioner of the General Election Commission or KPU, Ilham Saputra, said his office is anticipating hacker attacks ahead of the 2019 presidential election by asking assistance to state institutions.

“[We asked] how state institutions can help us fortify [attacks] from hackers and how this system can be stronger and better in the upcoming presidential election,” said Ilham at the KPU office, Friday, July 13.

According to Ilham, based on the meeting between KPU and President Joko Widodo, the president supported KPU and would help. 

Read: Days after Attempted Hacking, KPU Website Temporarily Down

Ilham said that KPU will cooperate with other state institutions such as the National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN), the Agency of Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), and the Police Directorate of Cyber Crime.

Previously, KPU's system was hacked but it did not reach the official KPU data. According to Ilham, the perpetrators only hacked the data information regarding the result of regional elections that will be published.

KPU Chairman Arief Budiman said his institution continued to make improvements and strengthening the system to face the hacking threats that attacked the official site infopemilu.kpu.go.id.

“We will evaluate any weaknesses, improve our capability for security, speed, capacity,” said Arief at the parliament complex, Senayan, in early July.

SYAFIUL HADI | BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI