Do State Agencies Neglect Tech Security?

Earlier this week, officials in Vermont discovered malware on a government laptop that was potentially linked to Russian hackers (civilian or government). Some are skeptical that this attack on Vermont’s power grid could be in response to President Obama’s announcement of sanctions against Russia (in retaliation for Russian hacking during the recent US presidential election).

The Department of Homeland Security has yet to comment on whether or not other states or organizations have found similar malware on their devices. Still, many states do not have adequate security in place for their computer systems. After recent events involving Russian hacking in all levels of the US government, many states are starting to reevaluate and reexamine their cybersecurity measures in an attempt to create safer protocols and protection.

Read more: Google Fixed Over 100 Security Flaws, But Are You Safe?

A Proactive Approach to Cybersecurity

Many states, however, have been proactive in protecting themselves against similar hacks. For instance, in New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office directed state agencies to examine all cyber systems to ensure that there were no hacks. The governor’s office in Connecticut also confirmed there were no breaches of their systems.

Further, some states, like Oregon, are auditing their state agencies to ensure their computer systems are up to date. They are also working to ensure the security of large amounts of classified and sensitive data. Recently, state auditors evaluated thirteen of the state’s agencies and discovered that over half are weak and susceptible to cyberattacks. Another major discovery of this audit is that the Office of the State Chief Information cannot currently upgrade the security for the agencies it oversees. This is because there aren’t (yet) any hard and fast standards for security upgrades in the technological realm.

Although not all states have yet evaluated their systems for signs of Russian hacking, it has become clear that many are susceptible to it. If this continues, it could cause major problems for President-elect Donald Trump (who maintains a friendly connection with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin).

Outdated Technology

The implications of this recent hack have yet to be seen, but one thing has become clear: US state agencies are, overall, not protected from cyberattacks. Homeland Security and the FBI, in a recent report, explained that the Russian hackers used phishing and third parties to target government organizations, universities, and political organizations to obtain information. They also suggested actions that the state and federal government can take to protect their agencies against future attacks.