Hacking of two state voter databases prompts FBI to call for better security
Reuters
Monday 29 August 2016 1
The FBI is
urging US election officials to increase computer security measures
after it uncovered evidence that hackers have targeted two state
election databases in recent weeks, according to a confidential
advisory.
Analysts and the US government suspect
an official hand behind the breach of the DNC’s emails – but if so it
would represent a major escalation of cyber-activity
The warning was in an 18 August flash alert from the FBI’s cyber division. Reuters obtained a copy of the document.
Yahoo News first reported the story on Monday, citing unnamed law enforcement officials who said they believed foreign hackers caused the intrusions.
The
FBI warning did not identify the two states targeted by cyber
intruders, but Yahoo News said sources familiar with the document said
it referred to Arizona and Illinois, whose voter registration systems
were penetrated.
Citing
a state election board official, Yahoo News said the Illinois voter
registration system was shut down for 10 days in late July after hackers
downloaded personal data on up to 200,000 voters.
The
Arizona attack was more limited and involved introducing malicious
software into the voter registration system, Yahoo News quoted a state
official as saying. No data was removed in that attack, the official
said.
US
intelligence officials have become increasingly worried that hackers
sponsored by Russia or other countries may attempt to disrupt the
November presidential election.
Officials
and cybersecurity experts say recent breaches at the Democratic
National Committee and elsewhere in the Democratic party were likely carried out by people within the Russian government. Kremlin officials have denied the allegations of Moscow’s involvement.
Concerns
about election computer security prompted the homeland security
secretary, Jeh Johnson, to convene a conference call with state election
officials earlier this month, to offer help in making their voting
systems more secure.
Laura J Alcorn
No comments:
Post a Comment