Election cybersecurity is a critical concern as numerous countries, including the US, EU, India, and others, prepare for elections in 2024. With so much at stake, cyberthreats pose a significant risk to the integrity of these democratic processes. Among the primary concerns are ransomware attacks that could steal and leak sensitive voter registration data or disrupt key election operations. Phishing attacks targeting election officials are also a serious threat, as malicious actors can use social engineering tactics to deploy malware, potentially compromising election systems. Additionally, Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks could hinder voters’ access to essential information, such as polling locations or candidate details, thereby undermining the voting process. Despite these risks, there are robust safeguards in place. Countries like the US employ a decentralized and diverse array of voting systems, making it difficult for a single cyberattack to alter election outcomes on a large scale. Furthermore, agencies like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) provide critical resources to bolster election security. However, the greatest threat to election integrity may come from disinformation campaigns, including deepfakes and “hack-and-leak” operations aimed at influencing public opinion. Ensuring the security of elections will require a combination of strong cybersecurity measures and vigilance against these evolving threats.

Muncaster, Phil. 2024. “Election Cybersecurity: Protecting the Ballot Box and Building Trust in Election Integrity” WeLiveSecurity. Mar. 12. READ: https://bit.ly/3Mnl5ly

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