back to article CISA: Wow, that election had a lot of foreign trolling. Trump's Homeland Sec pick: And that's none of your concern

America's lead cybersecurity agency on Friday made one final scream into the impending truth void about election security and the role CISA plays in maintaining it. The 2024 election cycle was the "most challenging threat environment" the United States has ever faced, said Cait Conley, who, as senior advisor to CISA Director …

  1. Bebu sa Ware
    FAIL

    'The 2024 election cycle was the "most challenging threat environment" '

    And clearly we have failed.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: 'The 2024 election cycle was the "most challenging threat environment" '

      No, the people voted in a democratic manner and results speak for themselves. The democratic party lost because it no longer represents the majority. It's that simple.

      The majority of Americans don't want people like Biden, Harris, Pelosi, H. Clinton, M.Obama or AOC running their country.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: 'The 2024 election cycle was the "most challenging threat environment" '

        Ostensibly true. If only they knew for whom they were really voting for and if their lies were as transparent to that part of the electorate.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: 'The 2024 election cycle was the "most challenging threat environment" '

          Their lies are transparent to everyone. People just don't care.

          But they do know they don't want any kind of chick running the country, I think we can agree that that is a hard no from the US voter.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: 'The 2024 election cycle was the "most challenging threat environment" '

          Can you not see the lies the Dems and Blob have been telling? Are they really invisible to you?

          1. mevets

            Re: 'The 2024 election cycle was the "most challenging threat environment" '

            Please do share! Maybe start with the fake birds or contrails, and just keep riffing till it feels right.

          2. Casca Silver badge

            Re: 'The 2024 election cycle was the "most challenging threat environment" '

            And an AC posting crap as usual

      2. Ididntbringacoat

        Re: 'The 2024 election cycle was the "most challenging threat environment" '

        Nonsense. The "majority" of Americans do not vote at all. A "majority" of those that voted MAY have voted for the Former Guy.

        Oddly, all the claims of a "fraudulent election" have disappeared along with any questions about TFG's assertions of "the fix being in" at several campaign events.

      3. alisonken1
        Coat

        Re: 'The 2024 election cycle was the "most challenging threat environment" '

        No, the people voted in a democratic manner and results speak for themselves. The democratic party lost because it no longer represents the majority. It's that simple.

        Actually, look at the voting numbers. The problem is record number of people NOT voting is what happened.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: 'The 2024 election cycle was the "most challenging threat environment" '

          "The problem is record number of people NOT voting is what happened."

          Citation needed. 2024 is the second highest turnout for a presidential election in the last 40 years.

          1. FilteredBy

            Re: 'The 2024 election cycle was the "most challenging threat environment" '

            Sigh- lets do some simple maths

            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout_in_United_States_presidential_elections

            2020 had the highest turnout as a percentage, 2024 had the second highest it looks like.

            n absolute numbers though - the engagement from the public is waning - because the public keeps getting bigger

            2020 252,274,000 people eligible, 158,427,986 voted, which meant that 93, 846,014 people didn't vote.

            2024* (estimated) 264,798,961 people eligible (so 12,542, 961 more) of which 156,302,318 voted, which meant 108, 496, 643 people didn't vote.

            Subtracting the didn't vote numbers we get an increase of 14,650,629 people - which is more than the 12,542,961 the potential voters increased by. Hence less people engaged in this election.

      4. Cris E

        Re: 'The 2024 election cycle was the "most challenging threat environment" '

        The majority also do not want people like Trump and the trolls that surround him (Greene, Geatz, et al.) Alas that crew clawed together more votes so they won. But there was no majority of Americans to be seen.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: 'The 2024 election cycle was the "most challenging threat environment" '

      Biden was always too past his prime and anyone pushing him should have done the math on his age before his first term.

      Was he really all the democrats have to offer in the face of the brazen BS put out by the 'other side'.

      And that too is a problem. Two parties who only sort of represent the people is only sort of a democracy.

  2. Groo The Wanderer - A Canuck

    "Screw protecting your personal data! We're talking about people making fun of Mein Fuhrer Drumpf! Not on my watch!"

  3. Mentat74
    Joke

    Kristi Noem : "Cyber agency too 'far off mission' "

    Should they be shooting cyber-dogs instead ?

    1. steelpillow Silver badge

      Re: Kristi Noem : "Cyber agency too 'far off mission' "

      There is an old rule: do not destroy anything until you already have something better to put in its place.

      So if CISA are forbidden from patrolling foreign interference in a sovereign nation's internal affairs, who then is going to do so?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Kristi Noem : "Cyber agency too 'far off mission' "

        You didn't read the article did you ?

      2. Robert 22

        Re: Kristi Noem : "Cyber agency too 'far off mission' "

        That is most definitely a feature, not a bug.

