Learn extra about disinformation campaigns focusing on the US Presidential Elections
Malicious actors are spreading false claims that US voter registration databases have been breached, in accordance with a brand new alert issued by the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Safety Company (CISA).
The businesses mentioned the claims are designed to control public opinion and undermine confidence in US democratic establishments within the run as much as the US Presidential Elections in November.
The malicious actors are utilizing obtained voter registration data as proof to help their claims {that a} cyber operation compromised election infrastructure.
Nonetheless, the federal government emphasised that a lot of this data could be bought or in any other case legitimately acquired by publicly out there sources, that means that gaining access to voter registration information just isn’t by itself an indicator of a voter registration database compromise.
The businesses additionally famous that in latest election cycles, when cyber actors have obtained voter registration data, the acquisition of this information didn’t impression the voting course of or election outcomes.
Learn now: Iran Behind Trump Marketing campaign Hack, US Authorities Confirms
The FBI and CISA added that there’s at present no intelligence suggesting that any cyber-attack on US election infrastructure has prevented an election from occurring, modified voter registration data, prevented an eligible voter from casting a poll, compromised the integrity of any ballots solid, or disrupted the power to depend votes or transmit unofficial election ends in a well timed method.
Public Urged To not Take Claims at Face Worth
The alert urged the US public to “critically consider” claims of hacked or leaked voter data, remembering that almost all voter registration data is accessible to the general public.
The businesses issued to following recommendation to keep away from being duped by such claims:
- Don’t settle for claims of intrusion at face worth
- Be cautious of any claims in regards to the election course of or safety made by way of social media posts, unsolicited emails unfamiliar e mail addresses and cellphone calls or texts from unknown numbers
- Direct any questions on election safety to state and native authorities election officers
- Go to state and native elections workplace web sites for correct details about the elections course of, making certain these web sites use a ‘.gov’ area
FBI Cyber Division, Deputy Assistant Director Cynthia Kaiser, commented: “By our investigations, the FBI has recognized that malicious actors generally try to undermine public confidence in US elections by grossly exaggerating about acquiring US voter data.
“At the moment’s announcement urges the American public to critically consider claims of hacked or leaked voter data and keep in mind that most voter registration data is accessible to the general public.”
