Fortinet FortiGuard Labs Highlights Darknet Threats Targeting the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election

Intelligence Report: Rising Cyber Threats to the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election and Voters

Riyadh:

As the 2024 U.S. presidential election nears, Fortinet® (NASDAQ: FTNT), a global cybersecurity leader, has released an in-depth analysis revealing cyber threats targeting U.S.-based entities, voters, and the overall election process. The FortiGuard Labs Threat Intelligence Report highlights malicious activities across the darknet that capitalize on heightened political interest, including phishing scams, ransomware, and extensive personal data sales.

Derek Manky, Fortinet’s Chief Security Strategist and VP of Global Threat Intelligence, emphasized the gravity of these findings, stating: “As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, it’s critical to recognize and understand the threats that may impact the integrity and trustworthiness of the election process and the welfare of participating citizens. Cyber adversaries, including state-sponsored actors and hacktivist groups, are increasingly active, leading to major events like elections. Remaining vigilant and analyzing potential cyberthreats and vulnerabilities is crucial to prepare for and safeguard against lures and targeted cyberattacks that could disrupt or influence electoral outcomes.”

Key Threats in the Report

– Phishing Scams and Malicious Domains: Darknet marketplaces are selling sophisticated phishing kits impersonating U.S. presidential candidates, allowing malicious actors to harvest voters’ personal information, such as names, addresses, and credit card details. FortiGuard Labs reports over 1,000 new domains registered with election-related content, often hosted on significant platforms like Amazon Web Services and Cloudflare, to appear legitimate.

– Extensive Sale of Personal Data: Darknet forums currently hold billions of U.S.-specific records, including Social Security numbers, personally identifiable information (PII), and credit card data. This data, available for purchase, poses risks to voters through identity theft and targeted phishing attacks. More than 2 billion database entries involve voter-related information, and approximately 10% of posts feature SSNs, creating a heightened risk of personal data breaches.

– Ransomware Spike: In the past year, ransomware attacks against the U.S. government have surged by 28%, with hackers potentially targeting critical government systems to disrupt or shake public trust in the electoral process. FortiGuard Labs research highlights that about 3% of darknet activity is dedicated to government and business databases, underscoring the increased interest in exploiting U.S. organizations.

Enhanced Cybersecurity Recommendations

Fortinet advises citizens, business leaders, and election officials to prioritize good cyber hygiene and deploy proactive security measures to combat the escalating cyber threat landscape. Recommendations include implementing multi-factor authentication, ensuring rigorous employee training, installing endpoint protection, and regularly updating software and systems.

With these insights, Fortinet’s report underscores the importance of vigilance in this high-stakes election season, advocating for robust cybersecurity practices to preserve the election’s integrity. The full report is available on the FortiGuard Labs website for more details on the findings and Fortinet’s recommended cybersecurity practices.