the intelligence community is launching a new effort to combat russian interference in u.s. elections. this time the department of homeland security is warning the kremlin may turn to ransomware in 2020. reuters were first to report the u.s. government plans to launch a program in roughly one month that narrowly focuses on protecting voter registration databases and systems ahead of the 2020 presidential election. ransomware attacks hold computer systems hostage until payment is made. a technology official telling reuters quote a preelection undetected attack could tamper with voter lists creating huge confusion and delays, disenfranchisement, at large could compromise the validity of the election. officials say this new dhs program will run parallel with local, state, and private sector