New Scientist BBV stuff - Wireless enabled Diebold machines?

[SmallFatCat]

Hi all, my first topic, hope this is new to you all

I did a search on www.newscientist.com for Diebold.

All the articles are pre election, but they raise a lot of the points that are being raised now, and I guess in a way that makes them look less like "sour grapes" as some would categorise the whole 'votegate 2004' thing.

full list of articles (search query so may not work, if not, just type diebold in the news search on the main page)
<http://www.newscientist.com/news/search/dosearch.jsp?ad... >

<http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996593 >
US boosts e-voting software security
28 October 04


<http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996523 >
Analysis: The great American e-voting experiment
16 October 04

<http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994584 >
Wireless e-voting machines raise concern
20 January 04

<snip>
Computer scientists are concerned that new electronic voting machines - already bought by several US states - have been designed to have the capability to transmit vote tallies wirelessly.

Critics of e-voting have previously cited uncertified software upgrades or bugs in the programs as problems, but they say the new touchscreen machines' wireless potential poses a novel security threat.

The makers of the new machines, Diebold Electronic Voting Systems in Canton, Ohio, point out that none of the AccuVote-TSx machines currently contain the matchbox-sized card required to make a wireless network connection.

But, unlike their predecessors, they do have a slot for the card, called a PCMCIA slot. And Diebold spokesperson Mark Radke told New Scientist that wireless capability could be implemented "if required by the jurisdiction" simply by inserting a card and configuring the machine.

...

The AccuVote-TSx is also awaiting federal approval and, if certified, will be used in November in the US presidential election. However, there are currently no plans to certify machines fitted with wireless cards.
<snip>



Does anyone know if any of these machines were used? If so they represent a HUGE security risk.

Another thought I had was that we should write to New Scientist and see if they are doing a story on the post election stories. They carry a lot of weight over here in the UK, and most MSN sources will take notice. They also produce excellent graphs and are great at explaining statistical evidence to the layman.

[yourout]

1. Wireless???? ARE THEY NUTS!!!

Security was weak before...now anyone with a wireless NIC card and a laptop could pick the next president. Mind boggling.

[DELUSIONAL]

9. Yes -- according to a caller on the Mike Webb show

when Bev Harris was a guest.

The caller was an eye witness to one of the Diebolt voting machines in the hands of a Diebolt rep --and the Diebolt machine "talked" to the caller's computer.

Bev asked to caller to contact her after the show with more details.

She wasn't surprised by the caller's observations -- so it seems that BBV is investigating this.

There were other reports during the CALIF Governor's recall election - about wireless connections of some computers.

My guess is that the vast majority of poll workers are computer illiterate or damn near -- some can barely turn on a computer. The election officials can be sold just about anything and they wouldn't know the difference -- it would be easy to put any sort of technology in the black boxes.

Scary as hell.

We have to go back to paper ballots and hand counts.

Just like the do in Canada.

[ParanoidPat]

2. There are many links here in the DU archives.......

.......as well as on Black Box Voting.org that discuss the details of this. Diebold denied that there was ever any wireless capacity to their machines but their own internal e-mails talk about it.

[SmallFatCat]

3. Do they still have PCMCIA slots though?

As that would mean they could be 'upgraded' very easily.

[ParanoidPat]

5. The Voter Smart Card that they hand you.......

......is a PCM/CIA memory card.

Think about it. :scary:

[SmallFatCat]

6. Oh dear, where can I find out if they were used anywhere?

If any of these were in use, that would make me laugh. But only because I am not an American and have a dark sense of humour

edit: spelling

[someother]

8. Does PCMCIA support AutoRun on windows CE?

Just a thought ...
If it did, altering a machine could be done by inserting a card,
waiting a few seconds, then taking it out again.

They thoughtfully provide you with a slot, and the expectation
that you are going to use it, so absolutely nothing looks odd.

OK, I'll go put the tinfoil hat back on.

[AndyTiedye]

7. Machinez Run Windoze CE or XP Which Support Wireless Just Fine

It doesn't actually matter whether or not Diebold supports it.
The cards are plug and play.
Could either be 801.11 or a cellular data card.
It is more than likely that some places do it that way already
just to avoid the expense and aggravation of running wires.

[Arioch]

4. Just sit outside the polls

and run Ethereal on your laptop...

Wouldn't take too much...