Report suggests Russia hackers breached voting software firm – Chattanooga Times Free Press
WASHINGTON Russian hackers attacked at least one U.S. voting software supplier days before last year's presidential election, according to a government intelligence report leaked Monday that suggests election-related hacking penetrated further into U.S. voting systems than previously known.
The classified National Security Agency report, which was published online by The Intercept, does not say whether the hacking had any effect on election results. But it says Russian military intelligence attacked a U.S. voting software company and sent spear-phishing emails to more than 100 local election officials at the end of October or beginning of November.
U.S. intelligence agencies declined to comment.
However, the Justice Department announced Monday it had charged a government contractor in Georgia with leaking a classified report containing "Top Secret level" information to an online news organization. The report the contractor allegedly leaked is dated May 5, the same date as the document The Intercept posted online.
The document said Russian military intelligence "executed cyber espionage operations against a named U.S. company in August 2016 evidently to obtain information on elections-related software and hardware solutions, according to information that became available in April 2017."
The hackers are believed to have then used data from that operation to create a new email account to launch a spear-phishing campaign targeting U.S. local government organizations, the document said. "Lastly, the actors send test emails to two non-existent accounts ostensibly associated with absentee balloting, presumably with the purpose of creating those accounts to mimic legitimate services."
The document did not name any state.
The information in the leaked document seems to go further than the U.S. intelligence agencies' January assessment of the hacking that occurred.
"Russian intelligence obtained and maintained access to elements of multiple U.S. state or local electoral boards," the assessment said. The Department of Homeland Security "assesses that the types of systems Russian actors targeted or compromised were not involved in vote tallying."
The Intercept contacted NSA and the national intelligence director's office about the document and both agencies asked that it not be published. U.S. intelligence officials then asked The Intercept to redact certain sections. The Intercept said some material was withheld at U.S. intelligence agencies' request because it wasn't "clearly in the public interest."
The Associated Press could not confirm the authenticity of the May 5 NSA document, which The Intercept said it obtained anonymously.
Also on Monday, Reality Leigh Winner, 25, of Augusta, Georgia, was charged in U.S. District Court with copying classified documents and mailing them to a reporter with an unnamed news organization. Prosecutors did not say which federal agency Winner worked for, but FBI agent Justin Garrick said in an affidavit filed with the court that she had previously served in the Air Force and held a top-secret security clearance.
Winner's attorney, Titus Thomas Nichols, declined to confirm whether she is accused of leaking the NSA report received by The Intercept. He also declined to name the federal agency for which Winner worked.
"My client has no (criminal) history, so it's not as if she has a pattern of having done anything like this before," Nichols said in a phone interview Monday. "She is a very good person. All this craziness has happened all of a sudden."
In affidavits filed with the court, Garrick of the FBI said the government was notified of the leaked report by the news outlet that received it. He said the agency that housed the report determined only six employees had made physical copies. Winner was one of them. Garrick said investigators found Winner had exchanged email with the news outlet using her work computer.
Garrick's affidavit said he interviewed Winner at her home Saturday and she "admitted intentionally identifying and printing the classified intelligence reporting at issue" and mailing it to the news outlet.
Asked if Winner had confessed, Nichols said, "If there is a confession, the government has not shown it to me."