      3. Bryan W

        Re: Kristi Noem : "Cyber agency too 'far off mission' "

        You're taking Noemi. Vacant headed boot lickers don't have these kinds of thoughts.

      4. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Kristi Noem : "Cyber agency too 'far off mission' "

        > ... who then is going to do so?

        I think China will have to step up. Otherwise when they need to shut the US electricity and water off, it's going to be a totally uncoordinated shit show, and the PLA would look like chumps.

        1. steelpillow Silver badge
          Coffee/keyboard

          Re: Kristi Noem : "Cyber agency too 'far off mission' "

          ROFL >splutter!<

  4. Noodle

    When you basically run your entire campaign on a wave of disinformation of course the first thing you do is take out the people who might have something to say about that.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Exactly, the Biden and then Harris campaign was so fact free that Coca-Cola want to know their secret!

      1. ecofeco Silver badge

        What else did the voices in your head tell you?

        1. Blogitus Maximus
          Alert

          To vote for an incompetent narcissist who is unable to string more than two words together.

          Welcome to the origin story for Idiocracy.

          Now to see whether there's anyone left with a backbone to keep the Felon in Chief in check.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            "To vote for an incompetent narcissist who is unable to string more than two words together."

            Kamala Harris? Or do you mean Joe Biden?

            Thankfully with the Orange God Emperor we've taken a turn away from Idiocracy.

            1. Ididntbringacoat

              You spelled Democracy incorrectly.

              Yet Another Troll posting as AC

              1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
                Unhappy

                "Yet Another Troll posting as AC"

                Looks like the same one to me.

                Probably one of the "Usual suspects"

                1. Casca Silver badge

                  Re: "Yet Another Troll posting as AC"

                  They are not anything but predictable.

          2. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Go listen to the Rogan interview or do you prefer being told what to think?

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              They won't as the words will touch their no-no square and require decades of therapy.

              I really wish that Harris had gone on Rogan. But of course she would not as her team could not control the interview.

      2. timrowledge

        How’s the weather in Moscow tovarisch?

      3. Ididntbringacoat

        Is that sarcasm?

        We should take seriously anyone posting as AC?

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Which is what the Dems and State have been trying to do and failed!

      They are still trying having left several time bombs behind such as debt.

      I await the tactical nuke by Iran at the immauguration ... how convenient would that be?

      1. cmdrklarg
        Stop

        More AC trolling

  5. An_Old_Dog Silver badge

    Distinctions (Which Some People Can Not/Will Not Make)

    "Elections are political; election security is not."

    Well-said, Ms. Conley.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Distinctions (Which Some People Can Not/Will Not Make)

      Is this why the far left pro-Palestine mob blew up drop boxes?

      Or do you think right wingers did that?

      1. Wang Cores

        Re: Distinctions (Which Some People Can Not/Will Not Make)

        I'm amazed you remembered that long.

        I remember how the CEO shooter was a dirty woke leftist until it became obvious shooting the guy was more popular. Then he was totally a hero to all your favorite shepherds.

        I also remember how everyone was convinced ANTIFA was spraypainting some guy's RV with abuse until he got booked for filing a false police report because somehow the paintcans were in his house..

        BTW, would you like to buy some $TRUMP? (Not to be confused with "Trump OFFICIAL Inauguration Coin", "Trump SAVE AMERICA Coin," or "Trump Saves Gaza Coin")

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Distinctions (Which Some People Can Not/Will Not Make)

          Ah yes, the guy who assassinated, for that is what it was, a CEO in the street for simply existing. Isn't the suspect from a very wealthy family? Has had a very expensive education and generally grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth. And the left, who HATE success, HATE rich people and especially HATE generational wealth, are deifying him. But then a large number of the vocal anti-capitalists are from wealthy families.

          Anyone remember mouldy-locks? The ANTIFA larper who went to a protest all tooled up with bottles to bash the fash with but ended up getting punched in the face? I recall she was from a wealthy family too. I suppose if you don't need to work you've got plenty of time on your hands to make yourself a victim.

          What about all the race hoaxes where it turns out the 'victim' was the one doing it? If you can't find the oppression as it never existed just make it up.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Distinctions (Which Some People Can Not/Will Not Make)

            Well said, unfortunately the majority on here get their information form CNN or BBC and think they are honest upright organisations working for the people ...

            1. Casca Silver badge

              Re: Distinctions (Which Some People Can Not/Will Not Make)

              Wow, just wow. Fuck off to twitter

          2. jospanner Silver badge

            Re: Distinctions (Which Some People Can Not/Will Not Make)

            Haha exec got Luigi’d

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: Distinctions (Which Some People Can Not/Will Not Make)

              And you think that is a good thing? Just gun down anyone you dislike?

