We were warned nearly a year ago right here on DU

[SaddenedDem]

http://www.raba.com/press/TA_Report_AccuVote.pdf

The GEMS server lacks several critical security updates from Microsoft. As a result, the team successfully exploited a well-known vulnerability using a software product known as Canvas27. This vulnerability, described in a security advisory from Microsoft28 for which a patch was made available on July 16, 2003, allows a remote attacker to get complete control of the machine. Since this is the same weakness that the August 11, 2003 “Blaster” worm exploited, it means that if the GEMS server was exposed to an environment where “Blaster” was propagating, it might have been infected. By successfully directing Canvas at the GEMS modem interface, the team was able to remotely upload, download and execute files with full system administrator privileges. All that was required was a valid phone number for the GEMS server.

[jmcgowanjm]

1. Apple makes a really good computer w/ nonvirus software

[The Sausage of Death]

2. My first Apple was a "Lisa" and I had one of the first 50,000 Macintosh

sold. I've never had to think about a virus... but why?

[SaddenedDem]

3. Is there an Apple voting machine?

Because that's what GEMS is - the computer that TALLIES the votes for the Diebold electronic voting machines.

Many activists on DU were screaming about this SPECIFIC hole in the Diebold software LAST JULY.

At some point those DUers have a giant "I told you so" moment coming.

[mike_c]

4. that report is devastating....

Thanks for posting it!

[mn9driver]

5. But..but...but Diebold has a press release that says

their system is perfect! They even reference the RABA report as vindicating the totallosity of their perfectitude!

http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=DBD&script=410&layout=-6&item_id=489744

An excerpt:

".."The findings in the SAIC and RABA reports both confirm the accuracy and security of Maryland's voting procedures and our voting systems as they exist today," said Bob Urosevich, president of Diebold Election Systems, Inc.."

Unbelievable.

[SaddenedDem]

6. Astonishing....

That's all I can say about their comments. What more IS there to say?

[SaddenedDem]

7. Oh, and BTW, the GEMS phone numbers are PUBLISHED

in all the poll worker documentation.

In Shelby County, TN, the numbers are provided to the PRESS (at least) a week prior to the election.

Each of the previous contacts supplies its own modem and is responsible for maintaining their own, independent phone line. After completing a pre-election test during the week prior to the election, the expectation is for them to maintain the same computer configuration used in the successful test.

http://www.countthevote.org/shelby/shelby25.htm