Voter registration systems in the U.S. are in serious need of an update. Four of those systems were successfully breached by foreign hackers on behalf of the Russian government.
These same hackers are suspected to have targeted more than 20 state election systems. And no, this is not a plot in a Jason Bourne movie. FBI Director James Comey told lawmakers on Wednesday, “There’s no doubt that some bad actors have been poking around.”
ABC reports that Comey testified before the House Judiciary Committee to confirm their efforts at figuring out “just what mischief is Russia up to in connection with our election.”
Although the voter registration databases were targeted—not the voting system itself—Comey urged states to be in contact with the Department of Homeland Security to make sure proper security measures are in place.
Russian hackers were also suspected in the hacks surrounding the Democratic National Convention emails that led Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz to step down.
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper pointed to President Vladimir Putin’s paranoia against a U.S. conspiracy to back a revolution in Russia as motive for the cyber-assaults on national security.
