National: Coronavirus creates new election threats, experts warn at Black Hat | Laura Hautala/CNET
Election security, meet the coronavirus pandemic. That was the theme of the Black Hat security conference Wednesday, a meeting of cybersecurity experts from around the world that is taking place virtually this year to help limit the spread of COVID-19. The public health emergency will change voting. As a result, voters will have to plan ahead for Election Day, consider participating as a poll worker or other volunteer and be patient for the final tally of votes, said Christopher Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. His agency, a department of the US Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for programs to secure elections throughout the US. “Be a part of the solution,” Krebs told the audience of security experts. In a keynote address, cybersecurity expert Matt Blaze made a similar call to action. Blaze noted that US elections officials will have to overcome major logistical hurdles to scale up vote-by-mail options while also creating a surplus of in-person voting locations. With fewer than 100 days until the 2020 presidential election, Blaze said it’s imperative for people with tech knowledge to get involved and ask local election officials what help they need.