Hotel Minibar Key Opens Diebold Voting Machines

Billosaur writes, "As if Diebold doesn't have enough to worry about! On the Freedom To Tinker blog, Ed Felten, one of the co-authors of the recent report 'Security Analysis of the Diebold AccuVote-TS Voting Machine', reveals an even more bizarre finding related to the initial report. It turns out that you can gain access to an AccuVote-TS machine using a hotel minibar key. In fact, the key in question is a utilitarian type used to open office furniture, electronic equipment, jukeboxes, and the like. They might as well hand them out like candy."

Comments

Where can I buy one of these voting machines?

[east coast]

I'd like to have access to the minibar.

Moo

[Chacham]

the key in question is a utilitarian type

That's the problem right there. You should never religion and state, it always makes one cross.

super key?

[192939495969798999]

Let me see, this key opens voting machines, mini-bars, jukeboxes, etc? Sounds pretty shiny, where do I get one! I need to add it to my lil' bastard music-copying, alcohol-drinking, electrion-throwing kit.

Re:Why would we expect anything else?

[Kesch]

Or even better, when we see nothing at all and Richard M. Stallman is mysteriously elected President in a write-in landslide.

The more I think about this, the more this seems to be a nice solution. Get a bunch of geeks armed with minibar keys and flash cards. Once Mario and Yoshi are the leading candidates in 14 different states, the public will be sure to take voting security seriously.

Of course you will have to deal with a huge election fiasco along with finding enough people willing to commit election fraud.

Thirsty after a hard day oppressing the unwashed?.

[wwiiol_toofless]

With the Diebold UberFascer 6000, you can Fix elections AND enjoy a hard-earned single malt scotch!

Re:Why would we expect anything else?

[Anonymous Coward]

All this cuffuffle about voting. We should just leave it for the President to decide. He seems to make good decisions.

Re:Why would we expect anything else?

[RumGunner]

You raise a number of valid points, and while I...

Wait a minute... Did you say lasers !?!

Please....just give us partiy with Slot Machines

[instantkarma1]

Pretty please...with sugar on top.

Either make voting machines as secure as slot machines, or let mini bar keys open up slot machines.

Either or. I'm not picky.

Re:Why would we expect anything else?

[Dr Caleb]

"Minibar key?"

No, I'm not the President yet, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!