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July 19, 2008 at 15:31:14
Promoted to Headline (H2) on 7/19/08: by Rady Ananda Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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Warning: This Product Is Hazardous To Your Freedom By Rady Ananda and Andi Novick Top shelf, the crème de la crème, the most succinct, in-plain-English, best quotes by computer security experts. Do we really want to vote on this "crap?" "...testing to high degrees of security and reliability is from a practical perspective not possible." 
"... provides the opportunity for new kinds of attacks, from new kinds of attackers."
"Malware in a voting system could be designed to operate in very subtle ways.... be inserted at any of a number of different stages ... from the precinct all the way back to initial manufacture - and lie in wait for the appropriate moment." "This is a classic computer security problem. Whoever gets into the machine first wins. So if the Trojan horse software is in there first, you ask it to test itself -- it will always lie to you and tell you everything is fine." "...'logic-and-accuracy testing' ... will never be comprehensive; important flaws will always escape any amount of testing." "The current certification process may have been appropriate [with] a 900 lb lever voting machine.... But software is different.... you cannot certify an electronic voting machine the way you certify a lever machine.... we absolutely expect that vulnerabilities will be discovered all the time...." "... vulnerability of the system to malware infection and manipulation. ... large possibility that they could implement malicious programming (malware) into the system with little chance of detection. ...could likely spread from component to component throughout the system." "... the lack of capability to detect and report potential malware attacks against the system makes it the single largest threat." To learn how to keep software driven voting systems out of New York, visit http://www.re-mediaetc.org/. For full quotes and citations, see Debunking Pre-Election Testing Myths, or read the 50+ reports listed in this bibliography.
"... numerous studies have shown that currently deployed voting systems are susceptible to undetectable malicious attacks...."
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SCARDY CAT, SCARDY CAT, POO POO POO
There is no perfect cure for the disease of elections. Why not trust science. We know that Prezident Booosh will only accept scientific information when it comes to the good of this nation. That is good enough for me! by Wolfie (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 33 diaries, 1208 comments) on Saturday, Jul 19, 2008 at 5:33:41 PM  (0+)
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Reply: Ha! Wolfie...
nice piece you wrote today... ;-) by Rady Ananda (182 articles, 374 quicklinks, 49 diaries, 1718 comments [201 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Saturday, Jul 19, 2008 at 7:06:16 PM (0+)
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Secret Vote Counting is DANGEROUS and UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Keep up the great work Rady and Andi!!! After a great collection of reminders that using computers to count our votes in secret is dangerously unreliable, I wanted to remind readers that it is also unconstitutional. Yes, Virginia, your elections are unconstitutional, and frankly, no one in power gives a damn! Technically, they say that they did not know that computers count in secret, that Virginia's Constitutional prohibition against counting votes in secret isn't really clear and doesn't Federal law control everything any way, and that no one even really thought about this secret vote counting issue that they know of. If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge to sell you, cheap. Just send cash, and I’ll send the papers right away. Here is a link to the video of my conversation with Virginia’s Board of Elections staff http://markadams.blip.tv/file/665536/ Virginia’s Elections Are UNCONSTITUTIONAL?!?! For more information, see Project Vote Count’s Election News at http://www.projectvotecount.com/ElectionNews.aspx by Mark Adams (20 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 312 comments [39 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Saturday, Jul 19, 2008 at 6:19:07 PM (0+)
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Reply: you said it, Bro
Unconstitutional... This is Andi's two-page summary of the Complaint we may file. You may be interested in reading that. Keep up the good work, Mark. by Rady Ananda (182 articles, 374 quicklinks, 49 diaries, 1718 comments [201 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Saturday, Jul 19, 2008 at 7:09:13 PM (0+)
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....and hazardous to our HEALTH (....jus' riffin' )
