Security concerns, a lack of standardisation of user equipment, and
insufficient evidence of voter confidence rule out the early
introduction of electronic voting in general elections, according to a
study by UK Government security experts. The report , by the
government's technology security agency
CESG , found serious security flaws in all widely
used mobile phone, interactive television and home computer
technologies. Collecting votes on web sites is risky because the route
that data takes over the internet is unpredictable, and can be
intercepted or modified in transit, it says. Even 'Secure Sockets
Layer' encryption - used to protect personal information sent to most
e-commerce sites - could be undermined by common computer
viruses.
The research also highlighted reliability problems with mobile phone text-messaging technology (SMS). "As SMS is inherently a 'best effort' delivery medium with no guarantee of successful delivery, this effectively rules out such internet-based gateways, as a response will be required to satisfy the voter that their vote has been received. In fact, this response may have to be sent multiple times to increase the likelihood of at least one getting through," the CESG said. Unreliability would also make attempts at multiple voting difficult to track and penalize.
According to CESG, secure voting on digital television would be difficult because of the diversity of technology available. "It may be possible to modify set-top box software to add an electronic voting application to facilitate client processing. Whether this can be done and rolled-out securely enough would be a matter for investigation, and whether it would be feasible to create enough versions to run on every possible type of set-top box, on time, and for a reasonable budget, is also doubtful," it said.
More generally, CESG warned that building voter confidence may take an extended period, but could be quickly demolished by a small number of security breaches.
Quelle: Headstar.com
The research also highlighted reliability problems with mobile phone text-messaging technology (SMS). "As SMS is inherently a 'best effort' delivery medium with no guarantee of successful delivery, this effectively rules out such internet-based gateways, as a response will be required to satisfy the voter that their vote has been received. In fact, this response may have to be sent multiple times to increase the likelihood of at least one getting through," the CESG said. Unreliability would also make attempts at multiple voting difficult to track and penalize.
According to CESG, secure voting on digital television would be difficult because of the diversity of technology available. "It may be possible to modify set-top box software to add an electronic voting application to facilitate client processing. Whether this can be done and rolled-out securely enough would be a matter for investigation, and whether it would be feasible to create enough versions to run on every possible type of set-top box, on time, and for a reasonable budget, is also doubtful," it said.
More generally, CESG warned that building voter confidence may take an extended period, but could be quickly demolished by a small number of security breaches.
Quelle: Headstar.com