Georgia’s secretary of state’s office successfully defended against a cyberattack aimed at the state’s absentee voter website, believed to have originated from a foreign nation. The cyber team was alerted to a significant increase in attempts to access the portal on October 14. The attack slowed but did not halt the website, which is used by voters to request absentee ballots. The state’s voting systems, which are not connected to the internet, were unaffected by the attack, a spokesperson confirmed.
Gabriel Sterling, the chief operating officer for the secretary of state’s office, stated that the attack bore the “hallmarks of a foreign power or a foreign entity working at the behest of a foreign power.”
The attack was successfully thwarted due to robust safeguards in place, according to the office’s spokesperson.
This incident comes amidst warnings from officials about election-related cyberattacks targeting political campaigns and election offices. A recent report from Microsoft highlighted attempts by adversaries such as Russia, China, and Iran to undermine the democratic process through various cyber tactics. The report noted that Russia remains focused on the Harris-Walz campaign, while Iran has been scouting election-related websites and media outlets, suggesting preparations for more direct influence operations as Election Day approaches.
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