Elections increasingly attract cyber operations that target politicians, businesses and the public. These activities range from espionage campaigns against political parties targeting operations seeking to shape opinions, sow discontent or undermine democratic processes.
This newsletter, published twice a month, provides an overview of key cyber incidents and emerging threats related to the upcoming October 2026 general elections in Brazil. It offers recommendations on how organizations and individuals can mitigate and protect against these threats.
Key incidents
In this issue we focus on the following:
Brazil denies visas for US delegation focused on election integrity
According to New York Times reporting on July 25, the Brazilian government blocked the visit out of concern that the US officials would raise unwarranted doubts about the integrity of Brazil’s election systems in the run-up to the October 2026 presidential elections.
Run of victories for conservative candidates in Latin American elections continues
According to an AP News article from July 3, the victory of conservative politician Keiko Fujimori in the June 2026 Peruvian presidential election is just the latest in a string of some seven victories in major elections for right-leaning politicians in the region in recent years.
69% of respondents expected cyber security budgets in Latin American companies to increase over the next 12 months, according to RSM’s 2026 Latin America Cybersecurity Survey – but only 16% of respondents said the CISO at their organization controls these budgets.
Mitigation advice
- Strengthen monitoring for disinformation and impersonation campaigns through mechanisms to monitor social media, traditional media and online forums for false narratives, impersonation attempts or coordinated campaigns targeting the organization, its executives or its brand
- Implement additional security measures like cybersecurity awareness, multi-factor authentication (MFA) and monitor for account compromise or impersonation to enhance executive and high-profile personnel security
- Increase vigilance against phishing and social engineering reinforcing employee awareness, conducting phishing simulations and implementing email security controls to reduce the likelihood of credential theft and initial system compromise
- Review access controls, monitor privileged accounts and ensure that sensitive information is adequately protected in all channels. It is extremely important to ensure critical data during periods of heightened geopolitical or political tensions, when espionage and intelligence-gathering activities may increase
- Establish a threat intelligence capability focused on electoral and geopolitical risk implementing regular monitoring of political, cyber and social developments to identify emerging risks and support proactive decision-making
Brazil denies visas for US delegation focused on election integrity
The US delegation included two senior State Department officials – Riley M. Barnes and Samuel Samson who had planned meetings to discuss Brazil’s voting systems and concerns about a potential lack of freedom of expression during the campaign.
Certain elements of Brazilian political society have raised concerns about the security of Brazil’s electronic voting machines, including a potential susceptibility to cyber attacks, though these claims have been largely debunked by election experts. Brazil uses biometrics to verify voter identities, election results are tallied and provided soon after polls close and dozens of international observers routinely monitor elections in the country, according to the article.
Potential impact: As with the controversy surrounding the late July visit of Argentine President Javier Milei to São Paulo to endorse the campaign of Flavio Bolsonaro, there remain serious concerns about the potential for attempted foreign interference in the upcoming presidential election. Moreover, and focused on the security of the nation’s voting machines, it is highly likely that concerted disinformation campaigns will continue apace, perpetrated by both domestic and foreign actors alike.
Recent Peruvian election result the latest in a string of conservative election victories in Latin America
According to the AP news article, Fujimori is just the latest in a string of right-leaning candidates to do well in the region, and with similar campaign themes ostensibly focused on concerns around crime, economic growth and immigration. Abelardo de la Espriella narrowly won Colombia’s presidential election in June with a heavily tough on crime campaign, and election or re-election results in Costa Rica, Chile, Honduras, Ecuador and Argentina in recent years have also supported this notable trend.
Although a variety of factors appear to be involved, experts note that a “Trump effect” also appears to be at play in the region, as many of these right-leaning candidates have used similar messaging as the US president in their campaigns, and often also benefitted from support and endorsements from Trump directly, as well as those in his political orbit.
Potential impact: Although politics in Latin America in recent decades have often appeared as a pendulum swinging between the ideological right and left, this recent trend appears noteworthy and sustained. In the context of the 4 October Brazilian presidential election – and as evidenced by Milei’s late July visit – potential foreign interference in Brazilian elections will likely come from a variety of sources and in a variety of forms. Concerns about more traditional nation-state actors remain legitimate, but in the current era of geopolitical instability, foreign meddling is likely to come from new and unexpected sources as well.
Focus on: Voting machines in Brazil
Brazil first introduced electronic voting machines in municipal elections in 1996 – hoping to improve efficiency and reduce fraud associated with paper ballots – and by the 2000 general elections, the system was fully implemented nationwide, making Brazil the first country to conduct elections entirely electronically.
Brazilian voting machines are standalone electronic devices designed for secure vote collection and each machine has two main components:
Polling station terminal: Operated by election officials to verify voter identity, often using biometric data.
Voter terminal: Where voters input their selections using a numeric keypad, with confirmation displayed on a screen. Votes are digitally encrypted and stored in the machine. After the polls close, data is transmitted securely to central tallying centers, either electronically or via physical transport devices. The system is paperless, which allows rapid counting but has raised debates about auditability.
Electoral protection in Brazil: cybersecurity training and support
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