V3ndta Cybersecurity

Cyber attacks during elections can significantly undermine public trust, both in the electoral process and in the broader political system. These attacks can take various forms, such as disinformation campaigns, hacking of candidate websites, or even attacks on the infrastructure that supports the election process itself.

There seems to be a misunderstanding about what kind of attacks deal the greatest damage to an election. I have poured over many articles, press releases, cyber threat alerts and almost in all cases the focus seems to be on the election itself, with people asking well have votes been changed? Was this candidate actually elected or put in office by a foreign(or domestic) threat actor?

Now these are valid questions but the systems in place to protect the vote count for lack of a better term are very secure and have many fail safes. These are not the questions that worry me however, its the voter information itself that is far more damaging in my opinion.

In August of this year the United Kingdom’s electoral commission admitted that the data of 40 million voters had been accessed in a “complex cyber attack”. Now with this information and looking at the world we live in its very easy to make the leap that hacking the voting machines or database where these votes are held is incredibly difficult but hacking people, well any hacker worth their salt will tell you that hacking people can be incredibly easier than hacking a system.

Think about it, there are around 67 million people in the UK and 40 million voters data was compromised, thats the bulk of the eligible voters in this country. Names and addresses are enough to pretty accurately estimate the mean income of those voters along with political tendency’s and views. Having that baseline of data is enough for a threat actor to project misinformation on social media, news outlets even national news with the current problem we have all over the world with major news outlets pushing a message rather than the unfiltered truth.

One of the primary impacts of these cyber attacks is the erosion of trust in the electoral process. When voters believe that the system can be easily manipulated or influenced by external actors, their faith in the outcomes of elections can diminish. This scepticism can lead to lower voter turnout, as people may feel that their vote does not matter or will not be counted accurately.

The erosion of trust causes immense damage to any election and the way I see it persuading a population to vote in a dangerous far-left or far-right government because of a lack of information or facts is worse than just hacking in and changing a vote count because that election was stolen but there’s no way to combat it because the population did go to the polls and they did tick that box on their ballot papers.

A democracy can only exist with a well informed populace.

Moreover, cyber attacks can also lead to a general mistrust in government institutions. If a government appears unable to protect the integrity of its own elections, citizens may question its ability to safeguard other aspects of governance, including national security and public services. This broader mistrust can lead to increased polarization and political instability, as different groups contest the legitimacy of the government and its decisions.

Another significant impact is the potential for international interference in domestic politics. Cyber attacks often have cross-border elements, and when they are perceived as being sponsored or condoned by foreign governments, they can exacerbate international tensions. This can lead to a complex web of accusations and counter-accusations, further complicating the political landscape.

Additionally, the spread of disinformation is a critical component of many election-related cyber attacks. The deliberate spread of false information can mislead voters, manipulate public opinion, and deepen existing societal divisions. In an era where social media amplifies the reach and impact of such disinformation, the challenge of maintaining an informed electorate becomes even more daunting.

Lastly, the response to cyber attacks is itself a delicate matter. Overreacting or implementing overly stringent security measures can lead to accusations of government overreach and further erode public trust. Finding the balance between ensuring security and maintaining civil liberties is a key challenge for any government facing the threat of election-related cyber attacks.

The impact of cyber attacks on public trust during elections is profound and multifaceted. It not only affects the immediate outcome of an election but also has long-term implications for national security, international relations, and the health of the democratic process. Addressing this challenge requires a coordinated approach that includes robust cybersecurity measures, public education campaigns, and international cooperation to deter and respond to these threats.