U.S. preparing against cyber attacks for 2020 elections

CISA, part of the Department of Homeland Security, issued guidelines to protect future elections from cyber threats. They warned of potential ransomware attacks targeting voter databases. In such attacks, hackers lock systems until a ransom is paid. CISA will work with the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center to offer vulnerability scanning and risk assessments to state governments. They also advised local governments to back up critical data and store it offline.

What was the primary purpose of the statement issued by the Department of Homeland Security?

• To announce new election dates

• To provide guidelines to prevent election interference

• To introduce new voting machines

• To increase voter turnout

What is a key characteristic of a ransomware attack?

• It involves physical theft of computers

• It requires a ransom to unlock data

• It is a type of phishing scam

• It targets only personal computers

In a ransomware attack, what is typically demanded as payment?

• Credit card information

• Bank account details

• Cryptocurrency

• Personal identification

Which organization is CISA collaborating with to enhance election security?

• National Security Agency

• Federal Bureau of Investigation

• Central Intelligence Agency

• Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center

What did CISA recommend local governments do to protect their data?

• Hire more cybersecurity experts

• Regularly back up critical data and store it offline

• Switch to paper-based voting systems

• Increase the number of polling stations