FBI says it will notify state officials when local election systems are hacked

“Gee, thanks.”

Announcement follows widespred criticism FBI wasn't doing enough to inform states of election cyber-threats

The FBI today made a gesture of stepping it up a bit on 2020 election security.

"The Federal Bureau of Investigation will notify state officials when local election systems are believed to have been breached by hackers, a pivot in policy that comes after criticism that the FBI wasn't doing enough to inform states of election threats," reports Dustin Volz at the Wall Street Journal:

The FBI's previous policy stated that it notified the direct victims of cyberattacks, such as the counties that own and operate election equipment, but wouldn't necessarily share that information with states.

Several states and members of Congress in both parties had criticized that policy as inadequate and one that stifled state-local partnerships on improving election security.

Read more [paywall]
FBI Changes Policy for Notifying States of Election Systems Cyber Breaches

[Dustin Volz / Wall Street Journal via techmeme.com]