Cybersecurity expert Jeremiah Fowler recently uncovered a concerning data breach involving over 4.6 million voter records and election-related documents. These sensitive files were discovered in 13 unprotected databases managed by a technology contractor based in Illinois.
Company Behind the Exposure
The databases were traced back to Platinum Technology Resource, a firm providing election technology and services to various counties across Illinois. Fowler revealed that by altering county names in the database URLs, he could access additional exposed databases, some of which had minimal security protections.
The exposed records included critical personal information such as voter names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and driver’s licence numbers. Additionally, the databases contained documents with candidate information, including contact details and voter petitions with signatures.
Although Fowler did not find any immediate misuse of the data, the potential risks are substantial. Malicious individuals could exploit this information for identity theft, voter intimidation, or spreading disinformation. Fowler noted that having access to such personal information could allow bad actors to send misleading information about voting procedures or use past voting history to harass voters.
Long-term Service of the Company
Platinum Technology Resource has been providing election services in Illinois for over three decades. Their services
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