In psychology, cognitive dissonance is the discomfort experienced when simultaneously holding two or more conflicting cognitions: ideas, beliefs, values or emotional reactions. In a state of dissonance, people may sometimes feel “disequilibrium”: frustration, hunger, dread, guilt, anger, embarrassment, anxiety, etc – Wikipedia
The state fails at protecting data, legislators to get lesson in Internet security, N.I.S.T experts say unsafe the Internet is not safe for voting, the N.S.A. and others can look at practically anything, yet local registrars, the Secretary of the State, and the State Military Department can protect Internet voting by Legislative decree.
As CTVotersCount readers know, the Legislature passed Internet voting over the objections of the Secretary of the State. Choosing not to define it but to leave it up the Secretary and Military Department to define a secure way to accomplish it. Despite the concerns of virtually every Computer Scientist and experts from the National Institute of Standards. Who will implement the actual voting? 169 local municipalities, many with (very) part-time registrars? The Secretary of the State with the help of the State IT function? Two more interesting events this week:
The Motor Vehicle Department inadvertently released the names of job applicants on its web site, making hacking into their computers unnecessary. Courant: DMV Snafu Posts 400 Job Applicants’ Personal Info On State Website <read>
The state Department of Motor Vehicles’ commissioner has sent individual letters of apology to about 400 job applicants whose names, home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and exam scores were posted on the DMV’s official website by mistake…
The DMV had intended to post a job announcement on its website about 1 p.m. on Aug. 27 for the position of “Information Technology Analyst 2.” But the following morning, someone from the DMV’s human resources unit discovered that instead of the job-vacancy posting, “a file with a spreadsheet containing the names and other information of candidates who had passed the examination for this title had been posted,” [Commissioner Melody A.] Currey said in the letter.
Wednesday at 1:00pm, in the Legislative Office Building: State Capitol Police Dept.: Internet Safety for Legislators & Staff. Apparently consisting of:
An “Internet Safety” training program available to all legislators and legislative employees. This comprehensive program is designed to heighten awareness on protecting yourself and your family from internet and technology crimes.
Sounds like a good idea. But would a similar training be available or even feasible for military and their dependents eligible for Internet voting, across the counter, the world, under the sea, and in combat situations? Let alone election officials in 169 towns, if they become responsible for Internet voting?
For more read some of your past posts on Internet Voting or Internet Security
