Army of ‘Ethical Hackers’ Defends Election Voting Systems Against Russia

As concerns over election security grow ahead of the 2024 presidential election, an army of so-called ethical hackers is working to protect the integrity of voting systems and safeguard democracy from Russian cyber threats amid ongoing fears of foreign interference in November’s vote.
The integrity of U.S. election systems has been a focal point of concern since foreign interference was uncovered in the 2016 presidential election.
Synack, a cyber security company founded by former members of the National Security Agency, has hired 1,600 ethical hackers to test the security of government institutions and corporations.
The company is also bolstering security at remote voting systems for the U.S. elections to prevent interference by bad actors from hostile states.
Synack tests its clients’ security by attempting to penetrate their computer networks.
Bill Drexel, fellow for the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), told Newsweek: “These ethical hackers’ efforts are highly valuable in verifying the strength of our elections systems, and, where necessary, strengthening them. Stress testing systems with ethical hackers is one of the best ways to shore up cybersecurity, not just in elections, but also more broadly.
“There is already clear evidence that adversaries including Russia, China, and Iran are seeking to meddle in our elections and sow uncertainty about their validity, so anything we can do to stop that from happening is a step in the right direction. It may sound counterintuitive that we would deliberately hack our own electoral systems, especially using non-governmental actors, but given that these hackers are highly vetted and hired by the relevant authorities, it makes a lot of sense.”
Jay Kaplan, co-founder of Synack with Mark Kuhr, said that the primary threats facing Western companies and government organizations come from Russia, China, North Korea, and cybercriminal groups.
Kaplan told specialist outlet National Security News: “Right now we have just over 1,600 fully vetted freelance ethical hackers in the community from over a hundred countries around the world.
“The advantage that you get by using such a diverse pool of ethical hackers is different techniques, tactics, and procedures to uncover the vulnerabilities across our customers.”
By deploying a global team of vetted hackers, Synack is identifying vulnerabilities in election infrastructure, ensuring that systems remain secure from foreign interference, hacking attempts, and other cyber threats.
This proactive approach is vital as election officials and cybersecurity experts work to prevent any potential disruption to the democratic process.
Synack, which is based in California, has positioned itself at the forefront of this defense. Its distinctive model, which taps into a global network of vetted ethical hackers to identify vulnerabilities, has proven effective in thwarting an ever-evolving array of cyberattacks, the company says.
With threats ranging from ransomware to state-sponsored cyber espionage, companies and governments are increasingly turning to innovative solutions like crowdsourced security to defend critical infrastructure.
Beyond election security, Synack helps corporate clients across various industries—from finance to healthcare—strengthen their cybersecurity frameworks. With recent high-profile data breaches affecting major corporations, the private sector is recognizing the need for proactive cybersecurity measures.
Cyber experts uncovered a vast network of AI-operated social media accounts linked to China, heightening concerns over foreign interference in the 2024 U.S. election.
The network, exposed by cybersecurity firm CyberCX, revealed that up to 8,000 fake accounts on X (formerly Twitter) had used generative AI to spread divisive political content in the lead-up to the November election.
In August, reports emerged that Russia, China, and Iran are seeking to spread fake news in hopes of targeting audiences throughout the U.S., according to new research from Microsoft.
The Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) published a “threat intelligence” report that stated “foreign malign influence concerning the 2024 U.S. election started off slowly but has steadily picked up pace over the last six months due initially to Russian operations, but more recently from Iranian activity.”
As the 2024 election draws near, the role of ethical hackers in safeguarding U.S. election systems is likely to expand further. With ongoing threats from foreign interference, state-sponsored cyberattacks, and the ever-present danger of criminal hacking, the demand for robust election security will likely remain a priority.
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