Ransomware Attack on Desa Cimenyan: A Growing Cybersecurity Threat to Indonesia

In a worrying escalation of cyber threats in Indonesia, the FunkSec ransomware group has struck the administrative village of Desa Cimenyan in West Java. This attack, reported on March 4, 2025, compromises the village’s crucial website used for local governance and public services, exposing the vulnerabilities in Indonesia’s cybersecurity landscape. FunkSec’s attack methods, its rapid rise, and its threat to governmental infrastructure highlight a growing concern for cybersecurity in the region.

The attack on Desa Cimenyan’s website has disrupted administrative workflows and put sensitive civic data at risk. FunkSec, known for employing double extortion tactics, has encrypted files on the village’s systems, demanding a ransom for their release while threatening to leak stolen data. As Indonesia grapples with inadequate cybersecurity frameworks, the incident underscores both the growing sophistication of cybercriminals and the urgent need for stronger defenses.

the Attack and Its Immediate Impact

On March 4, 2025, the FunkSec ransomware group launched a sophisticated cyberattack on Desa Cimenyan’s official website (cimenyan.desa.id). This website is integral to the village’s operations, including managing civic records, permit applications, and public announcements. The attackers used FunkSec V1.5 ransomware, utilizing both RSA-4096 and AES-256 encryption to lock vital files, and added a .funksec extension to them. They also deleted volume shadow copies to prevent data recovery.

The attack initially disrupted the

FunkSec, which emerged in December 2024, has rapidly expanded its operations, targeting critical infrastructure and government entities. The group’s use of AI-driven malware and its affiliation with hacktivist ideologies have contributed to its success in evading detection. By March 2025, FunkSec had attacked 129 victims across 47 countries. Their tools and strategies, including leveraging low-cost ransom demands, have made them particularly dangerous for municipalities with limited cybersecurity resources.

What Undercode Says:

The attack on Desa Cimenyan is indicative of broader cybersecurity issues that many local governments in Indonesia and globally face. This particular attack reveals the inadequacies in the local government’s ability to defend against modern cybercriminal tactics. The FunkSec ransomware group’s use of double extortion—where both data encryption and the threat of data leakage are employed—has proven highly effective. By locking critical files and demanding a ransom, while simultaneously threatening to leak stolen information, FunkSec has created a perfect storm for municipalities that may not have the resources to prevent such attacks.

Additionally,

What’s even more troubling is the economic impact of such attacks. FunkSec is not targeting large corporations with deep pockets but instead focusing on cash-strapped local governments. With ransom demands starting as low as $10,000, these attackers are preying on the limited resources of municipalities that often struggle to allocate sufficient funding for cybersecurity. As Indonesia’s cybersecurity infrastructure is still developing, many of these local entities are left exposed.

Beyond the financial implications, the attack in Desa Cimenyan highlights the broader social and political ramifications of ransomware. When a municipal website goes down, it doesn’t just disrupt services—it erodes trust in local governance and impedes citizens’ access to essential services. This further underscores the importance of building resilient systems that can withstand such attacks and continue to operate during and after a breach.

The Desa Cimenyan case also reflects systemic issues within Indonesia’s broader cybersecurity landscape. While the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN) has provided updated guidelines for local governments, the challenge remains in implementation, particularly due to budget constraints. Without effective enforcement, local governments continue to fall prey to attacks by sophisticated ransomware groups.

As the global threat landscape shifts toward AI-driven cybercrime, it is imperative that nations like Indonesia prioritize cybersecurity investments, focusing on prevention, detection, and incident response. This could involve upskilling IT personnel, leveraging cutting-edge AI and machine learning tools, and implementing more stringent cybersecurity measures for public-facing platforms.

Fact Checker Results:

The ransomware group FunkSec is active since December 2024 and has impacted 129 victims globally, including in Indonesia.
Desa Cimenyan’s IT team is working to restore services but faces significant challenges due to FunkSec’s encryption and anti-recovery tactics.
While the leak site lists two affected user accounts, broader data exfiltration is suspected.