              1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
                Unhappy

                " Just gun down anyone you dislike?"

                Oh, so it's alright when the FOCF says it but it's soooo bad if anyone who doesn't agree with him?

                Keep in mind the person who shot at the FOCF was of his own party.

              2. UnknownUnknown

                Re: Distinctions (Which Some People Can Not/Will Not Make)

                Mass death by systemic insurance denial and collaboration in third party healthcare price-fixing, or a single death by second amendment gun rights.

                Which is more impactful?

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Distinctions (Which Some People Can Not/Will Not Make)

      You believe that?

  6. HuBo Silver badge
    Coffee/keyboard

    Baste piersun fer dah jaab

    Well, I guess Noem's just dandy with the TikTok countdown as the PRC ByteDances its way through the USA's water, energy, election, and financial infrastructures, until all of it are belong to us! Fine by me. It's "cyber freedom" after all, much like her COVID "health freedom" policy ... Who needs cyber defenses when you have nothing worth it to hide or protect, and it doesn't even exist anyways, plus government is eeeevil?! </emesis>

    Then again, might'nt this "far off mission" be just the ticket for such far out missionary?! Huuuh, maybe on another planet then ... and at some other time ... (ship'em off to Mars!)

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Baste piersun fer dah jaab

      So is TikTok the main source of PRC hacking? Wow I'm surprised they run that on critical infrastructure.

  7. Howard Sway Silver badge

    The misinformation and disinformation that they have stuck their toe into and meddled with

    Leave those lies alone! How dare you try and stop all the foreign troll factories from destabilising our country! Without them a moron like me could never get into government!

  8. Winkypop Silver badge
    Trollface

    Yet another useful idiot

    But for who’s benefit?

  9. steviebuk Silver badge

    terrorists

    Are gonna have a field day for four years with all the idiots in charge.

  10. BobTheIntern
    Unhappy

    Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

  11. Ghostman

    The dems were trying hard at posting disinformation and just outright lies

    I have a relative that, heaven help him, is a devout, rabid, democrat. I got onto him repeatedly during the campaign about not fact checking the memes and articles that he was posting as being "not truthful, not correct, and downright lies". Yep, that's the quote I would use. Told him many times that a 30 second Google search would have saved him a lot of embarrassment and loss of credibility. After posting links to show that the article or meme was "not truthful, not correct, or just a downright lie" he removed hid FB post, for a little while, then re-posted it, where I re-posted my response. He got thrown into FB jail several times. He has since de-friended me for some reason

    1. ecofeco Silver badge

      Re: The dems were trying hard at posting disinformation and just outright lies

      True story bro!!!

      LOL, first day on the job, Ivan?

      1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
        Unhappy

        "LOL, first day on the job, Ivan?"

        Apparently joined 2018,

        You might be looking at a "True believer" in the FOCF.

  12. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    Joke

    To misquote "Con Air"

    Donny 34 "I'm going to use your whole country to make me feel gooood

    Unfortunately IRL there is no Cameron Poe. :-(

  13. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    There seems to be a lot of TDS on here!

    I don't know if Trump is genuine, time will tell, but perhaps people should judge and criticise his policies and soon (I hope) is actions rather than just parrot captured media. Perhaps go and listen to proper interviews with the "demons" rather than out of context sound bites. He is not Hitler (neither is Putin) and that sort of ridiculous conflation opens the door to true extremism.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Remember how they were all sperging out when he first announced he was running for president. He wasn't even the nominee and the media were attacking him. Once he won the nomination they went absolutely batshit crazy! It was not that long ago that Trump was a darling of the media and Democrat party. He has dared to stray away from them and has entered politics without the correct connections.

      1. jospanner Silver badge

        How much trumpcoin have you bought?

  14. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    FAIL

    *Lots* of AC's here this morning

    All sooooo proud of their support for the FOCF.

    Just not quite proud enough of their support to put their names on their support, in this the hour of their glorious Orange Jesus's triumph.

    Because even when they've won, they act like losers?

    Let's see what he does about those mass deportations his fans (even the Latino ones) sooo loved him talking about.

    And of course the price of apples, and milk and bacon. Let's call them "Groceries" and the whole thing "The cost of groceries." Let's see how they work out over the next 4 years.

    Because he will never invade Canada. That would put a state with 52 Representatives and 2 Senators in the Houses. How many do you think will be Republican?

    Here's the thing. He has absolute majorities in both Houses now. IOW he has no excuses not to give you AC's exactly what (most of) you have been asking for over the last 4 years.

    I do hope you enjoy getting exactly what you asked for.