....perhaps we can lobby C. Everett Koop in his emeritus capacity, to attach a red bordered sticker to all voting machine screens and displays, prominently affixed: "These machines may be hazardous to your HEALTH." The connection is clear: by subverting the voting process, these huge and proprietary corporations intimately in league with the voting vendors have jeopardized all life on the planet, not to mention our health at home. As poll numbers go way beyond critical mass in showing the overwhelming public demand to join the ranks of civilized nations in offering SOME kind of health care for its citizens ( Michael Moore in "Sicko" points out that we are the ONLY nation in the entire Western Hemisphere that does not have A plan ) the corporations have used these machines to trump the overwhelming will and wishes of the majority of us Americans. Many of these corporations are not even American, in any way, other than, perhaps, the obligatory red white and blue logo or brand. ( Reminds me of the Simpsons episode, where Bart is entering a thingly veiled version of WalMart on Xmas Day, with the banner in the background: "Open All Day Christmas in Honor of Our Savior's Birth." ) But, they are acting in cahoots and "fascist" ( as in the Roman bundle of "fasces" where a group of rods are corded together to make the whole that much more unbreakable ) interests in harnessing machines and all techniques available to thieve our votes. Chief among them is holding us hostage by denying us any real opportunity to get, as Tommy Douglas put it decades ago in Canada when he sparked a national movement to nationalize health care, "our health in good order." Without health, without hope, these fascist interests can begin to push us about like items of furniture, the only difference being some sign of a pulse, a utility barely useful to them. Depleted Uranium, spewed out world-wide by American based interests, is only the most boggling of these destructive tendencies. The only mercy left us is to fall victim to a health crisis before The Big One gets us first. It is time for Americans to read that writing on the Wall surrounding us, and demand better. "These Voting Machines May Be Hazardous to Our Health." ~~ John Ervin Native Intelligence Agency Director by muservin (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 78 comments [5 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Saturday, Jul 19, 2008 at 6:28:01 PM (0+)
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Reply: Freedom, Health, bank accounts, and our lives
Single payer healthcare... all the way... I totally agree, John. Nice to see you chatting again, buddy. by Rady Ananda (182 articles, 374 quicklinks, 49 diaries, 1718 comments [201 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Saturday, Jul 19, 2008 at 7:11:55 PM (0+)
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Reply: WE ARE TOO SELFISH.
We must give the richest in our economy more. I know you think that's insane. But you know that our representatives believed so when they passed the tax reduction act for the wealthy. Then we re-elect 90% of them. We must be either crazy or crazy? How do we do it to ourselves over and over and continue this again? Yes we are unstable. Therefore we don't need freedom and liberty. We need to be taken away to the funny farms! Chertoff , bug our lines and keep us from sharp instruments cause we will hurt ourselves, for sure! by Wolfie (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 33 diaries, 1208 comments) on Saturday, Jul 19, 2008 at 10:27:27 PM (0+)
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I hope this goes viral
This is terrific. It's like that 20 things you need to know about lousy elections (can't remember the actual title) but it's better because it shows that, just with the machines, there's no hope. The clear imiplication of planned catastrphes is there and everybody reading it will know it's The Money Party in action. Just terrific. Get this puppy around. I will. Most excellent Rady! by Michael Collins (130 articles, 20 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 484 comments [42 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Jul 20, 2008 at 12:39:26 AM (0+)
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Reply: I LOVED that 20 things you need to know...
That so hooked me into fighting for election integrity. Thanks, Michael. I've sent your promo out hoping others will agree with you... by Rady Ananda (182 articles, 374 quicklinks, 49 diaries, 1718 comments [201 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Sunday, Jul 20, 2008 at 10:21:04 AM (0+)
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When electronic voting machines were approved,
When electronic voting machines were approved, those of us in the tech sector were horrified. Anyone that has worked in IT understands that computers are not secure, and it's an impossibility to make them so! Everyone I knew were dreading the upcoming elections, knowing that electronic voting machines are designed to steal elections, not produce results that are transparent or even accountable. We need to go back to paper ballots, as electronic voting machines will never be secure, and the GOP will always use any form of deceit and corruption they can muster to further their fascist agenda. When I read that Georgia's elections were tainted by Diebold's "patch" it made me sick and this type of voter manipulation is going on throughout the entire United States. Without fair and transparent elections, democracy and accountability of government are essentially dead. We know that Diebold has changed election results; now it's time to jail those who are complicit with the fascists who are attempting to overturn our democratic republic and charge them with treason, as in my opinion, stealing elections is the highest form of treason I can think of, and we need to pay homage to and follow our own laws. by William Cormier (152 articles, 11 quicklinks, 21 diaries, 418 comments [9 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Jul 20, 2008 at 10:01:59 AM (0+)
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Reply: IT background, eh?
