A report on an FBI warning to state election officials that their IT systems could be hacked leads the latest edition of the ISMG Security Report.

In the report, you'll also hear:

ISMG Security and Technology Managing Editor Jeremy Kirk examine how the blockchain technology behind bitcoin transactions is being explored as a way to secure elections; and DataBreachToday Executive Editor Mathew J. Schwartz analyze how the recent dump of attack tools linked to the Equation Group, which is widely believed to be tied to the U.S. National Security Agency, has triggered despair in technology circles

The ISMG Security Report appears on this and other ISMG websites on Tuesdays and Fridays. Be sure to check out our Aug. 23 and Aug. 26 reports, which respectively analyze the development of a defense against attackers who exploit USB devices to hack into computers and how some organizations have been stockpiling bitcoins to use to pay off attackers if, or when, they become victimized by ransomware attacks. The next ISMG Security Report will be Friday, Sept. 2.

Theme music for the ISMG Security Report is by Ithaca Audio under the Creative Commons license.