Current:Home > InvestA Nebraska bill would hire a hacker to probe the state’s computer, elections systems-InfoLens
A Nebraska bill would hire a hacker to probe the state’s computer, elections systems
View Date:2024-12-23 18:33:24
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — One state lawmaker wants Nebraska to take measures to protect it from cyberattacks. His answer? Hire its own hacker.
State Sen. Loren Lippincott presented a bill Thursday to the Legislature’s government committee that would give the Nebraska State Patrol $200,000 to hire “an ethical hacker.” The hacker would spend his or her days trying to break into the state’s computer network, as well as election equipment and software, to find any vulnerabilities in those systems.
Lippincott said he got the idea from a nephew of his who did similar work. The lawmaker’s staff did not find other states that have hired independent hackers, although Missouri has hired a company that employs “white hat hackers” to provide that service.
“We hope to lead the way,” Lippincott said.
His bill also would allow hiring a security company that provide hackers to find weaknesses in the state’s system.
Security challenges continue to grow for state and local election officials across the country, including potential cyberattacks waged by foreign governments, criminal ransomware gangs and election misinformation that has led to harassment of election officials and undermined public confidence.
Lippincott presented the bill on the heels of FBI Director Christopher Wray’s warning that Chinese government hackers are targeting critical U.S. infrastructure, including water treatment plants, the electrical grid and transportation systems.
The Nebraska bill’s hearing was also held on the same day that the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency launched a program aimed at boosting election security in the states and after a recent cyberattack on government operations in Georgia that has created some elections challenges ahead of that state’s March presidential primary.
“This idea is that an ethical hacker can find vulnerabilities that can be fixed before they can be exploited by bad actors,” Lippincott said. “They can say, ‘Here’s the hole in the dike.’”
Lippincott’s hacker-for-hire bill accompanies an $11 million cybersecurity bill also presented to the committee Thursday that would give the state’s chief information officer, local governments and school districts more ability to bolster cybersecurity through the purchase of security software and hardware, training and preparedness drills.
The bills drew a handful of supporters and no opponents at Thursday’s hearing. The committee will decide in the coming days whether to advance the proposals. If advanced, they would have to survive three rounds of debate to be passed in Nebraska’s unique one-chamber Legislature.
veryGood! (9839)
Related
- Amazon Black Friday 2024 sales event will start Nov. 21: See some of the deals
- 37 Massachusetts communities to get disaster aid for last year’s flooding
- More searching planned at a Florida Air Force base where 121 potential Black grave sites were found
- Small plane makes emergency landing on snowy Virginia highway
- Ready-to-eat meat, poultry recalled over listeria risk: See list of affected products
- Inside Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet's Very Public Yet Private Romance
- Nuggets hand Celtics their first loss in Boston this season after 20 straight home wins
- Japan becomes the fifth country to land a spacecraft on the moon
- Tennis Channel suspends reporter after comments on Barbora Krejcikova's appearance
- Wayfair lays off over 1,000 employees weeks after CEO told company to 'work longer hours'
Ranking
- The NBA Cup is here. We ranked the best group stage games each night
- Family sues Atlanta cop, chief and city after officer used Taser on deacon who later died
- Loewe explores social media and masculinity in Paris fashion show
- Econ Battle Zone: Disinflation Confrontation
- Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger welcome their first son together
- These Valentine’s Day Deals From Nordstrom Rack Will Get Your Heart Racing
- Endangered Whale ‘Likely to Die’ After Suspected Vessel Strike. Proposed NOAA Rules Could Prevent Future Collisions, Scientists Say
- An explosive case of police violence in the Paris suburbs ends with the conviction of 3 officers
Recommendation
-
Jason Statham Shares Rare Family Photos of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Their Kids on Vacation
-
Kansas couple charged with collecting man’s retirement while keeping his body in their home 6 years
-
Family sues Atlanta cop, chief and city after officer used Taser on deacon who later died
-
Fall in Love With Coach Outlet’s Valentine’s Day Drop Featuring Deals Up to 75% Off Bags & More
-
Volunteer firefighter accused of setting brush fire on Long Island
-
13 students reported killed in an elementary school dorm fire in China’s Henan province
-
Mexican family's death at border looms over ongoing Justice Department standoff with Texas
-
JetBlue and Spirit Airlines say they will appeal a judge’s ruling that blocked their merger