Despite growing sanctions that have harmed Russia’s economy, experts anticipate the Kremlin will use a variety of cyber weapons in an attempt to influence the midterm elections, ranging from disinformation campaigns to attempts to hack into the election system.
Jamil Jaffer, founder and executive director of the National Security Institute at George Mason University said “I do think that the chances are higher that we see a ramp up in cyber activity by the Russians as the conflict drags on; it’s less of what I would have expected at this point, but the elections are certainly in play.”
Russians attempted to hack into voter rolls in at least 20 states before the 2016 presidential election, according to US intelligence officials.
Jeanette Manfra, the former head of cybersecurity at the Department of Homeland Security, told NBC News in 2018 that only a few of the targeted states “were actually successfully penetrated.“
During a March webinar, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, commented “I am still relatively amazed that they have not really launched the level of maliciousness that their cyber arsenal includes.”
According to The Hill, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D) anticipates Russia to use its cyber playbook to sow discord between political parties and decrease voter turnout.
Griswold, a former attorney who assumed office in 2019, said one of her primary priorities as secretary of state is to combat disinformation, particularly during election season, and to advise voters on the best ways to obtain factual information.
Ivana Stradner, a Foundation for Defense of Democracies adviser, believes it is critical for US and European Union leaders to educate citizens about the various ways Russia has attempted to manipulate and divide the West through the spread of disinformation on social media, particularly during elections.
Russia intends to use a variety of cyberweapons against the US and its election infrastructure. Americans were warned about potential Russian cyberattacks by DHS.
As a result of this US Banks Prepare for Cyberattacks After Latest Russia Sanctions. Let’s see what happens next.
