Russian and Iranian hacker groups are looking to undermine U.S. elections

[samgush]

A hot potato: Russian and Iranian hacker groups are working overtime to undermine the U.S. presidential elections. This is according to a report by the New York Times that highlights some unsettling findings by U.S. intelligence agencies. It reveals that the groups of hackers have been able to infiltrate American aviation and electoral systems in recent weeks.

According to security officials, both Russia and Iran have a vested interest in the presidential elections, with Russia supporting a Trump re-election. Hacker groups have apparently gained access to some voter records and security agencies say that the information will most likely be used to aid propaganda campaigns against American presidential candidates.

According to a statement issued by John Ratcliffe, the Director of National Intelligence, "this data can be used by foreign actors to attempt to communicate false information to registered voters that they hope will cause confusion, sow chaos, and undermine your confidence in American democracy."

While Russia pushes for another Trump presidency, the Iranians have been caught sending spoofed emails disparaging the US president.

The latest attack campaign reportedly began in September. A Russian state-sponsored group that goes by the codenames Berserk Bear, Havex, and Koala has been identified as the main perpetrators. The unit is said to be scanning US system networks for loopholes to facilitate future vector attacks. It mainly targets Microsoft Exchange and Citrix systems.

John Ratcliffe, the Director of National Intelligence says stolen information will be used to undermine US elections. (Image: Politico)

A joint statement by the FBI along with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommends that government institutions across the nation implement stringent mitigation measures to prevent attacks.

The inter-agency guidance particularly recommends that they use updated VPNs, and network security infrastructure. The agencies also ask that government organizations install the latest security patches.

US intelligence officials had previously warned about state-sponsored hackers seeking unauthorized access to local and state government systems. The report, however, refrained from naming Russia and Iran.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/87271-russian-iranian-hacker-groups-looking-undermine-us-elections.html

 

[QuantumPhysics]

The joke is on THEM.

Our president is already defunding our postal service, removing ballot boxes/ voting machines, shutting down polling places and allowing the RNC to set up fake ballot boxes!!!

 

[Bullwinkle M]

The joke is on THEM.

Our president is already defunding our postal service, removing ballot boxes/ voting machines, shutting down polling places and allowing the RNC to set up fake ballot boxes!!!

I was unable to verify any of that

The only news I could verify recently was that CNN polls are complete nonsense and that Trump won the last debate by a landslide

You can fact check my results if you like

 

[Endymio]

The joke is on THEM.

Our president is already defunding our postal service, removing ballot boxes/ voting machines, shutting down polling places and allowing the RNC to set up fake ballot boxes!!!

The "defunding the postal service" story was debunked long ago. As for the fiasco in California (in which Trump was not involved) the RNC is using a law written and passed by the state's Democrat-controlled government. It's a dumb law, but blame those who passed it:

RNC spokesman Hector Barajas says, "Democrat anger is overblown when state law allows organizations, volunteers or campaign workers to collect completed ballot and drop them off at polling places or election offices."

"If Democrats are so concerned with ballot harvesting, they are the ones who wrote the legislation, voted for it, and Governor Jerry Brown signed it into law," Barajas explained. "California Republicans would be happy to do away with ballot harvesting."

Congressman Ken Calvert (R) received information from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters explaining the guidelines:

A vote by mail ballot collected by a ballot harvester does NOT have to include the name or signature of the harvester on the identification envelope in order to be valid.*
A ballot harvester is NOT required to document the vote by mail ballots chain of custody in any way.
A ballot harvester is NOT required to disclose to a voter who they are working on behalf of or if they are being paid to collect ballots.
A ballot harvester is NOT required to provide any kind of documentation/receipt when collecting a vote by mail ballot.
Election officials are NOT required to obtain any identifying information, including names, of ballot harvesters when they return collected ballots.
Election officials are NOT required to maintain a list of persons who collect and submit collected ballots, regardless of how many ballots they submit.
ANY individual is eligible to harvest ballots, including:

• Non-California residents
• Illegal immigrants
• Foreign nationals

ANY entity may have and compensate its employees to harvest ballots (so long as the compensation is not on a per ballot basis), including:

• Campaigns
• Non-profit organizations
• Businesses, including corporations
• Labor unions
• Churches
• Ballot harvesters may collect an unlimited number of ballots.

