Thread: US Election Day
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Old 11-07-2006, 12:57 PM   #25
mbossman2
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security is a funny thing. It is a balancing act between security and usability.

I have seen some of the government's "secure" workstations: 2 keys to unlock a metal panel that covers the keyboard (that is hard wired into the computer, ditto the mouse), no output slots (no floppy drive, CD drive, USB ports and the like), screens that are only viewable from a 10 degree cone from center of screen all of this connected to a private network that at no time or point connects to the outside world (and yes, users like this would have 2 PC's on their desk: a secure one and a non-secure one...just like telephones). As you can guess using them is a real exercise in patience (BTW I forgetto talk about the password challenge after password challenge).

So absolutely secure computing is possible, but neigh near unusable.

I have been thinking on this since I posted. While I am sure that we can create a secure electronic voting infrastructure, like david M pointed out, it may not be in our best interests to do so. To mantain the required level of trust, there must be a tried and true method of audit and verification in case questions are raised. Unlike Florida, the methods and procesures must be clearly spelled out and adhered to. perhaps a national standard as it comes to machinery and processes but then that would impinge upon states rights
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