Read more:
Report suggests Russia hackers breached voting software firm - Chattanooga Times Free Press
- DJI's free software update gives its flagship action camera a massive resolution upgrade and focus peaking - T3 - December 27th, 2025 [December 27th, 2025]
- How Divvy Achieved Explosive Revenue Growth with a Free Software Model - getlatka.com - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- A teenager redrew the Alabama voting map and its now state law - The Guardian - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- The new Debian Libre Live is all about free software, but I need my proprietary apps - ZDNET - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Full Bucket Music FB-02, free Synthesizer plugin is a Yamaha FB-01 FM synth emulation and editor - synth anatomy - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- We've tested the best antivirus software to protect your computer and these are the 6 we recommend - Tom's Guide - November 28th, 2025 [November 28th, 2025]
- Chrystalleni Loizidou on meaningful participation in a free/libre technology funding programme - Association for Progressive Communications - November 28th, 2025 [November 28th, 2025]
- Why open source isnt free (and never was) - How-To Geek - November 18th, 2025 [November 18th, 2025]
- Affinity by Canva review: free is the magic number - Creative Bloq - November 18th, 2025 [November 18th, 2025]
- Trump administration ended free tax filing program. Heres where Oregonians can go instead - Oregon Capital Chronicle - November 18th, 2025 [November 18th, 2025]
- A lot of free PC software is risky. Use these alternatives instead - PCWorld - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Mega recall in the U.S. is official. - Toyota confirms free ECU software update for cameras not displaying image when reverse gear is engaged - Unin... - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Is Affinity's free Photoshop rival too good to be true? - Creative Bloq - November 3rd, 2025 [November 3rd, 2025]
- New features are coming to Pikmin 4! - Nintendo - November 3rd, 2025 [November 3rd, 2025]
- Avoid Purging Thousands of Emails With This Gmail Trick to Free Up Space - CNET - November 3rd, 2025 [November 3rd, 2025]
- 3,000+ YouTube videos deliver malware disguised as free software - Kurt the CyberGuy - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Affinity, the new version of the creative software, is now free of charge - PrintIndustry.news - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Affinity's creative software is free for everyone now - and I think that could be bad news for Adobe - TechRadar - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Affinitys new design platform combines everything into one app - The Verge - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Coros watches just got a major upgrade for free but I still want them to bring in this killer Garmin feature - Tom's Guide - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Still Using Windows 10? These Free Updates Will Help Keep Your PC Secure - CNET - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]
- Whats Really Hiding Behind That Free Tutorial? Unlocking YouTube Ghost Network - The420.in - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Article | At least 25 states plan to cut off food aid benefits in November - POLITICO Pro - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Benghazi hosts intelligence chiefs and an interesting guest from South Africa - The Africa Report.com - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Hundreds of Syrians line up in Tripoli for free repatriation flights to Syria - The Arab Weekly - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Gulf of Sirte International Airport Reopens: A New Era for Libyan Tourism - Travel And Tour World - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- The Attorney General Is A Defendant In A Torture Claim From A Libyan Military Commander That He Drafted - Politics Home - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Agreement signed to hold the First Libyan Conference for Laboratories and Radiology - libyaupdate.com - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- EU reaffirms support for Libyan people in pursuit of peace, national unity - APAnews - Agence de Presse Africaine - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Commander-in-Chief Receives Elders and Notables from the Central Region, Affirms: "The Armed Forces Will Guarantee Any Agreement That Unites... - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Elforjani: Sirte is a symbol of liberation from terrorism and the General Command's support enhances the path of development - libyaupdate.com - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Voices from the sea, part three: how do exiled people experience their moment of rescue? - The Conversation - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Free access to Laba7 Shock Dyno Software announced - Automotive Powertrain Technology International - October 24th, 2025 [October 24th, 2025]
- Unleash Your Voice: The Best Free Text-To-Audio Software For 2025 - Harlem World Magazine - October 24th, 2025 [October 24th, 2025]
- How to Scan, Edit and Sign PDF Files on Your Phone or Tablet - The New York Times - October 23rd, 2025 [October 23rd, 2025]
- Unintended Acceleration Is The Last Thing A Supercharged Ford Mustang Needs - Yahoo! Autos - October 21st, 2025 [October 21st, 2025]
- Top Password Recovery Software for 2025: All the Best Services Picked by the Experts - TechRadar - October 19th, 2025 [October 19th, 2025]
- Windows 10 PC can't be upgraded? You have 5 options - and must act now - ZDNET - October 19th, 2025 [October 19th, 2025]
