Computer numbers

ANDERSON, Ind. —  Technology helps make election results immediately available in many communities across the country via the touch or tap of a fingertip. But the election results can not be posted online through one central Indiana county’s website because of a crippling ransomware attack on county government computers last week, officials said Tuesday afternoon.

Votes cast by residents in Madison County, Indiana, have not been affected.

Ransomware, a type of malicious software program designed to block access to a computer system and files until a sum of money is paid, encrypts files, preventing anyone without encryption code from accessing them.

At about 3 p.m. Tuesday, county clerk Darlene Likens said the server used to post election results online had been affected by the attack.

The attack on the county’s resources comes amid widespread anxiety and preparation linked to fears of hacking of the nation’s presidential election.

Tallies will be kept by the county clerk’s office as they are brought in after the polls close.

As they are counted, results will be distributed — as they were decades ago — to the news media and officials by printouts.

“That’s it — paper. We’re going back to the golden days,” Likens said.

Likens said the office’s fax machine and email system were also affected by the attack.

On the advice of its insurance company, county officials are paying the ransom demands made by the unknown ransomware group. But full access to the computer server is not expected until later in the week.

The Anderson, Indiana Herald Bulletin contributed details to this story. This story will be updated as information becomes available.