wow, that's pretty damning coming from someone with your background, William. Thanks for posting it. In a broader picture, you may want to read this brilliant satire: Welcome to the Earthly Ice Crème Shoppe by Mikel Paul. In response to Mikel's invitation, I invented a "flavor" called Hackberry Vote: Introduced in the early 1960s, this murky flavor spread like a slow virus until 2002, when it was officially declared that all ice creams must use hackberries. The 49 states that have adopted it haven't enjoyed a clean taste ever since. New York is the last holdout, but word has it they're going to choke it down in 2009. by Rady Ananda (182 articles, 374 quicklinks, 49 diaries, 1718 comments [201 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Sunday, Jul 20, 2008 at 10:13:15 AM (0+)
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Reply: Thank You Rady
Actually, I haven't revealed the full scope of my background in IT. In Atlanta, I worked for DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) in the Alpharetta, Ga. location before we were bought-out by Compaq. I was in the process of being promoted to team leader (Which I was already doing) in our support group (US Post Office and Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. I have to wonder if they now serve "Hackberry...") I also was the lead technician and Sales Manager of one of Atlanta's largest service companies who dominated the high-end of computer IT services in repair, disaster recovery, and sales. I owned a couple of my own companies and managed several others. I am but one among millions that share a great deal of knowledge in regard technology and security - and none of us had to question that it was a bad decision, as anyone in that industry knew it was a disaster in the making. In the scheme of the IT industry, I suppose I'm merely a novice compared to some, and that's what bothers me. Collectively, the IT community knew this was going to happen, it was inevitable, yet people who know vastly more than I do allowed it to happen even though their experience and training had to tell them it was a scam and was destined to fail. Those who were professionals in the IT field that worked for the government had to know this was going to happen, and they hold much of the blame for not becoming "whistle blowers" and testifying before Congress that this was not a viable plan no matter who the vendor was or how it was implemented. Utter betrayal by those who knew better. by William Cormier (152 articles, 11 quicklinks, 21 diaries, 418 comments [9 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Jul 20, 2008 at 1:05:53 PM (0+)
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Rady
This piece should be up on Brad Blog too! Lots of people go there for the latest news on the voting machine debacle. This needs to be spread widely. by Cheryl Abraham (13 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 207 comments) on Sunday, Jul 20, 2008 at 12:45:33 PM (0+)
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Reply: BradBlog - good idea
I just wrote him... thanks, Cheryl. by Rady Ananda (182 articles, 374 quicklinks, 49 diaries, 1718 comments [201 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Sunday, Jul 20, 2008 at 1:23:19 PM (0+)
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Reply: I did too!
Emailed the whole article. Let's hope he posts it!! by Cheryl Abraham (13 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 207 comments) on Sunday, Jul 20, 2008 at 1:43:30 PM (0+)
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Keep at it Rady
Does any other country in the world have computer voting? It's such an obvious crock. The other thing American's should look at is proportional voting. If the candidate you vote for is unsuccessful, your second preference carries the same value as any vote. There is no way to find out the real support for Green, Libertarian and Independent candidates because people are worried about wasting their vote. They then choose the lesser of the two evils supported by mainstream parties and media. My guess is that many people who support Cynthia McKinney will vote for Barak Obama because they fear the carnage that would accompany a John McCain victory. Imagine being able to vote for every other candidate and being able to effectively register your "lesser of two evils" preference with the order of your last two choices. It works in Australia. by John Haigh (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 118 comments) on Sunday, Jul 20, 2008 at 1:01:39 PM (0+)
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Reply: I like Preference Voting
It's how they do it in the NBA, right? Pick your top three choices and make sure whoever is elected is elected by a majority, instead of just by the largest number of votes. The move to computerize elections is global. Several countries drank the Kool-Aid. When Americans refuse to vote on these easily hacked machines, that count the vote in secret, then we'll start making progress toward election integrity. Computerized election systems have rendered "voting a useless formality." by Rady Ananda (182 articles, 374 quicklinks, 49 diaries, 1718 comments [201 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Sunday, Jul 20, 2008 at 1:29:50 PM (0+)
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Reply: Some tried it and rejected it,
Ireland has had to store at great expense machines which their technical examination teams excoriated and which they have rejected.. The Netherlands scrapped their DREs after activists posted video showing how they could be subverted. France has just halted e-voting. I think Germany has also called a halt but can't remember offhand the circumstances Rady: good stuff! by abacus (2 articles, 2 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 73 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Jul 20, 2008 at 3:20:03 PM (0+)
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Just a thought and a kick in my pants..
