Indonesia police bust hacker exploiting websites to promote online gambling

East Java police (Polda Jatim) apprehended a 27‑year‑old man from Demak, identified as Adjani Ardhian Kusuma, after he hacked university, government and private websites to insert malicious files that stole network‑traffic data. The stolen data were sold on underground forums to inflate the search‑engine rankings of illegal online gambling portals.

Separately, DPR Commission I member Syahrul Aidi Maazat warned that online gambling is a growing national threat comparable to drug addiction. In a public discussion co‑hosted with the Ministry of Communication and Digital, he highlighted the economic, familial and mental‑health harms of the practice and urged stronger digital literacy and enforcement.

The two reports illustrate Indonesia's tightening response to the rise of illicit gambling facilitated by cyber‑crime and widespread internet access.