Campaigns may pay third party vendors to harvest ballots (so long as the compensation is not on a per ballot basis).
Election officials are not required to categorize harvested ballots or otherwise distinguish them from vote by mail ballots submitted by other means.

 

[Endymio]

To add to the story above, from the same intelligence report on Russia and Iran, was the following:

"We assess that China prefers that President Trump [does not] win reelection. China has been expanding its influence efforts ahead of November 2020 to shape the policy environment in the United States, pressure political figures it views as opposed to China's interests, and deflect and counter criticism of China," the top US intelligence official on election security, Bill Evanina, said...

 

[Steve Lalancette]

Come on... Google, Apple, Microsost and others, are WAY stronger than those countries.
Anyway, it's already not a fair election. Let them do their tricks.
We'll see.

 

[Squid Surprise]

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

[Farhat Ahmed]

I will say this again. Americans need to stop drinking too much kool aid and stop thinking it's all about them. I can assure you no body is interested in what is going on in USA , let alone it's election. How will they? Everybody is still busy controlling the pandemic and trying to figure out how to get back to normal life.
If USA can not guarantee it's own outside-interference free election, they should not have an election.If you could not come up with a full proof system for your own country, what have you been selling to others for last 2 century?
If you want war, pick up your guns. If not, then shut up and fix your own busted up system instead of desperately seeking spotlight in center stage..

 

[kimo1]

I will say this again. Americans need to stop drinking too much kool aid and stop thinking it's all about them. I can assure you no body is interested in what is going on in USA , let alone it's election. How will they? Everybody is still busy controlling the pandemic and trying to figure out how to get back to normal life.
If USA can not guarantee it's own outside-interference free election, they should not have an election.If you could not come up with a full proof system for your own country, what have you been selling to others for last 2 century?
If you want war, pick up your guns. If not, then shut up and fix your own busted up system instead of desperately seeking spotlight in center stage..

"outside-interference" probably doesn't exist. It's just so typical to manipulate the mass with bs like "evil xxx did this and that". I'm amazed people are so stupid to still believe in that excessively overused tactic.
People also refuse to realize all big candidates are paid actors, hired by deep state. It's always a big comedy show over there in U.S., just like people over there always wanted. No matter who wins, life will never get better. People just want comedy, then blame anybody except themselves for failures, people have no vision. Deep state's NWO will become reality because people don't ever invest a single thought and will vote for next best entertainer instead of balanced life. And entertained americans will get.

 

[Evernessince]

The "defunding the postal service" story was debunked long ago. As for the fiasco in California (in which Trump was not involved) the RNC is using a law written and passed by the state's Democrat-controlled government. It's a dumb law, but blame those who passed it:

RNC spokesman Hector Barajas says, "Democrat anger is overblown when state law allows organizations, volunteers or campaign workers to collect completed ballot and drop them off at polling places or election offices."

"If Democrats are so concerned with ballot harvesting, they are the ones who wrote the legislation, voted for it, and Governor Jerry Brown signed it into law," Barajas explained. "California Republicans would be happy to do away with ballot harvesting."

Congressman Ken Calvert (R) received information from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters explaining the guidelines:

"Ballot collection, sometimes referred to as “ballot harvesting,” is the practice of a voter designating a third party to deliver a mail-in ballot to election officials. It’s legal in many states, including California.

What is not legal, according to the Secretary of State’s Office, is posing as an election officer and “handling, counting, or canvassing of any ballots” by anyone who isn’t an election officer. That includes setting up unofficial ballot-collection boxes. Violating the law is a felony that could result in two to four years in prison, if a person is convicted."

