Ask HN: How easily could russian hackers manipulate a U.S. election?

4 points by itsevrgrn 7 years ago | 4 comments

What would they have to achieve this technically?

k4ch0w 7 years ago |

Well if you could change the source code on the voting machine it's something as simple as you show the Voter their choice to confirm on the frontend but the backend has been manipulated to always vote for someone else instead. The voter would never know their choice was altered. An example is as simple as the following:

def selectCandidate(voter_id, choice):

    if choice == 1:
       return {"Voter":voter_id, "Displaychoice": "Candidate 1", "Choice": "Candidate 1"}


    if choice == 2:
       return return {"Voter":voter_id, "Displaychoice": "Candidate 2", "Choice": "Candidate 1"}


    if choice == 3:
       return return {"Voter":voter_id, "Displaychoice": "Candidate 3", "Choice": "Candidate 1"}

    raise Exception("Should never happen :-p")

some_account 7 years ago |

Why the heck are you worrying about Russians? Don't you realize it's just a media thing to point, the finger at someone to be worried about?

Elections are not a democratic process in any of the big nations. Why do you think every president in America are basically related and family?

HiroshiSan 7 years ago | |

Seems more likely that if your father was president he could groom you and guide you to the path towards being president, similarly to how if your parents went to an ivy league, they'd know what's required to get into an ivy league or at least be a strong candidate, I don't think it's some sort of conspiracy as your post suggests.

andrei_says_ 7 years ago |

I’m more worried about the Lesters.

https://www.ted.com/talks/lawrence_lessig_we_the_people_and_...