Mobile banking has become part of everyday life, but with it comes serious risks. Cybercrime is spreading fast, and even expatriates living in Indonesia are not immune. The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has sounded the alarm as fraud and cyber attacks on mobile banking continue to rise in line with rapid digital growth in the financial sector.
This warning came from Indah Iramadhini, Head of OJK’s Banking Regulation and Development Department, during the Fintech Forum held by CNBC Indonesia. She reminded that cyberattacks are no longer just a technical issue. They are now one of the biggest risks globally and, according to the Global Risk Report, will remain a leading threat for the next decade.
“This risk is not only about technology but can also affect global economic stability,” Indah said.
She pointed to the growing number of cases involving data breaches, ransomware, and illegal data trading on the darknet as clear signs of how real the threat has become.
Indonesia itself is facing a troubling situation. The National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) places the country among the world’s top ten with the highest cyber anomaly attacks. It shares this position with major economies such as the United States and Germany.
“We can see that the financial sector is one of the most vulnerable targets,” Indah explained.
The risks are magnified by Indonesia’s high internet use. More than 75% of the population is now online, with nearly half connected daily. On average, people spend seven hours each day on the internet. This growth is fueled by the rapid rise of e-commerce and digital payments.
Indah emphasized the need for balance. Banks, she said, must push forward with digital innovation while also strengthening IT governance and cybersecurity defenses.
“We see the need to accelerate digital innovation. But at the same time, we must strengthen IT governance and cybersecurity resilience,” she explained.
“Both must be balanced, and this is the main challenge we face today,” she concluded.
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The concern is shared by BSSN. The agency warned that cyberattacks are no longer limited to individuals but now heavily target government institutions. Slamet Aji Pamungkas, Deputy for Cybersecurity and Economic Encryption at BSSN, underlined the urgency of passing the Cybersecurity and Resilience Bill (KKS).
He revealed shocking numbers: more than one million cyberattacks strike government systems every day, sometimes at a rate of nine per second.
“Right now, cyberattacks are extremely massive. This law is expected to provide better protection,” he said.
Slamet admitted that specific figures for attacks against institutions or individuals are still unavailable. Yet BSSN data makes the scale clear. Between 2021 and 2025, 6.7 billion anomalies were recorded.
“If there are one million in a day, it does not always mean direct cyberattacks, but anomalies—irregularities that could potentially turn into attacks,” Slamet explained.
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