Cyber attacks related to online gambling targeting government websites continue to emerge as a persistent issue. The National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN) recorded an average of 1.25 billion internet traffic anomalies annually. Potentially affecting Indonesia’s cybersecurity, BSSN, together with the Ministry of Home Affairs, has even issued a circular mandating the establishment of Cyber Incident Response Teams (TTIS).
Professor Ridi Ferdiana of the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FT UGM), assessed that these cyberattacks are economically motivated.
On one side, certain actors benefit, while on the other, victims suffer losses.
This process, he said, will continue as long as there is supply and demand.
“Cyber attacks related to the proliferation of online gambling exist simply because the ecosystem is designed that way, to spread gambling websites operating abroad,” said Professor Ferdiana on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025.
Professor Ferdiana explained from three perspectives.
First, in simple terms, systems inevitably evolve, meaning what is secure today may not be secure in the future or may develop vulnerabilities.
Therefore, iterative and incremental processes must be implemented in secure system development.
The challenge faced today, he noted, is that many systems are developed and deployed but later neglected.
“From a software engineering perspective, the aspect of maintenance is key in preventing cyber attacks that can compromise a system through vulnerabilities discovered over time,” he explained.
If in the past certain vulnerabilities were not present but are now identified, then periodic maintenance must be carried out.
Professor Ferdiana also discussed the importance of adhering to standards such as secure code or developing code with security in mind, which involves trade-offs during development.
“Balancing security and user convenience is its own agenda,” he added.
In closing, Professor Ferdiana emphasized that the most fundamental step to prevent such issues from recurring is a strong commitment to system maintenance for as long as the system remains in use.
According to him, maintaining a system at least involves three actions: updating the platform to enhance security, adjusting specifications or computing platforms for better usability, and keeping the system updated in line with the times.
“The commitment to system maintenance must be nurtured so that cybersecurity incidents can be minimized,” he concluded.
Author: Alena Damaris
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Illustration: Freepik