Cybersecurity
Wary of Election Hacks, U.S. Urges States to Get Security Help
- ‘Malicious cyber-actors’ have recently scanned state systems
- So far, 21 states have contacted the FBI for assistance
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is urging state and local election officials to seek assistance from the federal government to fend off cyberattacks that could be used to manipulate the results of the November presidential elections.
The agency is ready to provide any assistance to help states secure their systems, if they request it, Jeh Johnson, the secretary of homeland security, said in a statement Saturday. Threats are rising that criminals will use cyberattacks to try to disrupt the administration of U.S. elections, the agency said.