(fwd) RE: The FBI & Computer Security

[Ralph Shnelvar <ralphs@xxxxxxxxx>]

From: Ralph Shnelvar [mailto:ralphs@xxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 8:16 AM
To: Gigi Dennis; Salas, Linda
Cc: Hillary Hall; Richard Valenty
Subject: The FBI & Computer Security

Dear Secretary of State Dennis and County Clerk Salas:

I would like to bring to your attention the story

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/05/AR2006070501
489_pf.html

in which "A government consultant, using computer programs easily found on
the Internet, managed to crack the FBI's classified computer system and gain
the passwords of 38,000 employees, including that of FBI Director Robert S.
Mueller III."

Further, the "consultant" (more likely a contract worker) gained access to
"Witness Protection Program and details on counterespionage activity".

The man gained access to information that put lives at risk.

I pose the following rhetorical question: Does the Secretary or the Clerk
think that the people in her office are more skilled at protecting the
sanctity of the vote than the FBI is in protecting the lives of those in the
Witness Protection Program?

To repeat, the question was rhetorical.

Unlike some of those working for Hart, Mr. Colon (the consultant) did not
have access to the source code of the systems.  For those with the source
code, gaining access is much simpler.  I say this as an expert: For those
able to manipulate the code, the act of gaining access is trivial.

I wish to repeat what my colleagues and fellow activists know: These
machines are insecure and, thus, unreliable.

The only way to have a reliable and secure election using current technology
is to use hand-counted paper ballots.

Continued use of these machines puts the vote of the citizens of Colorado at
great risk without any compensating benefit.

I thank you for your time reading this.

Ralph Shnelvar
385 Fox Drive
Boulder, CO 80303
303-546-6125