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Video Shows Easy Hacking of E-Voting Machines

Mike writes "The Security Group at the University of California in Santa Barbara has released the video that shows the attacks carried out against the Sequoia voting system. The video shows an attack where a virus-like software spreads across the voting system. The coolest part of the video is the one that shows how the 'brainwashed' voting terminals can use different techniques to change the votes even when a paper audit trail is used. Pretty scary stuff. The video is absolute proof that these types of attacks are indeed feasible and not just a conspiracy theory. Also, the part that shows how the 'tamperproof' seals can be completely bypassed in seconds is very funny (and quite disturbing at the same time)."

8 of 254 comments (clear)

  1. Early vote makes your vote count (better chance) by InsaneProcessor · · Score: 5, Interesting

    That is why I always early vote. It is on paper where I vote and that stands a better chance of getting counted correctly.

    --

    Athiesm is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby.
  2. Re:Early vote makes your vote count (better chance by R2.0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "That is why I always early vote. It is on paper where I vote and that stands a better chance of getting counted correctly."

    Don't be so smug. Early voting gives those who would deny your vote more time to tamper.

    Let's say you mail in your ballot 2 weeks ahead of time. They are collected and sorted by precinct, and then held until election day to be opened.

    Just sitting there.

    And then someone drops some of the ballots from certain precincts in the shredder - you know, the ones that vote overwhelmingly for one party? Not enough to cause a lot of suspicion, but enough to make a difference in a tight race. Now, not only is your vote gone, you don't even know it - the tampering happened before election day. AND, even if it is discovered early enough, they won't know exactly WHO got screwed, so you won't get another shot.

    E-voting makes it easy for small numbers of people to tamper on a large scale. That doesn't mean that good old fashioned vote rigging has disappeared. Spam hasn't eliminated junk mail, has it?

    --
    "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
  3. Re:Early vote makes your vote count (better chance by pxlmusic · · Score: 5, Insightful

    because people also don't want to be profiled for their electoral choices.

    for all we know, we already are. in general, it is my understanding that many political activists are already being watched.

    furthermore, i'm all for revoking a lot of these churches' tax exempt status. like Carlin said, "If these churches are so interested in politics; let them pay the same price of admission as everyone else."

    --
    "If for any reason you're not satisfied with our service, I hate you."
  4. Re:We have a system to protect against this by Volante3192 · · Score: 5, Informative

    *sigh* And these ACs are part the people who help decide the fate of the nation? No wonder we're screwed...

    Barack had dual citizenship with Kenya (NOT Indonesia) and the US until 21 years old when Kenyan law required him to abandon it. He was born in Hawaii which makes him a natural born citizen.

    McCain was born on a naval base which is considered soverign US soil for the purposes of birth, and has been since the 1790s by an act of Congress. (It's true the wording isn't as clear as it could be, but it's clear what the intent is of the bill.)

    Both candidates are US citizens and natural born. This is all a non issue, has been, will be. Go find some other misinformation to spread...

  5. Re:Everything is hackable by TheRaven64 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The running exploit could be recognized by a competent poll worker

    And this highlights the flaw in electronic voting. The more complex the polling system, the more skill required to ensure fairness. In a paper ballot, anyone can act as an overseer and be confident that the votes were not tampered with while they are watching. With an electronic system that drops to, what, 10%? 1%? 0.1%? And with such a small percentage capable of ensuring election fairness, do you really have a democracy anymore?

    --
    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  6. It's already on youtube by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Part I:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWDEZqqqBHE

    Part II:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moEsgdzZ19c

  7. Torrent here: by mamer-retrogamer · · Score: 5, Informative
    --
    Schrödinger's cat is not amused—maybe.
  8. Re:Early vote makes your vote count (better chance by anw · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I find this comment slightly surreal, and honestly believe only an American could have written it.

    Democracy is not a commodity that you can have even though your neighbour doesn't. It is more like peace, or sanitation : everyone has it or no-one has it.

    To respond to a demonstration that your democratic system has a very serious problem by saying 'Hey, I reckon I got my vote counted' is, well, bizzare.