Threat Landscape for US Elections Turns Highly Volatile in November
The United States is bracing itself for a highly volatile threat landscape as voters head to the polls on November 5th. The Center for Internet Security (CIS), a nonprofit focused on cybersecurity, has released a bulletin warning election officials and law enforcement agencies that specific races or ballot measures could attract malicious actors.
This year's elections are not considered off-year events due to sustained levels of cyberattacks and acts of targeted violence directed at state and local governments over the past few years. The recent assassination of Charlie Kirk and a firebombing attack on the Pennsylvania governor's residence highlight the increasing threat landscape.
The bulletin states that election officials in states holding high-profile elections are concerned about ongoing threats against election workers, but not currently tracking any specific election-related threats. However, experts warn that foreign adversaries view these elections as an opportunity to sow discord, undermine confidence in government institutions, and incite violence.
In the past year alone, numerous incidents have highlighted the threat landscape, including vandalism of mayoral campaign offices with threatening messages, firebombing attacks on Dominion Voting systems, and fake voter registration scams via text messages. Malspam campaigns and phishing attempts are also becoming increasingly common, often impersonating known individuals or organizations to collect personal information.
As November voting approaches, election officials must review security protocols and plans in light of the highly volatile threat environment. The threat actors' tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) are evolving rapidly, making it essential for authorities to stay vigilant.
The year prior saw attempts on former presidential candidate Donald Trump's life, while Election Day 2024 experienced bomb threats that briefly closed polling sites in key swing districts. These incidents demonstrate the growing threat of foreign adversaries seeking to disrupt the democratic process.
In order to mitigate these risks, election officials must prioritize voter outreach and engagement over email and text, ensuring they do not inadvertently create opportunities for scamsters. They should also be prepared for information operations intended to manipulate voters and undermine trust in the electoral system.
The November elections mark a uniquely volatile moment, with partisan tensions seething and political violence having broken out at home and abroad. As election officials prepare for the high-stakes battles ahead, they must remain acutely aware of the rapidly evolving threat landscape.
The United States is bracing itself for a highly volatile threat landscape as voters head to the polls on November 5th. The Center for Internet Security (CIS), a nonprofit focused on cybersecurity, has released a bulletin warning election officials and law enforcement agencies that specific races or ballot measures could attract malicious actors.
This year's elections are not considered off-year events due to sustained levels of cyberattacks and acts of targeted violence directed at state and local governments over the past few years. The recent assassination of Charlie Kirk and a firebombing attack on the Pennsylvania governor's residence highlight the increasing threat landscape.
The bulletin states that election officials in states holding high-profile elections are concerned about ongoing threats against election workers, but not currently tracking any specific election-related threats. However, experts warn that foreign adversaries view these elections as an opportunity to sow discord, undermine confidence in government institutions, and incite violence.
In the past year alone, numerous incidents have highlighted the threat landscape, including vandalism of mayoral campaign offices with threatening messages, firebombing attacks on Dominion Voting systems, and fake voter registration scams via text messages. Malspam campaigns and phishing attempts are also becoming increasingly common, often impersonating known individuals or organizations to collect personal information.
As November voting approaches, election officials must review security protocols and plans in light of the highly volatile threat environment. The threat actors' tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) are evolving rapidly, making it essential for authorities to stay vigilant.
The year prior saw attempts on former presidential candidate Donald Trump's life, while Election Day 2024 experienced bomb threats that briefly closed polling sites in key swing districts. These incidents demonstrate the growing threat of foreign adversaries seeking to disrupt the democratic process.
In order to mitigate these risks, election officials must prioritize voter outreach and engagement over email and text, ensuring they do not inadvertently create opportunities for scamsters. They should also be prepared for information operations intended to manipulate voters and undermine trust in the electoral system.
The November elections mark a uniquely volatile moment, with partisan tensions seething and political violence having broken out at home and abroad. As election officials prepare for the high-stakes battles ahead, they must remain acutely aware of the rapidly evolving threat landscape.
election season is always stressful but it seems like things are taking a turn for the worse. i just hope all the election officials out there are on high alert and know how to protect themselves from all these cyber threats 
you gotta wonder what's gonna happen on november 5th... fingers crossed everything goes smoothly 
. I mean, can't we just take a break for one second and enjoy some peace of mind?! 
Can't we just stick to the news outlets and fact-checking websites?! 
Let's all hope for the best, but also be prepared for anything 
what if someone hacks into the voting system or sends out fake texts telling ppl to vote for or against certain candidates? we need to keep our elections safe and secure so thats everyones right is protected 
. I mean, sure, there are some threats, but have you seen all the fake news being spread around? It's like, come on, folks! 
The government's always going to try and suppress someone's vote if they think it's gonna give 'em an edge in an election. And let's be real, cyberattacks happen all the time, it's not like this is some new thing 
. Can't we just focus on getting out the vote instead of worrying about who's gonna hack into our ballots? 
It's just a bunch of folks trying to make a point, you know? 
. Like, I get it, foreign actors wanna mess with us, but c'mon 
. Can't they just leave us alone? 
Anyway, I hope election officials and law enforcement agencies are taking this threat landscape seriously and not winging it or whatever 
. We need to stay vigilant and make sure our democracy is protected 
. And can we please just have a moment of unity and calm before the chaos begins? 
i mean like we've seen it in the past couple of years with all these cyber attacks and targeted violence... it's like foreign adversaries are trying to disrupt our democracy 
and review security protocols ASAP 
because if they don't, it could lead to some serious issues 
of these threat actors... they're getting more sneaky by the day 
between the authorities and these scammers 
.
. We're also seeing domestic actors trying to disrupt the process, which makes things even more complicated 
.
.
and honestly i'm so worried about voter registration scams via text messages, it's like they're trying to disenfranchise people on purpose 
. It's crazy to think that some ppl will do anything to try & disrupt our elections. Election officials need all the support they can get right now 
I mean, we're talking about hackers trying to manipulate voters via text messages or emails... it's like something out of a bad spy novel 
. And with all these high-profile elections coming up, the threat landscape is looking more and more volatile by the day 