Difference between revisions of "463: Voting Machines"
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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, blamed these problems on {{w|McAfee}} anti-virus software. | 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, blamed these problems on {{w|McAfee}} anti-virus software. | ||
| − | 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. | + | 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}}.) |
There's a principle in computer science that having more layers of defense is always better than having fewer. This is true, but one should take care not to introduce defenses against a nonexistent adversary when doing so might impede normal function. The comic makes an analogy to a teacher who reassures you that he always wears a condom when teaching. Theoretically it's always good to have protection, but the situation where a condom is useful shouldn't arise during class. The comment is more likely to make people worried about why the condom is there and what purpose it's serving. | There's a principle in computer science that having more layers of defense is always better than having fewer. This is true, but one should take care not to introduce defenses against a nonexistent adversary when doing so might impede normal function. The comic makes an analogy to a teacher who reassures you that he always wears a condom when teaching. Theoretically it's always good to have protection, but the situation where a condom is useful shouldn't arise during class. The comment is more likely to make people worried about why the condom is there and what purpose it's serving. | ||
Revision as of 14:58, 4 March 2013
| Voting Machines |
 Title text: And that's *another* crypto conference I've been kicked out of. C'mon, it's a great analogy! |
Explanation
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, blamed these problems on McAfee anti-virus software.
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 ECDSA.)
There's a principle in computer science that having more layers of defense is always better than having fewer. This is true, but one should take care not to introduce defenses against a nonexistent adversary when doing so might impede normal function. The comic makes an analogy to a teacher who reassures you that he always wears a condom when teaching. Theoretically it's always good to have protection, but the situation where a condom is useful shouldn't arise during class. The comment is more likely to make people worried about why the condom is there and what purpose it's serving.
The title text refers to 153: Cryptography.
Transcript
- Article: Premier Election Solutions (formerly Diebold) has blamed Ohio voting machine errors on problems with the machines' McAfee antivirus software.
- First Man: Wait. "Antivirus software"? On voting machines? You're doing it wrong.
- [Second Man enters the frame and speaks to First Man]
- Second Man: Why? Security is good, right?
- First Man: Of course. But, well-
- First Man: Imagine you're at a parent-teacher conference, and the teacher reassures you that he always wears a condom while teaching.
- Second Man: Ah. Strictly speaking, it's better than the alternative.
- First Man: -Yet someone is clearly doing their job horribly wrong.
add a comment! ⋅ add a topic (use sparingly)! ⋅ 
refresh comments!Discussion
What's incomplete? 199.27.130.180 04:13, 8 March 2014 (UTC)
- It seems fine to me. Removing the incomplete tag. LogicalOxymoron (talk) 23:19, 12 March 2014 (UTC)
What's "the alternative"? 108.162.208.98 20:55, 16 June 2014 (UTC)
- I believe when the alternate Cueball references "the alternative" he has already realized what the first Cueball meant. Cueball 2 I'll call him, is thus referencing the alternative is no protection or security. I don't believe Cueball 2 is directly referencing the 'teacher wearing a condom analogy'. Official.xian (talk) 19:59, 10 July 2014 (UTC)
- I think the alternative is the teacher being raped at school. That's right, Jacky720 just signed this (talk | contribs) 22:05, 12 May 2017 (UTC)
- Other way around dude, other way around. Anonymous 00:05, 19 August 2018 (UTC)
- It's not necessarily that the teacher is raping the students, but it does indicate the teacher might be having sex at school (for instance, with another colleague). --172.68.57.209 13:37, 22 May 2021 (UTC)
- Other way around dude, other way around. Anonymous 00:05, 19 August 2018 (UTC)
Ideally, there should be no voting machines. Here in Germany, we make a cross on a paper and put that paper in an urn. Counting is done manually under supervision. Voting machines are illegal for a reason. :) --141.101.104.4 15:05, 27 September 2015 (UTC)
