Trump campaign hacked; cyberattacks are constant danger for modern elections

TLDR:

• Former President Donald Trump’s campaign was hacked, highlighting the constant danger of cyberattacks in modern elections.
• The campaign blamed Iran for the hack, which was verified by the U.S. State Department.

In a recent incident, former President Donald Trump’s campaign announced that it was hacked, shedding light on the ongoing threat of cyberattacks in today’s elections. Cybersecurity expert Anton Dahbura from the Johns Hopkins Information Security Institute emphasized that political campaigns are attractive targets for bad actors due to the sensitive information they hold. The campaign revealed that it was sent internal documents from an anonymous account prior to the hack being discovered. Both the Associated Press and Politico reported that Iran was pointed to as the culprit of the attack, a claim verified by the U.S. State Department.

Microsoft also released a report indicating Iran’s intent to influence the U.S. presidential election. Iranian groups have been found engaging in covert activities to sway American voters and raise doubts about election integrity. Phishing techniques, spear phishing emails, and other hacking methods are commonly employed by these groups. The increasing foreign malign influence efforts are a major concern as the election approaches, especially with the history of interference from Russia and China.

Experts recommend that political campaigns ramp up their cybersecurity measures, similar to businesses, by having dedicated personnel for security, training, and prevention strategies. With phishing emails being a common tactic used by hackers, campaign staffers should stay vigilant and informed about potential threats. As the election cycle moves quickly and involves numerous staff changes, maintaining a strong cybersecurity posture becomes even more challenging.