Speaking in Samarinda on Friday, Dwi Kardono, Intermediate Cryptographer at the Directorate of Cybersecurity and Regional Government Encryption of BSSN, stressed that safeguarding personal data is a crucial first step before securing larger electronic systems.
“We are targets every second, every minute. Our access to systems is the main target of attackers around the world,” Kardono remarked during an Information Security Management System socialization event at the East Kalimantan Communications and Informatics Office (Diskominfo Kaltim).
He cautioned that cyberattacks can originate from anywhere, including overseas, and frequently target personal data in Indonesia. Hackers seek to gain control of sensitive information such as banking accounts, social media profiles, WhatsApp, and private phone numbers.
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Kardono identified several main factors behind data breaches, including low security awareness and limited understanding of personal data protection among the public.
He also noted that insider threats, unpatched applications, unsecured hardware, and inadequate employee data protection protocols increase organizational vulnerability.
According to Kardono, hackers are primarily driven by financial gain, data analysis, political motives, and telemarketing purposes.
To mitigate risks, Kardono offered several basic but important tips, such as using strong, unique passwords—especially for email, banking, social media, and mobile accounts—and regularly checking if personal data, especially email addresses, has been compromised in a data breach.
BSSN recommends two reliable websites for checking data breaches:
https://haveibeenpwned.com
https://periksadata.com
By simply entering commonly used email addresses, users can determine if their accounts have been exposed.
By increasing awareness and following these preventive measures, the public can greatly lower the risk of falling victim to ongoing cybercrime threats.
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Translator: Arumanto, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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