Ransomware feared as possible saboteur for November election
WASHINGTON — Federal authorities say one of the gravest threats to the November election is a well-timed ransomware attack that could paralyze voting operations. The threat isn’t just from foreign governments, but any fortune-seeking criminal.
Ransomware attacks targeting state and local governments have been on the rise, with cyber criminals seeking quick money by seizing data and holding it hostage until they get paid. The fear is that such attacks could affect voting systems directly or even indirectly, by infecting broader government networks that include electoral databases.
Even if a ransomware attack fails to disrupt elections, it could nonetheless rattle confidence in the vote.
https://www.oregonlive.com/nation/2020/08/ransomware-feared-as-possible-saboteur-for-november-election.html