Got a text formatting/database question - the political backstory

[Ryan Rix]

physical access -> data owned.

On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 3:49 PM, Bob Elzer <bob.elzer at gmail.com> wrote:

>  I in no way would defend MS or Access, but you're making this seem like
> the
> problem lies within MS Access, when in fact, if I have access to the disk
> the data is on, I can rig the election with a simple hex editor, whether
> the
> database is Access or MySql.
>
> If you know the layout of any table, you can modify it with an editor.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: plug-discuss-bounces at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
> [mailto:plug-discuss-bounces at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us] On Behalf Of Jim
> March
> Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 12:51 PM
> To: Main PLUG discussion list
> Subject: Re: Got a text formatting/database question - the political
> backstory
>
> On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 8:13 AM, Bishmer Sekaran <bishmer at sekaran.net>
> wrote:
> > Jim March wrote:
> >> MS-Access is banned from voting
> >> systems (ain't approved)
> > This is a very refreshing change from the status quo! Out of
> > curiousity, what are the approved DBs for voting systems?
>
> You're asking the wrong question :).
>
> ONLY those pieces of software specifically used for elections can be used
> in
> elections, in most states anyhow, AZ being one of 'em.
>
> The proprietary database front ends by Sequoia, Diebold and ES&S are
> approved.  Sequoia uses an MS-SQL back end, Diebold uses the MS-Access
> runtime back end (they're switching to MS-SQL on the back end "soon") and I
> forget what ES&S is doing.  But it's basically the same:
> proprietary front-end application, likely an MS back end.
>
> In the case of Diebold, the MS-Access front end (the boxed consumer
> product) can communicate with the existing back-end and back-door the whole
> election.  By diddling with the data files (which are .MDB
> extension) in MS-Access, you can tweak the audit log, tweak vote totals,
> basically do whatever you want, no password needed, no audit trail even
> created.
>
> Total election anarchy.
>
> So finding an MS-Access advanced programmer's manual as a reference for the
> system operator on a Diebold central tabulator is like a cop pulling
> somebody over and finding a ski mask, duct tape, crowbar and
> AK47 in the back seat.  It doesn't absolutely prove trouble but it ain't
> good news!
>
> Jim
> ---------------------------------------------------
> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
>



-- 
Thanks and best regards,
Ryan Rix
TamsPalm - The PalmOS Blog
(623)-239-1103 <-- Grand Central, baby!

Jasmine Bowden - Class of 2009, Marc Rasmussen - Class of 2008, Erica
Sheffey - Class of 2009, Rest in peace.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/pipermail/plug-discuss/attachments/20090415/e523edf0/attachment.htm