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ca-gop-ballot-drop-boxes/
https://www.politifact.com/article/2020/oct/16/ballot-drop-boxes-have-long-been-used-without-cont/

"These unofficial drop boxes mislead voters and were misrepresented as being “official” and secure.

CA Elections Code Section 3025 specifies that vote-by-mail ballot drop boxes are “secure receptacles” established by local elections officials. These boxes must adhere to state regulations for security.

Use of these ballot drop boxes calls into question compliance with CA Elections Code 3017 and 3011, which allows voters to designate an individual to return their ballot. Any individual returning a ballot on behalf of a voter must provide their name, signature, and relation to the voter on the return envelope. Voters must know who specifically is returning their ballot."

https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-relea...secretary-state-padilla-send-cease-and-desist

You can also find all the laws referenced by the CA attorney general's letter here:

https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/elections-code/elec-sect-3025.html

Congressman Ken Calvert (R) received information from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters explaining the guidelines:[/I]

The letter from the Riverside County Registrar, the very first paragraph contradicts that gatcha statements from the republican:

Mind you this and the first part of your comment are two different topics. Posing as an official drop box that does not follow state laws and designating a person of your choosing to turn in your ballot are two entirely different things. As proven from the links above, posing as an official election drop-off box was clearly illegal.

 

[Nobina]

I would never imagine they would say that.

 

[havok585]

What a bunch of baloney, again with the russian boogeyman? Iran or Russia have nothing on the big tech of the US of A, boy and girls, dont get your panties so tight haha.

 

[Endymio]

What is not legal, according to the Secretary of State’s Office, is posing as an election officer and “handling, counting, or canvassing of any ballots” by anyone who isn’t an election officer. That includes setting up unofficial ballot-collection boxes. Violating the law is a felony

That was an opinion of a Democrat who holds that state office, an opinion contradicted even by liberal network CNN's election law analyst, Rick Hasen (also a law professor at the University of California) who said they were "technically legal", even as he called them troublesome.

Despite his earlier "outrage", CA's Democratic Secretary of State Alex Padilla now says the ballot boxes can stay:

OAKLAND (CBS News) — The California GOP can harvest ballots using their unofficial ballot boxes, according to state voting officials.

At a Friday press conference, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the state’s decision to allow the GOP to use the ballot boxes, after calling them illegal earlier this week.

So much for it being a "felony".

 

[NicktheWVAHick]

The joke is on THEM.

Our president is already defunding our postal service, removing ballot boxes/ voting machines, shutting down polling places and allowing the RNC to set up fake ballot boxes!!!

The joke will be on YOU when Trump wins.
Get ready to shed some more snowflake tears.

 

[candle_86]

Well let's see Russia, Iran's and China's interests are served by a democrat winning the office. So far Trump hasn't eased sanctions on russia and has stepped up our efforts in Syria in direct opposition to Russian interests, its a full blown proxy war at this point. Trump ordered the top Iranian General killed and cut off their supply of fissionable materials, and Trump has hurt the chinese economy, and right now if they invade Taiwan they know American HK Submarines would quickly sink their trading ships and strangle them from oil. None of these would continue with a democrat in office, we'd quickly pull out of Syria and let terrorism win the day, we'd quickly apologize to Iran they'd likely even pay them the money they want and start sending them fissionable materials again, and they'd for sure back down on China and restore unequal relations with the Chinese state where American's get it up the *** again.

So if there is interference it's not pro trump

 

[Jpe1701]

I wonder when the adult is going to show up so that the 2 little baby political parties can whine and have their poor widdle cry about how mean and evil the other party is and take their naps. Maybe when enough on both sides wake up and realize they're being played.

 

[franticfrosty]

What I find funny is the US spends trillions on military and security programs like the NSA but yet cant stop some children from infiltrating their systems

 

[Squid Surprise]

What I find funny is the US spends trillions on military and security programs like the NSA but yet cant stop some children from infiltrating their systems

I'm not sure what you're reading... but these aren't children... hackers might have been children back in the 80s and 90s... but now they're adults - making money from their various home states...

