Attempts by computer hackers to hold Henry County’s voter database for ransom had county and state officials scrambling just days before the Nov. 8 general election. Voters were advised about the data breach in a letter sent by the Henry County commissioners earlier this month. Commissioner Glenn Miller said the voter database was restored from backups at the county and state level, and no ransom was paid. He said officials have no reason to believe the security breach compromised election results, or that voter registration information was extracted from the system. The ransomware attack occurred on Oct. 31. Ransomware is a malicious software used to deny access to the owner’s data in an effort to extort money. Miller said hackers that use ransomware are typically after money, not stealing data.
“As part of our investigation, we worked closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine the scope of the incident,” Miller said.
Miller said a “leading forensics company” was also involved in the investigation. Further details were not available from Miller on Tuesday.
Full Article: The Courier » Hackers hit Henry County voter database.