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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..."

8 of 337 comments (clear)

  1. anybody setting up an AP? by UnderAttack · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hm. Taking over the Jumbotron is probably the ultimate "Capture the Flag" contest.

    --
    ---- join dshield.org Distributed Intrusion Detec
    1. Re:anybody setting up an AP? by jred · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think the Rep. ppl here aren't as noticeable because they aren't as offensive.

      I mean, KERRY EATS BABIES!!!

      Yeah, that's what I meant to say.

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      jred
      I'm not a mechanic but I play one in my garage...
  2. But, but, but... by fizban · · Score: 4, Funny

    Who in their right mind would want to hack into the democratic convention? The only ones I can think of are Republicans, and we all know they never do anything illegal like that...

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    +1 Insightful, -1 Troll. What can I say, I'm an Insightful Troll.

  3. 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.

    --


    Consensus is good, but informed dictatorship is better
  4. Democrats have techies on their side... by A_GREER · · Score: 5, Funny

    How can they get hacked when it was AL Gore who invented the internet...

  5. Re:Um... "Hiawatha Bray"? by goober · · Score: 4, Informative

    ummmmmmm... is that your real name?

    yes, that's his real name. He's been regurgitating FUD pieces in the Globe for years now...

  6. 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.

  7. 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.