Heads up. Bev Harris coming up on Tina Brown's show w/Howard Dean

[Swamp Rat]

as guest host after the commercials on CNBC. She will show the computer program used to steal votes.

[Dookus]

1. Wasn't this on two days ago?

And from what I can see, she demonstrated how to type a number in a database.

[Swamp Rat]

3. Yes it was. Thought I'd tell others that may have missed it.

Looks like a fairly simple database program.

[Dookus]

4. Indeed...

her use of the terms "hack" and "back door" were singularly inappropriate for showing how one edits a number in a database.

[Swamp Rat]

5. She just opened a file called "local db." That's all.

There was no "software patch" or "hack" in this instance. It's a simple database program called "GEM" and changing a field is as simple as editing ANY file with no password protection. Even the UNIX iMac I'm using can be set up with multiple levels of password protection, with no second party software required to secure files, folders, disks, etc.

The Diebold TSX machine was banned. I can't remember if there was a software patch involved or if also there was a daughtercard that had a modified ROM chip.

[Dookus]

7. I agree

I think she did a singularly poor job of showing the dangers she was there to demonstrate.

Give ME any software with no password protection and I can edit values. It was a meaningless demonstration.

[Swamp Rat]

11. Even knuckle-draggers from FreepLand could edit a simple file.

What's scary is the likelyhood that freepers would be willing to do it.

You are right that the demonstration was a waste of time... for folks like us and other computer literates. Sadly, many folks are not so experienced, so maybe it will do some good. Maybe it will at least jar the minds of those who've never contemplated how easily this coming election can be stolen.

[Dookus]

12. Sorry...

she did a piss-poor job. Even people with no computer knowledge whatsoever would give a big "HUH?!" over what she did.

Now if she connected remotely to another computer and changed a value, that would be meaningful. All she did was show a shell program that grabs data from an underlying file, then edit the underlying file. That does NOTHING to demonstrate the possibility of election fraud.

[ParanoidPat]

17. Except for the fact she was using the actual software used in.......

......the actual machines that people VOTE ON! The interview was taped over a two day period a few days before it aired and a good portion was edited out due to time constraints. I really don't agree that the demonstration was "meaningless"! There was a reason for Kevin Shelley to look so shook up during that segment. The simple fact is that when you go through the 'back door' into a Diebold machine, NO PASSWORD IS REQUIRED to change the votes and NO EVIDENCE is left behind that a change has been made due to the "referential integrity" being turned off in the software! :scared:

Bev will be at the California VSP (Voting System Panel) meeting in Sacramento tomorrow morning and will be heading this way after that. :)

[Maddy McCall]

8. When you're hawking a book...

as she is, you'll hype anything. I have always had the feeling that there is more hype than substance, where she's concerned.

[Dookus]

9. I couldn't agree more

her cause is worthy, but she's not the right person to lead the crusade.

Oh... and she appears insane.

[Maddy McCall]

10. I couldn't agree more...

Especially with the latter of your two comments. ;-)

[ParanoidPat]

18. Hype?

And I assume you've actually LOOKED at the source code and have a clue? :shrug:

[ParanoidPat]

20. Do you mean THIS BOOK?

Available FREE on line? :shrug: :evilgrin:

:kick:BLACK BOX VOTING - Ballot Tampering in the 21st Century:kick:

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9*
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13*
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Appendix
Footnotes
Index

* graphics, allow time to load

Requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. :)

Yeah, she must be "insane"! :crazy:

[Swamp Rat]

21. Thanks for posting this.

Maybe the biggest profit from her FREE book will be a more secure election?

[ParanoidPat]

22. We can only hope!

I just love how all these expert 'software developers' who haven't taken the time to look at the source code or even read the book can give their 'expert' opinions about what Bev is talking about! :crazy:

[AndyTiedye]

13. With Diebold Software, There Aren't Any Doors or Walls Anyway

Nothing to keep whoever has access to the machines from changing the vote undetectably.
No authentication, no encryption, nada.
Just run access and change the numbers in the database.

[Dookus]

14. true....

and I can drop a box of paper ballots in the river. As far as I know, and I may be ignorant despite 20 years in Silicon Valley software development, Access has password protection.

[southlandshari]

2. thanks

for the heads up! I haven't seen this before (is it new or a rerun?)

[Swamp Rat]

6. No problem.

I hope they repeat it again this week.

[Tweed]

15. Didn't Bev Harris post on the DU and ruin it all?

[Swamp Rat]

16. Ruin it all?

I don't know or understand to what you are referring.

[ParanoidPat]

19. Nor do I

:shrug: