14 DAY TRIAL // Indonesia’s Defense Ministry has revealed its intentions to set up a special force it dubs “cyber army.” The unit’s main goal will be to tackle cyberattacks aimed at government websites and portals.
According to Xinhua, ministry officials are preparing a law that would legalize the cyber army’s operations.
The new force will be formed of uniformed soldiers that possess the knowledge and skills necessary to protect the country against cyberattacks.
Pos M. Hutabarat, director general of security potentials at the ministry, has compared the cyber army to similar units in Iran, South Korea, China and the United States.
The unit will be embedded in the army, the navy and the air force.
The Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro says that the cyber army needs the support of the country’s Communication and Information Ministry, which is in the process of building a system called National Cyber Security.
Several government agencies are contributing to the National Cyber Security system, including the national intelligence body and the anti-terrorism desks.