keyless cars can be cracked, a thought on voting systems
Topics: Technology
03 May 2006
From: Ervan Darnell
>
>
> High-tech thieves are becoming increasingly savvy when it comes to
> stealing automobiles equipped with keyless entry and ignition systems.
> While many computer-based security systems on automobiles require some
> type of key — mechanical or otherwise — to start the engine, so-called
> ‘keyless’ setups require only the presence of a key fob to start the
> engine.
>
> The expert gang suspected of stealing two of David Beckham’s BMW X5
> SUVs in the last six months did so by using software programs on a
> laptop to wirelessly break into the car’s computer, open the doors,
> and start the engine. [...]
> While automakers and locksmiths are supposed to be the only groups
> that know where and how security information is stored in a car, the
> information eventually falls into the wrong hands.
http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/05/03/gone-in-20-minutes-using-laptops-to-steal-cars/
The current crop of electronic voting machines make the same mistake:
their security is based on the manufacturer being able to keep the
secret (both source code and backdoor keys). If the system is not open
sourced with the abilility to generate local keys (and no global ones),
it's a train wreck waiting to happen.
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