General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMore on the hacking of the US Election Assistance Commission. NOT GOOD.
They caught one hacker trying to sell information -- but for all they know there could have been other independent hackers.
Also, put this hack together with the discovery that the voting systems used in many states ARE connected to the internet and vulnerable to hacking.
It's harder and harder to believe that our election tabulators themselves weren't hacked.
http://news.softpedia.com/news/russian-speaking-hacker-breached-america-s-voting-machine-certification-agency-511025.shtml
According to a report published by the firm, the hacker managed to breach EAC systems and access credentials, including some with administrative privileges.
These administrative accounts could potentially be used to access sensitive information as well as surreptitiously modify or plant malware on the EAC site, effectively staging a watering hole attack utilizing an official government resource, the company says.
The hacker was trying to sell vulnerabilities in EAC systems to Recorded Future engineers, explaining that he managed to break into computers using an SQL injection flaw that was still unpatched.
Furthermore, it appeared that the hacker was already involved in talks with a Middle Eastern government, but more specifics were not available.
Its unclear how long the EAC vulnerability has been active; however, it could have been potentially discovered and accessed by several parties independently, Recorded Future says.
SNIP
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/critical-new-discovery-during-wisconsin-recount-cellular-connectivity-of-tabulators-leaves-door-open-to-hacking-300379050.html
MADISON, Wis., Dec. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A huge security hole in our US elections, which allows alteration of vote totals by outsider or insider entities, was discovered during the Wisconsin recount, according to electronic security investigators from RecountNow.org.
A cellular capability is available as an option on the latest Election Systems and Software (ES&S) DS200 model of optical scanner.
"Cellular connectivity at the precinct level is bad," says IT specialist Jim March-Simpson, who, along with forensic investigator John Brakey, discovered and examined the vulnerability, "but the precinct-level scanners can open an internet channel to the central vote tabulator." March-Simpson is referring to a central unit that collects and adds vote totals from a whole region.
SNIP
An entity with "government-level resources . . . could completely 'own' the electoral process," March-Simpson says. "If the central vote tabulator does not have the best possible security, then even a good hacker with a normal PC can get in," he reports.
SNIP
There are currently over 26,500 ES&S DS200 optical scan vote-counting machines in 25 states. It is not yet known how many of them have the cellular capability at present, nor whether other equipment models have the same or similar capabilities. DS200 scanners count ballots electronically; ballots are fed in by hand but are counted by a computer inside in accordance with programmable instructions.
ON EDIT: Here is another expert opinion on the hackability of our voting system.
http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/talking-cyber-security-with-a-norwich-expert/Content?oid=3882847
SD: You're assuming the job of Norwich's chief information security officer at a critical moment in history. This is the first time that cyber warfare may have played a role in the outcome of a U.S. presidential election.
GS: I can't speak specifically to that because I don't know who the malicious actors were, and I don't think we actually know yet. But you're right, we're starting to use technology more and more, especially in elections. We have the electronic voting machines now that are definitely susceptible to cyber attack. I don't think there's a solution to that right now. And it's going to continue to be a problem simply because, for the manufacturers of these devices, their audience is so small. It's local and state governments, and there's no real incentive for them to build security into them. I'm not picking on any one of them. It's just the way it is.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)all of the previous disclosures . Every Voter is effected if this is proven. Wonder how Mitch McConnell feels now.
LiberalLovinLug
(14,174 posts)He hasn't wiped that smile from his face since election day. He doesn't care how they won, only that they did win.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)If it is proven,that private data has been captured by a foreign country and is exploited,well,McConnell and his Spouses Data will be used for that countries gain.
LenaBaby61
(6,974 posts)Couldn't agree more...
And Yertle and his party will REALLY feel great, because under a tRumputin DOJ there won't be any REAL investigations (If that), and this--along with what will be MORE voter disenfranchisement happening 2 years from now, cyber-hacking and meddling in our elections will help them further cement their Kleptocracy in 2018 and in 2020 and beyond. They can't wait for the 2018 midterms and for the GE & redistricting that'll take place in 2020, where they'll be looking into gaining the 1 or 2 state legislatures that they need to change/modify Amendments in the Constitution. Wouldn't put it past them to "allow" another foreign entity to help them further destroy their OWN country by overturning Amendments in the Constitution which would further benefit them and their agenda. SMDH.
As for the media, 95% of the so-called liberal media that never existed has their corporate media noses buried so deeply up in the behind of their president, Cheeto Mussolini, that they could care LESS about voter disenfranchisement, or interference by a foreign government as long as they get high ratings by covering the tweets and ramblings of that racist, ignorant, feces throwing monkey Cheeto Mussolini. THEIR president. NOT mine.
We Dems are so screwed.
bdamomma
(63,868 posts)triron
(22,006 posts)on the postmortem discussion as well?
greatbaldeagle
(157 posts)Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)Sleazebaggy up the wazoo (R).
world wide wally
(21,744 posts)Presidency at least.
Auntie Bush
(17,528 posts)world wide wally
(21,744 posts)As opposed to Russia's
shraby
(21,946 posts)Crash2Parties
(6,017 posts)cstanleytech
(26,293 posts)the voters need to put pressure on them to do their damn jobs and if that means it shows that Trump should not have been declared the winner so be it.
Crash2Parties
(6,017 posts)And it's fast getting to the point where speaking out against Trump results in death threats from his even-less-stable "fans"...
cstanleytech
(26,293 posts)Response to pnwmom (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Greybnk48
(10,168 posts)Fla Dem
(23,690 posts)It took so very little to change results in just a few counties in critical states to alter the election results.
Madam45for2923
(7,178 posts)iluvtennis
(19,862 posts)ronnie624
(5,764 posts)on the latest Election Systems and Software (ES&S) DS200 model of optical scanner."
Hmm. I wonder why that is there. And I wonder who ordered the option for Wisconsin. I'll bet "the Russians" didn't have anything to do with it.
hardluck
(639 posts)ronnie624
(5,764 posts)How else would an available option be present? Obviously they can be had with or without it.
hardluck
(639 posts)Only that it is an available option on those machines. At least that's my reading of a somewhat vague article.
ronnie624
(5,764 posts)that the capability for cellular access to the tabulators exists. That's the whole point here.
hardluck
(639 posts)And it looks like they do have the option installed.
ronnie624
(5,764 posts)Some fascinating info there.
jalan48
(13,870 posts)Well, we're fucked.
uponit7771
(90,347 posts)Calista241
(5,586 posts)it's much more time consuming to find, and even the most superficial scan of website logs can uncover a SQL Injection attack. it's also been around for awhile, so i'm surprised it hasn't been patched at this point.
It's also a WAY different kind of hack than the Spearfishing attacks attributed to the Russians so far.
brer cat
(24,575 posts)Thanks for posting it.
Ilsa
(61,695 posts)Sorry, I'm not up to date on the specifics of these machines.
pnwmom
(108,980 posts)triron
(22,006 posts)Blue_Roses
(12,894 posts)else who will listen? This is some serious stuff and it needs to dealt with NOW.