Cyber Incident Victim: Tempo.co
Date:
Aug 2020
Location:
Indonesia
Summary
A cyberattack targeted the news outlet Tempo.co, among others, involving website defacement and social media account compromises. The incidents affected journalists, academics, and activists critical of Jakarta's COVID-19 response, with similar prior attacks linked to critiques of Papuan issues and anti-corruption legislation. A digital rights group documented these coordinated attacks, while government officials denied involvement, suggesting possible third-party provocation to incite conflict. The impacted media outlet condemned the interference with press operations, emphasizing existing regulatory mechanisms for addressing media disputes.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 4 motives | 1 technique |
| Threat Actors | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0 actors | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
In early August 2020, multiple cyberattacks targeted Indonesian media outlets and individuals critical of the Jakarta government’s COVID-19 response. On August 2, during an online discussion hosted by Ngobrol @Tempo, SafeNet executive director Damar Juniarto disclosed that six cyberattacks had been recorded against high-risk groups including journalists, academics, and activists. Among the confirmed victims were epidemiologist Pandu Riono, whose Twitter account was compromised, and the websites of major media organizations Tempo.co and Tirto.id, which suffered defacement attacks. These incidents occurred against a backdrop of sustained criticism directed at the government’s pandemic management strategies. Juniarto noted parallels with previous digital attacks targeting critics of Papuan policies and 2019 anti-corruption law revisions, suggesting a pattern of retaliation against government detractors. The timing of the August attacks coincided with heightened public scrutiny of pandemic policies, though no technical evidence directly attributed the breaches to state actors at the time of disclosure.
The Indonesian Communications and Information Ministry responded by denying government involvement and cautioning against premature accusations. Director-General Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan characterized the attacks as potential false-flag operations by third parties seeking to sow discord between civil society and authorities. During a follow-up Ngobrol @Tempo discussion on August 27, ministry officials emphasized the global prevalence of media-targeted hacking while offering digital forensic assistance to investigate the incidents. Tempo.co’s leadership publicly condemned the attack on their infrastructure, with Chief Editor Setri Yasra affirming the outlet’s commitment to editorial independence and existing press oversight mechanisms. Despite these assurances, the defacement of prominent media platforms underscored vulnerabilities in Indonesia’s information ecosystem during a period of intense political and public health discourse. No technical details regarding attack vectors, data compromise, or restoration timelines were disclosed by either the affected organizations or government representatives in the available reporting.