Top Ga. Official 'Mad As Hell' About Cyberattack Traced to Homeland Security: Report

ATLANTA, GA — A top state official is steamed about a cyberattack on his agency's computer network that apparently originated within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, according to a media report.

Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp fired off a letter Thursday to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, demanding information about the Nov. 15 attack. It was traced to an IP address within Homeland Security, according to WSB-TV Channel 2.

Kemp told WSB-TV that the network's firewall held up, and there was no breach or theft of data. But he said that he is "mad as hell" about the attack and wants to hold the federal government responsible, adding that the attack may have been politically motivated.

A computer security expert told WSB-TV that it's most likely that an individual hacker "spoofed" the IP address, or faked his identity by stealing the DHS address before attacking the network.

The Secretary of State's office maintains Georgia's database of election results and voter registrations, as well as records of corporate and professional licenses.

In an email sent Thursday, a DHS spokesman told the TV station that the department had received Kemp's letter and will respond to him directly.