Voting information could face blockades from cyberattacks aimed at slowing down election-related, public-facing websites, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
The attacks, known as Distributed Denial of Service, could hinder voter access to sites regarding information on the voting process or even voting results but would not prevent actual voting.
According to the warning, a DDoS attack occurs when attackers flood sites available to the general public with various requests, causing the server to slow down or even become inaccessible. The attacks would prevent users from accessing those online resources and could temporarily disrupt business activities.
“The public should be aware that if foreign actors or cyber criminals were able to successfully conduct DDoS attacks against election infrastructure, the underlying data and internal systems would remain uncompromised, and anyone eligible to vote would still be able to cast a ballot,” the joint-issued warning read.
The agencies also said harmful cyberactors have spread false information that the attacks have compromised the integrity of voting systems in an effort to prevent people from casting a ballot or changing votes that have already been cast.
However, neither the FBI nor CISA found evidence that a DDoS attack has ever prevented a registered voter from casting a ballot or compromised the integrity of ballots that have already been cast.
The agencies recommend voters seek out information regarding how to vote and their polling places early and before Election Day, verify their sources of where they are finding information, seek out resources through their local and state governments, and do a search before sharing any emotionally charged articles or social media posts so as to not be a perpetrator of spreading disinformation.
“If it isn’t from a credible source, or if you can’t find a second reliable source, don’t share it,” the agencies said.
