The notorious hacker retaliated against Indonesian police after they claimed to have captured him — but detained a man accused of merely impersonating Bjorka online.
Indonesia’s most infamous hacker, Bjorka, has once again made headlines after leaking the personal data of 341,000 members of the National Police (Polri). The massive data dump came shortly after authorities in North Sulawesi announced the arrest of a man claiming to be Bjorka — a claim swiftly dismissed by cybersecurity experts as a mistake.
The Arrest That Sparked a Digital Retaliation
On September 23, 2025, police arrested WFT, a resident of Totolan Village, Minahasa, in North Sulawesi. Authorities alleged that WFT was behind the infamous hacker persona “Bjorka,” who has previously leaked government data and exposed weaknesses in Indonesia’s cybersecurity systems.
According to police reports, WFT had uploaded a sample of 4.9 million private bank customer records on social media and even attempted to blackmail a private bank. However, investigators have since admitted that WFT’s motives were more opportunistic than ideological.
Cybersecurity expert Teguh Aprianto (@secgron) was among the first to question the arrest. “Police claimed to have caught Bjorka — but what they caught was just a faker,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Bjorka Strikes Back
Shortly after the announcement of WFT’s arrest, a post appeared on Bjorka’s website mocking the police and releasing a vast trove of 341,000 Polri personnel records. The leaked data reportedly includes officers’ full names, ranks, units, phone numbers, and email addresses.
“Because the Indonesian police claim to have caught me, I decided to reveal this data as a surprise for them,” the hacker wrote in Indonesian, asserting that WFT was “a fraudster who has been using my name.”
Screenshots shared by Teguh showed that the hacker’s leak appeared to be both a protest and a warning — a digital taunt against authorities for their misstep.
Police: Investigation Still Ongoing
Polda Metro Jaya has confirmed the data breach but insists that the situation is under review. AKBP Reonald Simanjuntak, a police spokesperson, said investigators are still analyzing whether the leak originated from official databases or third-party systems.
Meanwhile, AKBP Herman Edco Wijaya Simbolon, head of the Cybercrime Unit, stated that WFT has been formally charged under multiple provisions of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, including Articles 30, 32, 35, and 46, which cover unauthorized access and data manipulation.
“The suspect used the alias ‘Bjorka’ online since 2020 and maintained accounts on dark web forums,” Simbolon said. “However, the actual hacker known as Bjorka remains unidentified.”
Public Outrage and Security Concerns
The incident reignited public debate about Indonesia’s cybersecurity preparedness. Bjorka has repeatedly embarrassed government agencies since 2022 with leaks exposing citizens’ personal data from state and private institutions. Critics argue that the government’s reactive approach to cyber threats has failed to address systemic vulnerabilities.
“This shows that digital security remains an afterthought in Indonesia,” said a Jakarta-based cybersecurity researcher. “Each new leak reminds us how fragile public data protection still is.”
The Mystery of Bjorka Continues
Despite the arrests and investigations, Bjorka’s true identity remains unknown. The hacker’s repeated returns — each time with greater impact — have transformed them into a symbol of defiance against state opacity and weak digital governance.
For now, Indonesian authorities face a double challenge: containing the fallout from the massive police data leak and restoring public confidence in their ability to protect sensitive information.
The latest Bjorka incident underscores the growing tension between Indonesian law enforcement and digital activists operating in the shadows. While police continue to pursue alleged impostors, the real hacker’s continued operations highlight the country’s urgent need for stronger cybersecurity frameworks and greater transparency. The digital cat-and-mouse game between Bjorka and the authorities shows no sign of ending anytime soon.
Sources: CNN Indonesia (2025) , VOI.ID (2025)
Keywords: Bjorka Hacker, Police Data Leak, Indonesia Cybersecurity, Polri Data Breach, WFT Arrest
