The Vergecast Election cybersecurity: How ready are we for November 3rd?
Jul 21, 2020
Kim Zetter, a cybersecurity journalist and author of Countdown to Zero Day, partners with Nilay Patel and Russell Brandom to discuss pressing issues in election security. They explore vulnerabilities in voting machines and the challenges of mail-in voting during the pandemic. Zetter emphasizes the need for transparency and systemic improvements since the 2016 election, while also addressing the balance between technology and voter security. The conversation highlights the critical importance of audits and maintaining paper trails to ensure election integrity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
US Election Integrity
- US elections are problematic and jury-rigged, patching problems each year.
- Despite officials wanting public confidence, the inside view reveals disturbing realities.
Voting Machine Vulnerabilities
- Voting machine source code remains proprietary, hindering audits.
- Despite DHS assessments, known vulnerabilities remain unaddressed for decades.
Misleading Claims of 2016
- After 2016, officials claimed no votes changed, then revised to "no evidence."
- This is misleading as no one thoroughly examined voting machines for alterations.