Election security

Russia previously tried to influence US elections, says spy chief

On Tuesday, Clapper did not, however, name the Russians as the culprits behind the recent hacks, a stand which he has avoided previously as well. At the Aspen Security Forum in July, Clapper said his agency was not ready to make a public call on the attribution of the hack.

But Clapper told the Post that “there’s a tradition in Russia of interfering with elections, their own and others.” He added that it shouldn’t come as a big shock to people. “I think it’s more dramatic maybe because now they have the cyber tools that they can bring to bear in the same effort,” he said.

To make sure that hackers don’t get to the electoral system, the Department of Homeland Security is working with state election officials, offering all assistance to the states on best practices on security, specially where there is any dependence on the Internet, Clapper said.