Homeland Security confirms Alaska was unsuccessfully targeted by Russian Cyber Actors
(Juneau) Representatives from the US Department of Homeland Security officially informed State Elections Director Josie Bahnke that Russian Cyber Actors made a failed attempt to access Alaska’s Voter Registration Database prior to the 2016 General Election.
“We were informed this morning by US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials that we were one of 21 states that possibly were the target of an unsuccessful Russian affiliated cyber incident in October 2016, Bahnke stated. “DHS asserts that efforts were unsuccessful and no election systems were compromised.”
Internet security protocols followed by the State of Alaska successfully protected our system and the attempted probe had no effect on Alaska’s Voter Registration and Election Management Database or outcome of the election.
We are working with the SOA’s Chief Information Officer to seek additional information and will continue to work collaboratively with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that all aspects of our election system remain secure.”
More details about the state’s election security system can be located on the Division of Elections website: http://elections.alaska.gov/
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