Brinztech Alert: The Alleged Database of Denpasar City is Leaked

Dark Web News Analysis

The dark web news reports a targeted data breach involving Denpasar City PDAM (Perumda Air Minum Tirta Sewakadarma), the local water utility provider for Denpasar, Bali. A threat actor on a hacker forum has leaked a database allegedly containing approximately 5,476 rows of customer information.

While the volume of data is relatively small compared to global breaches, the specificity of the data makes it highly actionable for local attackers. The compromised fields reportedly include Full Names, PDAM Connection Numbers (No. Sambungan), Physical Addresses, Districts (Kecamatan), and Villages (Desa/Kelurahan). This data provides a complete profile of a household’s utility subscription.

Key Cybersecurity Insights

Breaches of local utility providers are dangerous because they abuse the “trusted relationship” between residents and essential service providers:

• Utility Bill Fraud: The primary risk is Fake Invoice Scams. Attackers can use the Connection Number and Name to generate realistic-looking water bills or “Past Due” notices. They may send these via WhatsApp or email, threatening service disconnection unless an immediate payment is made to a fraudulent bank account or e-wallet (e.g., OVO, GoPay).
• Physical Intelligence: The leak exposes the exact Physical Address of customers. For high-profile individuals or expats living in Denpasar, this loss of privacy is significant. It can be used for stalking or to verify if a specific residence is occupied.
• Indonesian Regulatory Compliance (PDP Law): This breach falls under Indonesia’s Personal Data Protection (PDP) Law. The exposure of PII (Personally Identifiable Information) requires PDAM Denpasar to notify the authorities and the affected data subjects. Failure to secure this data could result in sanctions or fines for the utility provider.
• Trusted Authority Impersonation: Scammers often pose as PDAM technicians. With access to the District and Village data, a scammer can visit a home wearing a uniform, citing the correct connection number to gain entry for a fake “meter check” or “leak repair,” posing a physical security threat.

Mitigation Strategies

To protect residents and utility integrity, the following strategies are recommended:

• Official Verification: Customers should verify all water bill amounts directly through the official PDAM Denpasar App or authorized payment channels (Tokopedia, Gojek, ATMs) rather than paying via links sent in unsolicited messages.
• Scam Awareness: Residents should be warned that PDAM Denpasar does not demand immediate transfer payments via personal WhatsApp numbers.
• Vendor Security Review: PDAM Denpasar should investigate if the leak originated from a third-party vendor (e.g., a payment gateway or meter reading app) to plug the security gap.
• Public Notification: The utility provider must transparently inform the 5,476 affected households so they can be vigilant against “technician” imposters.

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