Young voters despairing over US politics "49% agreed to some extent that elections in the country don't represent people like them; 51% agreed to some extent that the political system in the US "doesn't work for people like me;" and 64% backed the statement that "America is in decline." A whopping 65% agreed either strongly or somewhat that "nearly all politicians are corrupt, and make money from their political power" β only 7% disagreed."
Source: www.infosecurity-magazine.com β Author: 1 Security researchers have reported a significant increase in cyber activity targeting the upcoming Indian general election.Β This surge, driven by various hacktivist groups, has resulted in the leakage of personal identifiable information (PII) of Indian citizens on the dark web. The election, set to occur in seven phases from April [β¦]
In a lawsuit that seems determined to ignore that Section 230 exists, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has sued Meta for allegedly shadowbanning his million-dollar documentary, Who Is Bobby Kennedy? and preventing his supporters from advocating for his presidential campaign.
According to Kennedy, Meta is colluding with the Biden administration to sway the 2024 presidential election by suppressing Kennedy's documentary and making it harder to support Kennedy's candidacy. This allegedly has caused "substantial donation losses," while also violating the free speech rights of Kennedy, his supporters, and his film's production company, AV24.
Meta had initially restricted the documentary on Facebook and Instagram but later fixed the issue after discovering that the film was mistakenly flagged by the platforms' automated spam filters.
During a recent Senate committee hearing, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines emphasized state hackers' continued prominence as a threat, citing its aims to undermine trust in U.S. democratic institutions and exacerbate societal divisions. The hearing follows the rise of potential cyberattack on the US election, which has intensified over the last few months, and foreign interference has peaked with many state actors aiming to launch cyberattacks on the upcoming US elections in 2024.Β The upcoming 2024 United States elections are slated to take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. In this crucial presidential election cycle, the nation will elect its president and vice president. Leveraging the attention to these events, several state-back hackers are running multiple threat campaigns to target the integrity of the US election and possibly accomplish their personal agendas.Β Democratic Senator Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, expanded on the scope of foreign influence efforts, including not only state actors but also non-state entities like hacktivists and cybercriminals. Warner stressed the ease with which these actors can now infiltrate and disrupt U.S. politics, emphasizing the increasingly low barriers to entry for such malicious activities.Β
Potential Cyberattack on the US Election: A Pressing Concern!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WphVoguvVd8
At the forefront of defending against this potential cyberattack on the US election is the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). In a recent update on foreign threats to the 2024 elections, CISA Director Jen Easterly outlined the agency's efforts to safeguard election infrastructure since its designation as critical infrastructure in 2017.Β
"While our election infrastructure is more secure than ever, todayβs threat environment is more complex than ever. And we are very clear eyed about this. As the DNI noted, our foreign adversaries remain a persistent threat to our elections, intent on undermining Americansβ confidence in the foundation of our democracy and sowing partisan discord, efforts which could be exacerbated by generative AI capabilities", said Jen Easterly.
Despite these persistent threats, Easterly highlighted the successful conduct of secure federal elections in 2018, 2020, and 2022, with no evidence of vote tampering. However, Easterly cautioned against complacency, noting the complexity of ransomware groups/threat actors and their unconventional modus operandi.Β Moreover, foreign hackers remain intent on undermining confidence in U.S. democracy, compounded by the proliferation of generative AI capabilities. Moreover, Easterly highlighted the rise in large-scale attacks on US elections, targeting political leaders and other election officials β fueled by baseless claims of electoral fraud.
CISAβs Plan To Bolster Cybersecurity in the Upcoming US Election
In response to these cyberattacks on the upcoming US elections, CISA has intensified its efforts, expanding its services and outreach to election stakeholders across the nation. From cybersecurity assessments to physical security evaluations and training sessions, CISA has been actively engaged in fortifying security in the upcoming election and its infrastructure.Β The agency has also ramped up efforts to combat disinformation, providing updated guidance and amplifying the voices of state and local election officials.Despite the political nature of elections, Easterly emphasized that election security remains apolitical. CISA remains steadfast in its commitment to preserving the integrity of the electoral process and looks to the support of leaders in this endeavor.Β As the nation prepares for future elections, bolstering cybersecurity measures and defending against foreignΒ influence operations remain central priorities.Media Disclaimer: This report is based on internal and external research obtained through various means. The information provided is for reference purposes only, and users bear full responsibility for their reliance on it. The Cyber Express assumes no liability for the accuracy or consequences of using this information.