Sensitive passwords for Colorado voting machines posted online

[ICU 812]

Sure . . .there is always an excuse. "He doesn't work here, and the new guy didn't know." is convenient. So who is in charge of this loose operation?

More convenient excuses: The roof was too step. The local LE had responsibility for . . .The FBI can't figure out who brought in the Cocaine . . . or why the MKL bullet doesn't match the gun. . . .nor can they break into the five or so cell phones recovered from the attempted Trump shooters.

That nothing bad happened (we are told, the election is not over yet) does not itself mitigate the error nor does it excuse or forgive it. If former President Trump had not merely his head this would be a different discussion.

Do not confuse the multiple examples with a change of topic. These things are all connected in terms of responsibility, fault, culpability, consequences and accountability.

[txdot-guy]

Originally Posted by ICU 812

Sure . . .there is always an excuse. "He doesn't work here, and the new guy didn't know." is convenient. So who is in charge of this loose operation?

More convenient excuses: The roof was too step. The local LE had responsibility for . . .The FBI can't figure out who brought in the Cocaine . . . or why the MKL bullet doesn't match the gun. . . .nor can they break into the five or so cell phones recovered from the attempted Trump shooters.

That nothing bad happened (we are told, the election is not over yet) does not itself mitigate the error nor does it excuse or forgive it. If former President Trump had not merely his head this would be a different discussion.

Do not confuse the multiple examples with a change of topic. These things are all connected in terms of responsibility, fault, culpability, consequences and accountability.

Humans are fallible. Systems that incorporate humans are fallible. Computers and software that are designed, built and operated by humans are fallible.

When problems arise and are found the solution is to stop and think about the problem and to fix not just the issue but the underlying culture that allowed the problem to occur in the first place. If you want to call for change that’s the way to do things.

Conflation of problems between different entities is invalid unless a common cause exists and suspicion is not proof of anything.

It sounds to me like what we’re discussing here in this thread is an unhealthy distrust of government institutions. Federal, State, and Local.

I think what people don’t want to understand is that local and state governments are numerous and under the control of many different individuals and groups that have only a minimal connection to one party or the other. The idea that there is some kind of overall consensus or control between them is simply not credible.

[69in2it69]

They were BIOS passwords, not to the OS...

[The_Waco_Kid]

Originally Posted by 69in2it69

They were BIOS passwords, not to the OS...

which makes it even worse. the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is the key to the system including the operating system.


In computing, BIOS is firmware used to provide runtime services for operating systems and programs and to perform hardware initialization during the booting process. The firmware comes pre-installed on the computer's motherboard


still think it's a nothing burger?

[txdot-guy]

Originally Posted by The_Waco_Kid

which makes it even worse. the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is the key to the system including the operating system.


In computing, BIOS is firmware used to provide runtime services for operating systems and programs and to perform hardware initialization during the booting process. The firmware comes pre-installed on the computer's motherboard


still think it's a nothing burger?

Never said it was a nothing burger. I said that it is an isolated incident that has already been fixed.

All that’s left at this point is the security audit and possibly some retraining and procedure changes to try and limit future security issues.

[The_Waco_Kid]

Originally Posted by txdot-guy

Never said it was a nothing burger. I said that it is an isolated incident that has already been fixed.

All that’s left at this point is the security audit and possibly some retraining and procedure changes to try and limit future security issues.

i wasn't replying to you .. see below

Originally Posted by 69in2it69

They were BIOS passwords, not to the OS...

Originally Posted by The_Waco_Kid

which makes it even worse. the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is the key to the system including the operating system.


In computing, BIOS is firmware used to provide runtime services for operating systems and programs and to perform hardware initialization during the booting process. The firmware comes pre-installed on the computer's motherboard


still think it's a nothing burger?

and if you know anything about the BIOS then you know you can disable the boot disk meaning the OS will not load.


to keep it simple ..


go out to your garage and disconnect your battery cables then try to start your car.


it's not about changing votes via the OS .. it's about disabling the OS from booting making the system inoperable

[txdot-guy]

Originally Posted by The_Waco_Kid

i wasn't replying to you .. see below

My apologies, I spoke out of turn.

