Researchers studying cybersecurity have discovered more than 1,000 fraudulent domains that have recently been established with the intention of taking advantage of the public’s excitement in the impending vote. The security of voter information and the integrity of the voting process are seriously threatened by this increase in potentially dangerous websites.
Cyber enemies, including hacktivist organizations and state-sponsored actors, are increasing their activity in the run-up to elections. The dark web has become the primary venue for malevolent actors to share private information and plot exploits in the United States.
By planning cyberattacks, hacktivist groups also aim to disrupt business operations or sway public opinion.
Leading cybersecurity research group FortiGuard Labs revealed the finding in their most recent “2024 US Election Security Report.”
Malicious Domains Registered
According to the report, threat actors have registered over 1,000 new domain names since January 2024, using patterns that include phrases associated with elections and mentions of well-known political leaders.
These domains are obviously trying to take advantage of the increased interest in the presidential campaign by frequently using terms like “votefor,” “vote4,” “trump2024,” and “voteharris.”
Experts in cybersecurity caution that these websites may be used for a number of nefarious purposes, including phishing attempts, the dissemination of false information, and hacks intended to sway voting decisions.
With 636 domains originating from the US, the majority of these dubious domains are registered there. Germany has 22 domains, followed by Canada with 72.
Either domestic threat actors or the usage of US hosting providers to hide the actual origin of these malicious actions are suggested by the concentration of US-based registrants.
Well-known hosting companies have unintentionally turned into venues for these possibly dangerous websites. There are now 458 of these domains hosted on AMAZON-02, 71 on CLOUDFLARENET, and 70 on NAMECHEAP-NET.
Reputable hosting companies can be used by threat actors to give their harmful domains legitimacy and increase their resistance to takedown attempts.
Particularly concerning is the identification of phoney fundraising websites that imitate authentic venues for political donations.
One such website mimics ActBlue, a well-known platform for Democratic candidates to raise money. These fraudulent websites seek to gather personal information, including names, emails, residence addresses, and credit card numbers, as well as donations.
Via dark web forums, cybercriminals are also profiting off the electoral fervour. Advertisements offering $1,260 phishing kits that exclusively targeted Donald Trump and Kamala Harris supporters were discovered by researchers.
These kits are made to collect financial and personal information from voters who aren’t paying attention.
There are significant worries about possible meddling in the next election due to the growth of these rogue websites and related cyberthreats.
Experts caution that these actions may result in financial fraud, mass identity theft, and the swaying of public opinion through deliberate disinformation operations.
Cybersecurity experts advise voters to be alert and cautious when using election-related websites as the election draws near.
They advise using legitimate government sources for voting information, confirming the legality of donation platforms, and being cautious of unsolicited emails or texts pertaining to the election.
It is recommended that campaign organizations and election officials strengthen their cybersecurity protocols, which should include putting in place strong website security, training employees on phishing dangers, and routinely checking for bogus domains that mimic their legitimate websites.
In order to protect the 2024 US presidential election from cyberattacks, cybersecurity teams and election officials alike have made resolving this spike in bad domains a top priority because it puts the integrity of the democratic process at risk.
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