DHS, FBI say election systems in all 50 states were targeted in 2016

Re:DHS, FBI say election systems in all 50 states were targe... by throwaway5752 on Thursday April 11, 2019 @12:50PM (#19636535)

This is incredible. Rules of engagement are in profound need of overhaul. This is nothing less than a military attack on the US, via computer. No sufficiently large nation state is innocent, but targeting voting systems (and potentially vote totals) should be a glaring red line that has consequences, taking into account that attribution is falsifiable and hard.

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Re:DHS, FBI say election systems in all 50 states were targe... by cleong on Thursday April 11, 2019 @02:37PM (#19637743)

Sounds like what Nathaniel Fick has been saying about cyber warfare should also have a degree of proportionality. Mostly, due to the fact that security favors the attacker, deterrence should be based on fear of retaliation vs. a perfect virtual environment.

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Re:DHS, FBI say election systems in all 50 states were targe... by everdev on Thursday April 11, 2019 @01:04PM (#19636695)

How do you feel about any foreign political intervention?

I'd guess that 50+% of 3rd world leaders are supported by some foreign government financially or militarily which keeps them in power.

But yes, it doesn't feel good when a foreign government tries to pick a winner in our elections.

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Re:DHS, FBI say election systems in all 50 states were targe... by throwaway5752 on Thursday April 11, 2019 @01:09PM (#19636759)

Correct me if I am wrong, but it sounds like you are asking me if I think changing voting results is equivalent to attempting to influence voters?

No, I do not think those are remotely equivalent.

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Re:DHS, FBI say election systems in all 50 states were targe... by everdev on Thursday April 11, 2019 @01:59PM (#19637355)

Sorry, I think the point I was trying to make was that most governments try to openly influence politics in other countries rather than protecting free elections.

I totally agree that vote rigging would be particularly egregious. However, I'm not sure that backing a regime with money / weapons / training, etc. that then goes ahead and rigs the vote is that much better.

I think it's more like one scenario is stealing money and the other is investing in a gang that steals money.

I just find it interesting that we openly try to pick political winners and losers in other countries.

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Re:DHS, FBI say election systems in all 50 states were targe... by edmundsauto on Thursday April 11, 2019 @04:22PM (#19638774)

Not picking winners is also a decision that impacts other countries. It's like a default option in a UI -- there are no neutral options.

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Re:DHS, FBI say election systems in all 50 states were targe... by everdev on Thursday April 11, 2019 @05:49PM (#19639612)

Sure, but I guess by that same logic not rigging a foreign election would impact a country too.

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Re:DHS, FBI say election systems in all 50 states were targe... by kurthr on Thursday April 11, 2019 @01:13PM (#19636798)

Yeah, it's sort of like conflating asking for money with stealing... they may result in the same outcome, but result from extremely different actions.

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Re:DHS, FBI say election systems in all 50 states were targe... by kurthr on Thursday April 11, 2019 @01:11PM (#19636776)

But if it helps the political establishment that's in power then they can just not enforce the laws or change the laws to make it legal for them... everybody (that is them) wins!

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