Security News > 2020 > October > Crippling Cyberattacks, Disinformation Top Concerns for Election Day

"Authorities and election officials know this is the case and have taken precautions to try to ensure a safe election. These include election infrastructure assessment and securing voting registration systems. However, given the recent hack involving Hall County, Ga., where election data was released to public for failure to pay a ransom, it really brings into question how effective the measures will be in the final stretch of the election."

"If ransomware hits a county, the mail-in count will be thrown into question. Because Republicans are known to vote in person on election day and Democrats favor mail-in ballots, this is a danger."

Hamilton isn't alone in anticipating direct cyberattacks on election infrastructure that could cripple vote-tallying or vote-casting.

Another major area of concern for researchers lies in disinformation campaigns, which continue to rage on in the home stretch of the election season.

After the hack-and-leak operation against the Democratic National Committee and widely publicized election meddling by foreign actors in 2016, the U.S. population is a bit nervous on the cyberattack front when it comes to ensuring a free and fair election.

News URL

https://threatpost.com/cyberattacks-disinformation-top-concerns-election-day/160814/