 

[Underdog]

I will say this again. Americans need to stop drinking too much kool aid and stop thinking it's all about them. I can assure you no body is interested in what is going on in USA , let alone it's election. How will they? Everybody is still busy controlling the pandemic and trying to figure out how to get back to normal life.
If USA can not guarantee it's own outside-interference free election, they should not have an election.If you could not come up with a full proof system for your own country, what have you been selling to others for last 2 century?
If you want war, pick up your guns. If not, then shut up and fix your own busted up system instead of desperately seeking spotlight in center stage..

I would venture to say they need to up their game considerably. In recent decades Nasa, the Pentagon, and various US defense computer systems have been hacked by teenagers purely for fun. The US needs to hire some proper I.T. security experts and seal up the cracks in the systems.

 

[franticfrosty]

I'm not sure what you're reading... but these aren't children... hackers might have been children back in the 80s and 90s... but now they're adults - making money from their various home states...

They're adults you say? Are you from the US government.. you seem to know a lot about these... "Russian haxxors"

But like really, they could be children, after all, the US government is.. a childs playground. Everyone except bob the builder seems to be able to hack into the US government, Every thing I hear from them is derp we got hacked by a russian or a north korean.

Almost like... its bullshi

Or are they gonna start admitting that teens from russia or north korea with limited resources and compute power are capable of taking control of the biggest debt collector on the planet.

 

[Squid Surprise]

They're adults you say? Are you from the US government.. you seem to know a lot about these... "Russian haxxors"

But like really, they could be children, after all, the US government is.. a childs playground. Everyone except bob the builder seems to be able to hack into the US government, Every thing I hear from them is derp we got hacked by a russian or a north korean.

Almost like... its bullshi

Or are they gonna start admitting that teens from russia or north korea with limited resources and compute power are capable of taking control of the biggest debt collector on the planet.

If you look at all of the arrests of hackers made recently - like the huge raid on the scene several weeks ago - the culprits are invariably adults.

Obviously, we don’t know who these ones are - but if they’re state-sponsored, they’re almost certainly not kids.

 

[Markee]

Our government is a complete sham

 

[kiwigraeme]

I was not going to comment - as I knew their will be strong reactions.
Having spoken to a number of Americans - They told either explicitly or with tactful agreement - many companies have banned political discussions as employees were getting too heated .
As for someone here commenting the American politics does not effect them - Well it probably won't matter which when it comes to their USA foreign policies - as both parties have a history in interfering in other countries politics - If it is not the approved form of Capitalism with the right kind of regulatory and social safeguards - America will seek to undermine with any means foul. Yes you have interfered many times with New Zealand .
Plus whatever you think of Covid 19 - Global Warming with be 1000 times worse at least - and please do not spout that CO2 is wonderful and food production will soar - CO2 is good in larger amounts for CERTAIN plants - but is meaningless without added Nitrogen etc - Warmer oceans hold less oxygen - less cooler waters less fish. So which party will be elected will affect the rest of the world . Pompeo said the Artic melting would be good for shipping and exploiting more oil etc . As a Kiwi we decided over 50 years ago that we would not exploit our portion of Antarctica - which is meant to be extremely oil rich.
The USA I think was the first country to have National Parks - That is something to be proud of - and to further that legacy.

 

[Reehahs]

Just some hackers? US has a track record of outright toppling democracies to get what it wants.

 

[PEnnn]

..and Trump has hurt the chinese economy, and right now if they invade Taiwan they know American HK Submarines would quickly sink their trading ships and strangle them from oil. None of these would continue with a democrat in office, we'd quickly pull out of Syria and let terrorism win the day,

LOL!!
Trump has made US farmers the new welfare queens to the tune of 60 BILLION in less than 2 years!

And amazingly, you seem to know exactly what Trump will do and what his precise war plans are!! Ladies & gentlemen, our new Nostradamus is right here at this forum!!

One knows this country is really screwed when you have people who are allegedly smart, are on a tech forum and posting this kind of junk. Maybe they think this is a Fox Noise forum... where anything goes and nobody notices.