Published 8:20 am PST, Wednesday, February 12, 2020
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Most Rhode Island municipalities have websites that do not use the domain name for government entities, according to a WJAR-TV report.
The television station reviewed websites for Rhode Island's 39 municipalities and found that 29 of them use a domain name that does not end .GOV.
Cybersecurity experts recommend using .GOV for security, and so residents know they are on a legitimate government website.
Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, when told of the findings, said she would contact the 29 municipalities and offer federal funding that has been allocated to Rhode Island to make the switch. She said it's a good investment because of the risk of cyber attacks.
The Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns said municipalities would welcome the opportunity to make their websites and networks more secure, especially if the program helps defer costs.