Georgia voter website hit with cyberattack, likely from foreign source: official

The bureau of Georgia's caput of authorities said it fended disconnected a cyberattack believed to person travel from a overseas federation intended to paralyze the battleground state's absentee elector website. 

The caput of state’s cyber squad was alerted to a melodramatic spike successful attempts to entree Georgia’s absentee ballot portal Oct. 14. The portal, which was slowed but not stopped, is the website wherever voters petition absentee ballots. 

The state's voting systems aren't connected to the net and were not affected, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

"[The event] had the hallmarks of a overseas powerfulness oregon a overseas entity moving astatine the behest of a overseas power," said Gabriel Sterling, the main operating serviceman for the caput of state’s office.

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A antheral fills retired a ballot astatine a voting booth May 17, 2022, successful Mt. Gilead, North Carolina.  (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

The onslaught was stopped "thanks to robust safeguards successful place," the office's spokesperson said. 

Fox News Digital has reached retired to the tech firm Cloudflare, which aides the state's cyber defence capabilities, and the FBI. 

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) referred questions to Georgia officials.

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Gabriel Sterling, main operating serviceman successful the bureau of the Georgia caput of state, speaks during a quality league astatine the State Capitol Oct. 23, 2024, successful Atlanta.  (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The incidental came arsenic officials person warned of election-related cyberattacks that see the targeting of governmental campaigns and predetermination offices. 

U.S. adversaries similar Russia, China and Iran person tried to undermine the antiauthoritarian process done a assortment of cyber tactics, Microsoft said successful a study released Wednesday.

Russia remains focused connected the Harris-Walz campaign, portion Iran has scouted election-related websites and media outlets, suggesting preparations for much nonstop power operations arsenic Election Day nears, the study said. 

Chester County, Pa., predetermination workers process mail-in and absentee ballots astatine West Chester University successful West Chester Nov. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

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"The actors' past of predetermination interference and their signifier of cyber-influence operations underscores the persistent menace they pose," the study states.