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How Close Did Russia Really Come to Hacking the 2016 Election?

3 points by smacktoward 7y ago

danso 7y ago
This is one of the better election hacking stories and possibilities I've read about. Most people are (understandably) fixated on hacking that would tamper with the actual voting results. But I remember the poll book software and laptops (which we use to check whether someone is a registered voter, and their current voting status, before giving them a ballot) being a conspicuous and clunky black box. Not egregiously moreso than any proprietary Windows app, but someone compromising the app or the voter data (which in Cook County, IIRC, is done via on-air wifi updates) would theoretically be hard to detect. In swing districts, making it harder for 10% of one party's voter roll to cast votes would have significant impact.
jc01480 7y ago
Think of all the regions one would have to target to make a difference. To truly affect the elections, one would have to significantly narrow down the pool. In the case of the 2016 elections, let’s say Democrat strongholds were targeted. That’s still a lot. Virtually every major metropolitan area in the US (almost). Still quite a bit. I suspect that any interference in 2016 was a test. A practice run if you will. The absence of verifiable proof is indicative that it was unsuccessful, but it makes for great political talking points and justification for radical behavior. In order to do this, one has to concentrate on the choke points of information. Surely there are 20 or less in the automated systems? The real answer lies in how you would do it. Model that over and over and we might get some clarity as to what to expect in 2020.
- danso 7y ago
  The article says that this software vendor had, among its clients, “64 of 67” of Florida’s counties. A few percentage points in Florida alone can be the difference in a general election.
planetzero 7y ago
I get phishing emails daily and I would imagine the people running the polls do as well. The Russians didn't come close to hacking the 2016 election. This entire article is ridiculous and only serves to try to invalidate the current administration. What I find strange is that before the election, Trump mentioned the Russians interfering multiple times and how he was worried about it. Everyone said he was an idiot..until he won. Then they turned it around and claimed the Russians helped him win. The Steele Dossier was based on information obtained from foreign nationals, hired by the DNC and Clinton campaign and most likely involved the Russian government. This sounds to me like hiring a foreign government to dig up dirt on a presidential candidate...and should result in jail time.

3 points by smacktoward 7y ago

This is one of the better election hacking stories and possibilities I've read about. Most people are (understandably) fixated on hacking that would tamper with the actual voting results. But I remember the poll book software and laptops (which we use to check whether someone is a registered voter, and their current voting status, before giving them a ballot) being a conspicuous and clunky black box. Not egregiously moreso than any proprietary Windows app, but someone compromising the app or the voter data (which in Cook County, IIRC, is done via on-air wifi updates) would theoretically be hard to detect. In swing districts, making it harder for 10% of one party's voter roll to cast votes would have significant impact.

jc01480 7y ago

Think of all the regions one would have to target to make a difference. To truly affect the elections, one would have to significantly narrow down the pool. In the case of the 2016 elections, let’s say Democrat strongholds were targeted. That’s still a lot. Virtually every major metropolitan area in the US (almost). Still quite a bit. I suspect that any interference in 2016 was a test. A practice run if you will. The absence of verifiable proof is indicative that it was unsuccessful, but it makes for great political talking points and justification for radical behavior. In order to do this, one has to concentrate on the choke points of information. Surely there are 20 or less in the automated systems? The real answer lies in how you would do it. Model that over and over and we might get some clarity as to what to expect in 2020.

danso 7y ago
The article says that this software vendor had, among its clients, “64 of 67” of Florida’s counties. A few percentage points in Florida alone can be the difference in a general election.

planetzero 7y ago

I get phishing emails daily and I would imagine the people running the polls do as well. The Russians didn't come close to hacking the 2016 election. This entire article is ridiculous and only serves to try to invalidate the current administration. What I find strange is that before the election, Trump mentioned the Russians interfering multiple times and how he was worried about it. Everyone said he was an idiot..until he won. Then they turned it around and claimed the Russians helped him win. The Steele Dossier was based on information obtained from foreign nationals, hired by the DNC and Clinton campaign and most likely involved the Russian government. This sounds to me like hiring a foreign government to dig up dirt on a presidential candidate...and should result in jail time.