Fake texts, stolen passwords, convincing disguises

A joint FBI and CISA alert ahead of the midterm elections warns that hackers may use bogus text messages and emails to steal passwords or other sensitive data from election officials, candidates, and political organizations. The agencies say 'super intelligence,' a Trump-approved term for AI, is allowing hackers to sharpen their rogue emails and texts so they look and sound more convincing.

The warning targets the phishing layer of election interference rather than voting machines themselves: the risk is that AI-polished lures trick officials or campaign staff into handing over credentials that attackers can then use. The alert urges both officials and the public to stay alert as the midterms approach, since more convincing fakes lower the chance that a recipient spots the deception before acting on it.