I'll be suggestive here. 70% don't vote. 30% do. The 30%er's are not accurately counted. The 70%er's are. Sounds like the 70% are making a choice too. That no one should win. And that's what's happening. We all lose this one. That's why Rady, I will send what you have laid out here thru to those who need to know this stuff. peace by mikel paul (14 articles, 1 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 570 comments [13 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Jul 20, 2008 at 3:05:05 PM (0+)
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Reply: did you like my Hackberry Vote flavor?
your piece was so brilliant, Mikel... I worked for a good amount of time to come up with that Hackberry flavor. by Rady Ananda (182 articles, 374 quicklinks, 49 diaries, 1718 comments [201 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Sunday, Jul 20, 2008 at 4:32:20 PM (0+)
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Reply: choke it down in 2009..........priceless
Rady...Left you a reply on my Earthly post......thanx Yep....what made yours so cool was that hackberry sounds like something out of an old American novel......and that it tied into what all you do do so well. peace by mikel paul (14 articles, 1 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 570 comments [13 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Jul 21, 2008 at 11:43:23 AM (0+)
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Preferential voting
If your first choice doesn't get 50% plus your second choice is counted as your vote. If your second choice doesn't get 50%+ your third choice is counted as your vote. And so on until a candidate gets more than 50%. You have to number every square on the ballot paper. In Australia we also have compulsory voting. That's more contentious, but I'm in favour of it. by John Haigh (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 118 comments) on Monday, Jul 21, 2008 at 12:44:49 AM (0+)
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IRV probably best solution
What you described is called here Instant Run-off Voting, or IRV. It probably is the best solution because you get more of a swath of choice and you know that the person who does get elected was in fact there because the majority of people would in fact have preferred him or her based on their personal rankings among ALL the candidates. We went over all styles of voting in this conceptual math class I took a few semesters ago and learned that not one can actually be borderline fair to all no matter what, but this would by far be the least tretcherous. Another great reason is that it would be much more difficult to adapt it to machines. That is where the real tyrrany comes in. We even use electronic voting on my college campus, one of the smallest state universities in California (not over 4,200 students!) and we use electronic means??! We just had a stolen election this cycle and although administrative strong-arming of procedure was highly involved, we'll never know how much the machines screwed with us too! by Gabe Shames (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 14 comments) on Monday, Jul 21, 2008 at 5:35:57 PM (0+)
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Reply: Difference b/w IRV and Preferential Voting?
I looked at this in 05; and never got a clear answer to that question. Can you explain the difference between these two? thanks... and I would be most fascinated to have worked it out in a math class... was that in a book that I could buy, so I could try it myself? (I mean, I did go all the way thru 2 calc courses, so i know math..)... but I'd freakin love to work it out mathematically myself. by Rady Ananda (182 articles, 374 quicklinks, 49 diaries, 1718 comments [201 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Monday, Jul 21, 2008 at 8:04:53 PM (0+)
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IRV = preferential ?
Perhaps Gabe can explain the difference, but I think they are two names for the same process. by John Haigh (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 118 comments) on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008 at 2:33:03 AM (0+)
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