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Source link : https://todaynewsgazette.com/2024/10/23/politics/article15377/

Cyber Assault on Georgia’s Election Infrastructure: A Closer LookOverview of the​ Incident

This month, Georgia’s⁤ Secretary of State’s office thwarted a cyber assault believed ‌to be orchestrated by foreign entities ​targeting the state’s website for absentee ⁤ballot requests. This attack underscores the ongoing vulnerabilities within ⁢election-related⁤ platforms.

Successful Defense Against Cyber Intrusion

With support from technology provider Cloudflare, Georgia successfully defended its systems against attempts to take the absentee ballot site offline. Despite a temporary slowdown in performance, ​officials affirmed that voters could still‌ access services⁢ as‌ intended.

Gabe Sterling, ‌a representative⁤ of Georgia’s Secretary of State’s office responsible for overseeing elections ⁢in⁢ this critical state, highlighted ⁣that while‍ operations were briefly hindered, ‍they never ceased altogether. “It slowed our systems down for a bit but ⁢did⁣ not halt functionalities,”​ he explained.

Nature and Origin of the Attack

The cyberattack is suspected​ to have roots abroad, possessing characteristics indicative of actions taken by foreign powers or their proxies. Although U.S. authorities have yet to validate these assessments ‍publicly, hundreds ‌of thousands of fake traffic requests from diverse international IP addresses ​inundated⁢ Georgia’s voting‍ site.

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Georgia Election Official⁢ Reveals Battleground State Thwarts Foreign ⁤Cyberattack Attempt!

Georgia Election Official Reveals Battleground ‍State Thwarts Foreign Cyberattack Attempt!The‌ Growing Threat of Cyberattacks ​on⁣ Elections

The landscape of election security has ‌drastically ‌evolved in recent years, with cybersecurity threats increasingly becoming​ a significant concern. As a battleground state, Georgia has been⁣ under the microscope, especially during national elections when ⁢the⁢ stakes ⁤are ‘higher than ever.’

Understanding Threats

Foreign entities are often ​motivated to interfere in⁣ elections​ to⁤ sway outcomes in their favor. Cyberattacks have become a ​critical ​method for these⁣ actors. In the past, attempts have ⁤included:

Hacking voter ⁢registration ‌databasesDisrupting communication channelsDisinformation campaigns ⁤on social mediaRecent Developments in GeorgiaOfficial Statement from Georgia Election ⁣Officials

Georgia election officials announced ‌that⁤ they had successfully thwarted‌ a sophisticated foreign cyberattack attempt ‍targeted⁤ at the state’s election ​infrastructure. This announcement came shortly after the onset⁣ of the 2023 election cycle, underscoring the heightened vigilance required to protect electoral ⁤integrity.

Details of the Cyberattack

During the initial phases‍ of the election, Georgia’s ​election cyber ⁢defense team ‌detected unauthorized access attempts⁣ originating‍ from overseas. This particular attack ‌was notable for several reasons:

Advanced persistent threat⁣ landscapeUse of ⁢targeted phishing techniques ​aimed⁣ at election officials

Experts believe this operation⁤ resembled a reconnaissance mission—“a probing attack” observing possible responses from ​cybersecurity defenses—Sterling noted during an interview.

Collaboration with Federal Authorities

The FBI ⁢and ⁤the U.S. Cybersecurity and ​Infrastructure⁣ Security Agency (CISA) are aware of this cyber incident and ⁤have engaged with local ⁤officials following its occurrence; however,‍ neither agency ⁣has commented publicly regarding specific details or ramifications.⁣ Inquiries directed towards CISA were referred‌ back to ⁣state officials in ⁢Georgia.

Impact on Voter Confidence

This ‌recent incident serves​ as ‌a ‍poignant reminder highlighting hackers’ ‌increasing interest in electoral⁤ processes during pivotal moments like presidential ​campaigns. The threat⁤ often comes from various actors—from independent criminals seeking‌ opportunity to organized groups attempting influence through misinformation tactics aimed at shaping public⁤ perception rather ⁣than affecting ‍actual vote counts ⁣or results directly.

Broader Threat ‍Landscape

In addition to ‍activities concerning Georgia’s election infrastructure, Microsoft reported similar probing by Iranian-affiliated hackers across multiple ⁢key swing states within the U.S., ‍indicating a broader strategy​ aimed at discovering vulnerabilities that could manipulate ⁣electoral outcomes ‌as⁣ necessary ⁢conditions​ evolve leading‌ up‍ to an election cycle.

Georgia has faced threats ⁤before; notably, Coffee County experienced an‍ intrusion last April ​which necessitated ⁤disconnecting its voter registration systems as an⁣ immediate protective measure ⁢against potential data breaches—a clear illustration that election offices‍ must ‍remain vigilant​ amidst escalating cyber risks associated‌ with⁢ modern⁣ electoral frameworks.

The post Georgia Election Official Reveals Battleground State Thwarts Foreign Cyberattack Attempt! first appeared on Today News Gazette.

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Author : Jean-Pierre CHALLOT

Publish date : 2024-10-23 22:54:26

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