    1. JLV Silver badge

      Re: *Lots* of AC's here this morning

      > a state with 52 Representatives and 2 Senators

      Canadian here. For the - minority of - American people who actually support such a move, the solution favored by about half is not to give us statehood but instead make us into a territory.

      https://angusreid.org/canada-51st-state-trump/

      Needless to say, we have no interest in joining the Trump shitshow, and that includes our Conservatives.

      What's FOCF?

      1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
        Unhappy

        Re: *Lots* of AC's here this morning

        Fat Old Convicted Felon.

        Appropriate for a man who wants to steal a whole country from it's people and call it a "Territory."

        I did call him just a Fat Old Crook, but (hat tip to Jake) I was reminded he is convicted as well.

        "S**t talking man-child" would be an equally accurate description but you might think I was talking about Elon Musk.

  15. Version 1.0 Silver badge
    IT Angle

    A positive view of democracy

    "There is only one difference between dictatorship and democracy. In democracy, you vote and then take orders, in dictatorship you don't waste time voting." - Joseph Stalin

    Has democracy become democrazy these days? It looks like Stalin made an accidentally accurate statement.

    1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
      Unhappy

      "It looks like Stalin made an accidentally accurate statement."

      Top tip. Never trust a psychopath.

      They will always claim whatever they are good at makes them strong. Like getting people to inform on each other, running a massive prison system etc.

      Whereas anything they are poor at makes you weak. Like running free and fair elections. Like requiring due process before you lock someone up. Like allowing dissenting voices.

      I'll always take an imperfect democracy over a dictatorship.

      Democracies can (and do) evolve.

      Dictatorships either die or are deposed, often by another dictatorship.

  16. StewartWhite Bronze badge
    Big Brother

    Meet the New Boss

    "Noem, the new boss, believes otherwise."

    Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

  17. Senzen

    Muricans freely voted for convicted criminal, convicted rapist Trump helped by foreign agents - twice. Not a surprise his cronies don't want to prevent it.

    1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
      Unhappy

      "Muricans freely voted for convicted criminal, convicted rapist Trump helped by foreign agents"

      True.

      I hate to be pedantic but under NYC law ¬ a rapist.

      In NYC rape is only P in V. Everything else is "Sexual assault."

      That said he still sounds eligible for the SOR, but as it wasn't a criminal prosecution he doesn't end up on it.

      That would've barred him from any employment around children* or the elderly

      Obviously not a ban on running for POTUS, probably because the Founding Fathers thought such a person would have either hanged himself or been lynched (with or without a trial).

      *McDonalds for example?

  18. JLV Silver badge
    Trollface

    You know what's funny? How the Trumpies were howling the 2024 election was rigged, rigged, I tell you. By the Democrats' fearsome vote stealing machine!

    All the way until... the results came in, and all that election rigging rhetoric vanished as quickly as dollars are liberated from your wallet at Whole Foods.

    What foreign interference? There is no foreign interference as long as Trump wins!

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      If that's true, why didn't Biden's additional 12M voters vote against Trump this time, too? Do you think they were being sexist by refusing to vote for Harris during this presidential election?

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Don't you remember in 2020 high ranking Democrats calling into question the security of voting machines and claiming Trump will cheat until they won and suddenly it was 'the most secure election in history'?

      No? Oh, I forgot, its OK if your side does it ;)

      1. Casca Silver badge

        Poor little AC

      2. JLV Silver badge

        No, I don't remember Dems saying the election was stolen. It's normal, esp in these times, to be vigilant about election shenanigans. But worrying about election integrity is not the same thing as stating it was stolen by your opponents.

        Tell you what, why don't you refresh all of our memories by actual citations?

        And, no, not just a convenient out-of-context sentence, cut out of from the middle of an otherwise reasonable bit of speech.

        Not after 4 years of "Stop the Steal!"

        1. JLV Silver badge

          About the only thing similar I remember was the 2000 election nailbiter Bush vs Gore. And, no I wasn't all that impressed with the Dems at the time - being that close, it was always going to be contentious with whoever lost. No matter who lost.

          But the complaints from Dems in 2000 were to Trumpy complaints as a mild, discrete bit of ladylike flatulence is to a maelstrom of never ending hysterical diarrhea occasioned by the juxtaposition of way too much Budweiser with a munchies-driven 3AM spree at Taco Bell.

          Both questionable behavior, but nowhere comparable.

          (yeah, I know, arguably any Budweiser is too much)

    3. John Smith 19 Gold badge

      "There is no foreign interference as long as Trump wins!"

      Exactly like 2017

      The I-asked-Mr-Putin-and-he-said-Russia-didn't-interfere-in-my-getting-elected-at-all line

      And then Bill Barr's "Summation"* of the Muller report that also "showed" no involvement.

      *Spoiler alert. Not an accurate summation.

  19. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Conley should have tuned her radio to the VOA. Or listened to any politician's commercials between May and November...

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