Editing 463: Voting Machines
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
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− | + | In the 2008 Ohio primary elections, there were numerous problems with electronic voting machines, which eventually required many districts to revert to pen and paper. Premier Election Solutions, the company that handled the machines, [http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/08/ohio-voting-machines-contained.html blamed these problems] on {{w|McAfee}} anti-virus software. | |
− | + | It is not uncommon to see computer software contract stipulating that the vendor will warrant that software and systems delivered will not contain any virus or mallisius code — a knee-jerk reaction to this on novice management is to include virus scanning software for system with otherwise are closed. From a computer programming standpoint, having anti-virus software on an electronic voting machine doesn't make sense because the machine shouldn't be accessing the Internet in a way that would leave it open to virus attacks. While there are a lot of ways that viruses can propagate, ultimately the computer still has to download an executable file and run it, which is something that ''no election machine should do'' in normal operation. Rather than use anti-virus software, it makes more sense to simply disable the downloading of files, which is very doable. (Or, if the machine might need to receive hotfixes during operation, require that all executable files be signed by the manufacturer with something like {{w|ECDSA}}.) | |
− | The comic makes an analogy to a teacher who reassures you that he always wears a condom when teaching. | + | Hence the question is whether the voting macing manufacture have taken the proper precaution preventing any external access. The comic makes an analogy to a teacher who reassures you that he always wears a condom when teaching. Common sense should dictate that teachers should not end up in a situation where wearing a condom would be useful. rather the school-board and hiring authority should make sure that teachers are screen prior to being employed, and not allowed to continue to teach if any impropriety is even suggested. |
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− | The title text refers to [[153: Cryptography | + | Theoretically it's always good to have protection, but a situation where a condom would be useful should hopefully not arise during class. The comment is more likely to make people worried about why the condom is there and what purpose it's serving. |
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+ | The title text refers to [[153: Cryptography]]. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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:Premier Election Solutions (formerly Diebold) has blamed Ohio voting machine errors on problems with the machines' McAfee antivirus software. | :Premier Election Solutions (formerly Diebold) has blamed Ohio voting machine errors on problems with the machines' McAfee antivirus software. | ||
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[[Category:Banned from conferences]] | [[Category:Banned from conferences]] | ||
[[Category:Cryptography]] | [[Category:Cryptography]] | ||
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