Princeton Professor Hacks Electronic Voting Machine (sept 14th)

[pbartch]

Updated: 09:29 AM EDT

Princeton Professor Hacks Electronic Voting Machine
By CHRIS NEWMARKER, AP



Steve Nesius, AP
A Diebold Election Systems electronic voting machine is tested in Jackson, Miss. in June.

TRENTON, N.J. (Sept. 14) - A Princeton University computer science professor added new fuel Wednesday to claims that electronic voting machines used across much of the country are vulnerable to hacking that could alter vote totals or disable machines.

In a paper posted on the university's Web site, Edward Felten and two graduate students described how they had tested a Diebold AccuVote-TS machine they obtained, found ways to quickly upload malicious programs and even developed a computer virus able to spread such programs between machines.

<snip>


The machine Felten tested, obtained in May from an undisclosed source, was the same type used across Maryland in its primary election Tuesday, according to Ross Goldstein, a deputy administrator with the state's Board of Elections. Goldstein said he couldn't comment on the report until he read it.

<snip>

Previous studies have claimed hacking vulnerabilities with the machines. But Felten claims his study is the first time that an independent research group has obtained an actual machine and tested it extensively.

Felten and graduate students Ariel Feldman and Alex Halderman found that malicious programs could be placed on the Diebold by accessing the memory card slot and power button, both behind a locked door on the side of the machine. One member of the group was able to pick the lock in 10 seconds, and software could be installed in less than a minute, according to the report.

The researchers say they designed software capable of modifying all records, audit logs and counters kept by the voting machine, ensuring that a careful forensic examination would find nothing wrong.

More at link:

http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/princeton-professor-hacks-electronic/20060913233009990001
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[AX10]

1. K & R! I wonder if the MSM will report on this one?

I'd say that is not going to happen.

:argh:

[pbartch]

2. YES.....This story is on Main AOL screen

and it's taken from an AP article.

[O.M.B.inOhio]

4. The test is good news, but that it's on AOL feels like a breakthrough. nt

[shadowknows69]

3. Any questions?

Why aren't these machines being banned at this very minute?

[Wilms]

5. K&R n/t