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Democratic Convention Computer Security Threat?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the don't-point-that-laptop-at-me-sir dept.

Hiawatha writes "Excuse me for tooting my own horn, but check out my story in today's Boston Globe about a possible security problem at the Democratic convention next week. If visitors plug insecure laptops with wireless connections into the convention's wired network, there could be trouble..."

4 of 337 comments (clear)

  1. so what's new? by stonebeat.org · · Score: 4, Insightful

    the article doesn't contain any new info. Everyone know how unsecure network connections can be at conventions. everyone know they can cause havoc.

    Even the SANS conference, with all the security gurus, had issues with providing network connectivity. That is why they longer provide network connectivity, WiFi or otherwise, in classrooms.

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    Consensus is good, but informed dictatorship is better
  2. really secret stuff by pocomoonshiine · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Maybe somebody at the DNC has compromising pictures of George Bush getting wads of money stuffed up... oh wait, that wouldn't be news. (Same applies to Mr. Kerry) Just what sort of top secret information does anybody expect to snag? This is a planned media circus, not a cigar smoke-filled warroom meeting.

    I don't see how the security vulnerabilities at the DNC are any different than any business, convention, or hotel on any day in any city.

  3. Hmmm not really democratic specific... by merlin_jim · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Don't bash on the democrats. This has been a problem ever since wireless networking has become ubiquitous in every convention, company, and private network. The democrats are no more or less susceptible than anyone else...

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    I am disrespectful to dirt! Can you see that I am serious?!
  4. Basic precaution by Albanach · · Score: 4, Insightful
    If the Democrats have any sense, any non trusted computers are going to live on a different subnet to their trusted systems, with no routing between the two networks. The trusted systems should be using a VPN to make sure any network traffic they're emitting is encrypted.

    That way, sure someone can hijack a laptop, but all they get to do is piggy back on the Democrat's internet connection or target other machines on the untrusted network.

    Sure it's possible they haven't thought of this, but it's such a basic precaution I find it hard to believe. If they're letting any untrusted computers on to their network they have to treat the physical network like the internet - untrusted jsut like the guest PCs.