[ICU 812]

Sure, humans are fallible. That is why the nurse always asks for your name and DOB when dispensing meds or for just about anything else . . .even though she knows who you are.

Giving a patient the wrong meds or giving them to the wrong patient can and will result in getting fired and the loss of a nurse's professional credentials

But such a mistake may only affect one individual patient, not the voting public of a state.

This business in Colorado is not a vote to alter the by laws of the local VFW or the county library board. We are talking about the election security of a State here.

Whatever the source or the reason for this kerfuffle, there has got to be accountability and correction . . .or the likely hood of it happening agsin with a genuinely adverse outcome will go up.

This may mean that someone loses their cushy job if it turns out to be just lack of administrative supervision. It may mean someone goes to jail if it trns out that there was malicious intent.

There is another thread here about federal poll watchers in Texas . . .maybe the Feds should take a long and deep look at Colorado.

[69in2it69]

Originally Posted by The_Waco_Kid

i wasn't replying to you .. see below







and if you know anything about the BIOS then you know you can disable the boot disk meaning the OS will not load.


to keep it simple ..


go out to your garage and disconnect your battery cables then try to start your car.


it's not about changing votes via the OS .. it's about disabling the OS from booting making the system inoperable

It also means that you must issue a break sequence WHEN the machine is starting up...from a locally connected keyboard.


To keep it simple, try going out to your garage and disconnecting your battery cables...from your mother's basement.

[ICU 812]

Lions vs Packers before the half:

A Lion defensive back tackled a Green Bay receiver. There was what seemed to me to be inadvertent contact to the head by the Detroit player.

Not only was there a major penalty, the player (no 32) was ejected and sent to the locker room.

Accountability and consiquences at work. Harsh? The refs do have some discretion in this, but the message is clear: no head-hits will be tollersted in the NFL of 2024.

But its just a game . . .and the rral potential for a concussion for the receiver.

In Colorado, thankfully, there was no real damage, no fraudulent voting or hacking by the Chinese, Russians or the KKK. But there nest still be accountability and consequences.

[The_Waco_Kid]

Originally Posted by 69in2it69

It also means that you must issue a break sequence WHEN the machine is starting up...from a locally connected keyboard.


To keep it simple, try going out to your garage and disconnecting your battery cables...from your mother's basement.

since these voting machines aren't connected to the internet (they aren't supposed to be at least) you'd need to be at the console with the root password also, right?

[texassapper]

(2) ANY PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY PUBLISHES OR CAUSES TO BE PUBLISHED PASSWORDS OR OTHER CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION RELATING TO A VOTING SYSTEM SHALL IMMEDIATELY HAVE THEIR AUTHORIZED ACCESS REVOKED AND IS GUILTY OF A CLASS 5 FELONY.

Penalties for the most severe Class 5 felony: 4 months – 8 years in prison, and/or fine of $1,000 – $100,000

[txdot-guy]

Originally Posted by texassapper

(2) ANY PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY PUBLISHES OR CAUSES TO BE PUBLISHED PASSWORDS OR OTHER CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION RELATING TO A VOTING SYSTEM SHALL IMMEDIATELY HAVE THEIR AUTHORIZED ACCESS REVOKED AND IS GUILTY OF A CLASS 5 FELONY.

Penalties for the most severe Class 5 felony: 4 months – 8 years in prison, and/or fine of $1,000 – $100,000

I think the catch here is the word “knowingly”.

The spreadsheet had a hidden tab that held the passwords. The person who published the spreadsheet didn’t know it was there.

Hard to say that they had knowledge of the breach.

[The_Waco_Kid]

Originally Posted by txdot-guy

I think the catch here is the word “knowingly”.

The spreadsheet had a hidden tab that held the passwords. The person who published the spreadsheet didn’t know it was there.

Hard to say that they had knowledge of the breach.

moot point. all the passwords have already been changed.

[69in2it69]

Originally Posted by The_Waco_Kid

since these voting machines aren't connected to the internet (they aren't supposed to be at least) you'd need to be at the console with the root password also, right?

Yes, at the console, no to the root password (that's the OS and you have to get into the BIOS before it boots). And power cycle the system. And if successful and you crashed the system...gasp, you'd have to have someone read the PAPER ballot and record the choices.