Diebold goes wireless

[tex-wyo-dem]

Diebold and WiFi (i.e. WLAN or 802.11). For you laymen, it's the same thing you can buy at your computer store for wireless networking in your house.

Note: WiFi transmissions, in themselves, are not secure and can be picked up by anyone with WiFi capability on their computer. Many cases have been reported of hackers driving by companies, picking up the company's WiFi and breaking into their network from their car. Companies have recently been busy setting up security firewalls in their WLAN networks. WLAN has a maximum transmission of about 100 meters.

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"While California authorities consider action against the company for violating voting-certification policies, computer scientists are now worried that Diebold's AccuVote TSx machines, which can connect to Wi-Fi networks, could make it easy for unauthorized personnel to manipulate voting results."

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http://business2.blogs.com/business2blog/2004/01/diebolds_wirele.html

Diebold's AccuVote TSx also has a PCMCIA slot where LAN/WAN cards can be inserted for either local networks (LAN - this includes WiFi) or wide area networks (WAN - this would include cellular networks).

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"The specifications for the TSx machine, seen by New Scientist, make it clear they could support a wireless local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) card: "The method of loading data on to the AccuVote TSx's PCMCIA Flash Card will be by means of a modem or LAN/WAN/wireless card plugged into the PCMCIA slot."

Wireless LANs have a range of about 100 metres, while wireless WANs could transmit vote tallies from polling stations to a county's headquarters.

Many of the computer scientists New Scientist spoke to were unaware of the wireless capability of the TSx machine. Rebecca Mercuri, a research fellow at Harvard University, thinks Diebold has not publicised it because of the criticism the company has already received."

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http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn4584

Diebold ATMs already use wireless technology (CDMA cellular network) to monitor individual machines. See below for test run at the Ryder Cup held in North Canton, Ohio:

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"Diebold is providing turnkey ATM services using Ventus Networks' wireless code-division multiple access (CDMA) technology. Other services include ATM driving, monitoring and transaction switching via Diebold Transaction Services. Cash handling and ATM replenishment will be supplied by Brinks, Incorporated.

"The Ryder Cup is a golden opportunity to showcase our industry-leading, diverse cellular telecommunications," said Ron Riva, vice president of Ventus Networks.

According to a news release, Diebold's ATM transaction processing service supports multiple connectivity options, such as wireless, screen customization and branding, along with advanced ATM functions, such as audio, color touchscreens, MPEG full-motion video and coupon distribution."

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http://atmmarketplace.com/marketplace_storefronts_client.htm?i=16&article_id=20600&step=story

In this press release Diebold lists even satellite as a potential transmission vehicle for financial information from ATMs:

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"ATMs on airplanes did not catch on when they were tried six years ago, but cash terminals in unusual locations have now been enabled by new communications technologies says Diebold Vice President for Product Marketing & Management Ken Justice. River boats, cruise ships and mobile ATMs in trucks are now deployed, with VSAT (satellite), GPRS (a GSM mobile technology), WLAN (wireless local area network) and Bluetooth, all existing and potential transmission means for financial data."

http://www.diebold.com/whatsnews/inthenews/boatsandtrucks.htm

In March of 2003, Diebold signed an agreement with Sierra Wireless, maker of CDMA2000-1x wireless data cards, and Verizon, provider of the CDMA network, to outfit its field technicians and engineers.

" CTIA WIRELESS 2003, New Orleans LA - March 18, 2003 - Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless service provider, and Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR - TSX: SW) announced today that the AirCard® 555 wide area PC Card is wirelessly enabling Diebold field service technicians with fast, reliable access to real time information. Diebold, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD), a global leader in financial, self-service solutions, has deployed a wireless application utilizing the AirCard 555 operating over the Verizon Wireless Network for more than 2,000 of its service technicians. The mobile application enables Diebold field technicians and customer service engineers to wirelessly commit a service call and report repairs from the field in real time."

http://www.sierrawireless.com/news/Mar-18-03.asp


My point in all of this is that wireless transmission of data is nothing new to Diebold. Conceivably, a DRE could have a wireless network card that would enable someone to monitor and control the machine remotely. In the case of a CDMA or satellite card, that someone could literally be anywhere in the world.

This wireless capability could also, conceivably, enable reprogramming of the DRE software remotely as well.

Groups have already voiced concern over the AccuVote TSx with the PCMCIA slot that would enable this capability, however, the wireless transceiver could just as well be integrated internal to the machine and visually undetectable.

This is just another glaring opportunity for fraud.

[Carolab]

1. Old news

Bev got this blocked in California.

Doesn't matter if they DO have it. We've got a precedent.

They AIN'T GOING ANYWHERE with this. IN FACT, I am going to make it MY PERSONAL CRUSADE that we get rid of ALL ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES.

PAPER BALLOTS. ONLY. HAND COUNTS. ONLY. AND A CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED RIGHT TO VOTE.

DIEBOLD DOESN'T GET TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO ANYMORE!!!!!!

[tex-wyo-dem]

3. I figured that some of this was old news, however....

Conceivably the company could implement a wireless transceiver inside the DRE - no PCMCIA slot. The only way to know would be to tear apart the hardware and look.

Keep in mind that I'm talking about the very same RF transceivers that are inside cellular phones (CDMA)...the hardware is tiny and can be easy to hide.

[Alizaryn]

2. wonderful............

[rfranklin]

4. This means that all the voting machines can be networked...

with Karl Rove's laptop in the White House family dining room.

[passy]

5. I posted something related to that a couple of nights ago.

I just happened to catch something interesting in somebody's post concerning something made by Digi.
The poster was asking what Bev Harris meant by a Digi board, and mentioned this in passing http://www.digi.com/products/remotewirelesscellular/digiconnectwangsm.jsp
so I asked the techies on the forum if this could be used on tabulators.
The scary bit on the page linked above is this "the ability to traverse firewalls, and the ability to move the connection virtually anywhere."