- Free Software Foundation Is Serious About The Librephone Project [To Bring Mobile Freedom To The Masses] - It's FOSS News - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- FSF Librephone battles the proprietary binary blob - theregister.com - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- World's first truly free software phone? That's the FSF's new 'long game' - ZDNET - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- Belarusian authorities bought trace-free tracking software, an investigation finds - - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- First convictions linked to Post Office Capture software referred for appeal - Free Press Series - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- 10 open-source Windows apps I can't live without - and they're all free - ZDNET - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Borderlands 4: Gearbox Software Reveals Upcoming Content for the Game Including a DLC, a Free Event and More - IGN India - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Triple-zero software 'hanging by a thread' - Kyabram Free Press - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Free Up More Google Drive Space at No Cost With These Hacks - CNET - October 13th, 2025 [October 13th, 2025]
- 8 free Linux apps that make tricky tasks surprisingly easy - no command line required - ZDNET - October 13th, 2025 [October 13th, 2025]
- Running Out of Space on Your iPhone? Before You Delete Anything Try This - CNET - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- 4 free video editors that make me question why I ever paid for Adobe software - XDA - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- A 2TB PCIe 5.0 SSD for less than $140? This Crucial P510 Prime Big Deals Day discount with free Acronis software is exactly why I'm putting it... - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- At 40 Years, Free Software Foundation Now Wants to 'Free Your Phone' - It's FOSS News - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- 8 free Linux apps that are surprisingly useful - no command line required - ZDNET - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- We Finally Have Free Anti-Robocall Tools That Work - The New York Times - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Illinois State Bar Association Offering Free Trust Accounting & Billing Software to All Members With Smokeball Bill - Illinois State Bar... - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Suffolk tech giant pledges $10m to give charities free software for life - Ipswich.co.uk - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Eventide Temperance Lite, "the world's first musical reverb plugin": free download for a limited time - synth anatomy - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Windows 10 extended support is now free, but only in Europe Microsoft capitulates on controversial $30 ESU price tag which remains firmly in place... - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- You can now install iOS 26 on your iPhone: Everything to know about the free software update - Engadget - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Turns out, Microsoft will offer Windows 10 security updates for free until 2026but unfortunately not in the US or the UK - PC Gamer - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Free Alternatives to Photoshop and Word: How to Save on Software - 112.ua - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Delete those pricey programs with our four tips to help you find the best bargain software solutions - The Sun - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- BlueCruise is Getting Better for Current Truck Owners - Ford From the Road - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- Best typing tutor software of 2025 - TechRadar - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- You can update your iPhone to iOS 26 for free right now - here's which models support it - ZDNET - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- This is the best photo editing software to use in 2025 - Amateur Photographer - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- From Abuse to Alignment: Why We Need Sustainable Open Source Infrastructure - Sonatype - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- Think you've seen the weirdest place to play DOOM? Think again - Creative Bloq - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- OpenSSF to freeloaders: Open source infra isn't free - theregister.com - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- I transformed our LAN gaming setup with a mini PC and free software - XDA - September 21st, 2025 [September 21st, 2025]
- iOS 26 is ready to download: Everything to know about the free iPhone software update - Engadget - September 21st, 2025 [September 21st, 2025]
- Filmmakers - you can now storyboard your next movie totally free with this software - Yahoo! Tech - September 21st, 2025 [September 21st, 2025]
- Oak Creek Police Crime Analyst Wins Top International Award with Innovative Free Software Dashboard - Hoodline - September 21st, 2025 [September 21st, 2025]
- Molecularbytes Atomicreverbfree, a free algorithmic reverb for macOS and Windows - synth anatomy - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Meadows Introduces Free Imposition Software for Adobe InDesign - PRWeb - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Lucid just gave its EV owners a free dash cam mode and Tesla-style parking monitor all from a software update - TechRadar - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- My Google Pixel just updated and is better than ever get your free software upgrade now - T3 - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- NLSIU study hails Keralas KITE as key model for implementing Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) - The Times of India - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- These are the top free Windows tools that I use on a daily basis to boost my productivity - Tom's Hardware - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- iOS 26 is finally here: Everything to know about the free iPhone software update - Engadget - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]