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KY Voter Records Among Those for Sale on Dark Web

KY Voter Records Among Those for Sale on Dark Web
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By The Associated Press/West Kentucky Star Staff
Oct. 15, 2018 | FRANKFORT
By The Associated Press/West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 15, 2018 | 07:35 PM | FRANKFORT
Security researchers say an estimated 35 million voter records from 19 U.S. states have been offered for sale on a dark web online forum.
 
The researchers said Monday the offering does not mean voter databases have been breached. The records could have been stolen from resellers who buy voter data from states for use by campaigns and get-out-the-vote efforts.
 
Policies vary by state on who can buy such records, which typically include phone numbers and addresses, sometimes voting histories. Commercial use and publication are generally prohibited.
 
Andrei Barysevich of Recorded Future says his company was among those that discovered the offerings.

Prices vary from $150 for Minnesota voter records to $1,300 for Texas to $12,500 for Wisconsin. Kentucky's records were priced at $2,000 on the raidforums website.
 
Barysevich says state-backed hackers set on election meddling wouldn't be selling such data, but rather looking to buy it.
 
Experts say the main risk is of identity theft.

Kentucky's Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes issued a statement Monday afternoon, saying she is working with agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, to investigate the matter. 

Grimes said, "At this time, I have no reason to believe Kentucky's voter registration system has been compromised," but that the State Board of Elections should move quickly to put new defenses in place.
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