Malware causes minor glitches

Separately, Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara said if they continued unabated, the ransomware attacks could slow down the country’s health care services, as health workers would have to resort to manual paperwork.

Rudiantara was quick to add, however, that there had been no reports of significant damage caused by the attack, other than the virus that reportedly struck the Dharmais Cancer Hospital.

“The one targeting the Dharmais Cancer Hospital was the only significant attack we have encountered. There are other instances of minor attacks outside Java, but they were only found in a few computers,” Rudiantara said.

Rudiantara said he was optimistic that the ransomware attack could be contained, as it was being addressed by the international community, including by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto said the ransomware attack raised the pressing issue of developing an integrated cyber agency to protect the country from cyber threats.

Wiranto said the formation of the National Cyber Agency was more relevant than ever after the malware attack. (Safrin La Batu, Viriya P. Singgih and Andi Hajramurni)