# Now with more Russian hacking (leaked NSA document) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 5, 2017, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220 "2017-06-05T22:11:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/1 "2017-06-05T22:11:07Z")
[Here’s the story](https://theintercept.com/2017/06/05/top-secret-nsa-report-details-russian-hacking-effort-days-before-2016-election/) and [this](http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/336432-federal-government-contractor-charged-for-leaking-classified-material) seems to be the leaker > [@](#): > > Russian military intelligence executed a cyberattack on at least one U.S. voting software supplier and sent spear-phishing emails to more than 100 local election officials just days before last November’s presidential election, according to a highly classified intelligence report obtained by The Intercept. > [@](#): > > The NSA analysis does not draw conclusions about whether the interference had any effect on the election’s outcome and concedes that much remains unknown about the extent of the hackers’ accomplishments. > [@](#): > > NSA report indicates that VR Systems was targeted only with login-stealing trickery, rather than computer-controlling malware Doesn’t seem to allow for vote changing, but could affect rolls. As best as I could tell, anyway. > [@](#): > > According to its website, VR Systems has contracts in eight states: California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. > > Pamela Smith, president of election integrity watchdog Verified Voting, agreed that even if VR Systems doesn’t facilitate the actual casting of votes, it could make an alluring target for anyone hoping to disrupt the vote. > > “If someone has access to a state voter database, they can take malicious action by modifying or removing information,” she said. “This could affect whether someone has the ability to cast a regular ballot, or be required to cast a ‘provisional’ ballot — which would mean it has to be checked for their eligibility before it is included in the vote, and it may mean the voter has to jump through certain hoops such as proving their information to the election official before their eligibility is affirmed.” ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/2 "2017-06-05T22:21:13Z")
I have good news for you! Republicans are in power! They are the party of voter ID laws and such. This is a result of their ultimate concern for the honest integrity of elections. If there is anyone that will get to the bottom of this by taking a lead role at the forefront at the helm in full control in the driver’s seat, it’s them. This is totally in their wheelhouse, they got this. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/3 "2017-06-05T22:22:49Z")
Surprise surprise, there were reports of [missing voter registrations](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2016/live-updates/general-election/real-time-updates-on-the-2016-election-voting-and-race-results/missing-voter-registrations-reported-in-north-carolina/)[in North Carolina](http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article113303818.html) during the 2016 election. Apparently, the whole DMV automatic registration record system was down in certain heavily democratic districts. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/4 "2017-06-05T23:49:53Z")
Also, in example number umpty thousand and three about how reality has jumped the shark, the federal contractor arrested for leaking the report is named Reality Winner. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/5 "2017-06-05T23:56:44Z")
[Something like 55% of Democrats believe "Russia tampered with vote tallies in order to get Donald Trump elected President.](https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/r7qogc932v/econTabReport.pdf)" Are there any in this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/6 "2017-06-05T23:56:48Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > Also, in example number umpty thousand and three about how reality has jumped the shark, the federal contractor arrested for leaking the report is named Reality Winner. I used to think we were in a simulation, and now I know it for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/7 "2017-06-06T00:13:58Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > Also, in example number umpty thousand and three about how reality has jumped the shark, the federal contractor arrested for leaking the report is named Reality Winner. Headline after the inevitable response from the President: “Trump Denies Reality, Calls Winner ‘Loser’” ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/8 "2017-06-06T00:16:35Z")
And it’s not even a simulation run for some potential greater benefit. It’s more like Roller Coaster Tycoon, where someone is just fucking around trying to make the biggest disaster possible. Except instead of two roller coasters colliding, it’s our election system… ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/9 "2017-06-06T00:27:41Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > … the biggest disaster possible … two roller coasters colliding … [Amateurs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0aQ0trDhQk) 😛 ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/10 "2017-06-06T01:54:54Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > Headline after the inevitable response from the President: “Trump Denies Reality, Calls Winner ‘Loser’” That would be one hell of a tweet. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/11 "2017-06-06T05:42:02Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > [Something like 55% of Democrats believe "Russia tampered with vote tallies in order to get Donald Trump elected President.](https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/r7qogc932v/econTabReport.pdf)" Are there any in this thread? Nah, I don’t want to change the subject. But you go right ahead! ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/12 "2017-06-06T05:48:42Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Nah, I don’t want to change the subject. But you go right ahead! Here are quotes from the first three posts in this thread: > [@Tzigone](#): > > Doesn’t seem to allow for vote changing, but could affect rolls. As best as I could tell, anyway. > [@bobot](#): > > Republicans are in power! They are the party of voter ID laws and such. This is a result of their ultimate concern for the honest integrity of elections. > [@lazybratsche](#): > > Surprise surprise, there were reports of [missing voter registrations](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2016/live-updates/general-election/real-time-updates-on-the-2016-election-voting-and-race-results/missing-voter-registrations-reported-in-north-carolina/)[in North Carolina](http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article113303818.html) during the 2016 election. You think mine was “chang[ing] the subject”? From what to what, if you don’t mind me asking? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/13 "2017-06-06T07:14:58Z")
You apparently would like us to discuss the mistaken and/or unsubstantiated opinions amongst the Dems. Well, OK, we can go there if you insist, we can also talk about how many Republicans don’t believe in evolution. Neither of which has any actual bearing on the matter at hand. Now, did the Russians actually “burgle” our electoral machinery? Dunno. Looks like they at least jiggled the door to see if it was locked… ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/14 "2017-06-06T08:43:56Z")
I’m not sure there’s too much sympathy for the USA over this; most of the word thinks it’s a pretty good idea to have an electoral paper trail and a whole bunch of local retired ladies counting ballots. If it takes a few hours then, gee, you only have the Inauguration in January. Who the hell thought this was a good idea - scratch that; who the hell was making enough money to grease the right political palms for these machines to be purchased. FFS, just count paper every few years. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/15 "2017-06-06T09:21:13Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > I’m not sure there’s too much sympathy for the USA over this; most of the word thinks it’s a pretty good idea to have an electoral paper trail and a whole bunch of local retired ladies counting ballots. If it takes a few hours then, gee, you only have the Inauguration in January. Are there actually election systems that don’t use computers at all? Even for managing the voter list? The authorities do absolutely _everything_ solely on paper? ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/16 "2017-06-06T10:39:47Z")
I’m talking about the count, and potential manipulation thereof. Don’t know what you mean by ‘systems’ but there is no need for registrations to be maintained online/hackable. People can keep registrants in a …register (database). ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/17 "2017-06-06T11:12:57Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > Surprise surprise, there were reports of [missing voter registrations](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2016/live-updates/general-election/real-time-updates-on-the-2016-election-voting-and-race-results/missing-voter-registrations-reported-in-north-carolina/)[in North Carolina](http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article113303818.html) during the 2016 election. Apparently, the whole DMV automatic registration record system was down in certain heavily democratic districts. The Russians don’t have to actually succeed in breaking into the databases and purging records. The fact is that any purge of electronic records from now on will be viewed with suspicion. There will be doubts about the credibility of election outcomes. I know progressives are already eagerly looking forward to 2018 and 2020, but what might be the reaction among radical right wing nuts if they lose the election? Trump’s America might not accept the results. Nor might Democrat America, for that matter, if they lose. Putin has already scored a major victory which cannot be overstated. ---
**Author:** ![CheaderHeddar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@CheaderHeddar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheaderHeddar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/18 "2017-06-06T11:29:37Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > Surprise surprise, there were reports of [missing voter registrations](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2016/live-updates/general-election/real-time-updates-on-the-2016-election-voting-and-race-results/missing-voter-registrations-reported-in-north-carolina/)[in North Carolina](http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article113303818.html) during the 2016 election. Apparently, the whole DMV automatic registration record system was down in certain heavily democratic districts. which means what? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/19 "2017-06-06T11:29:44Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > Are there actually election systems that don’t use computers at all? Even for managing the voter list? The authorities do absolutely _everything_ solely on paper? For the purpose of auditability, nobody really cares if parts of the system are on computer systems or not. Voter registration information is, after all, publicly available data. If it’s incorrect, or even worse, incorrect in a noticeably biased pattern, someone can notice and make a stink. The vote itself is the only part of the system which is by necessity secret. You need to design external auditability into it. If you don’t… well, you have a big problem ---
**Author:** ![CheaderHeddar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@CheaderHeddar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheaderHeddar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220/20 "2017-06-06T11:32:29Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > I’m not sure there’s too much sympathy for the USA over this; most of the word thinks it’s a pretty good idea to have an electoral paper trail and a whole bunch of local retired ladies counting ballots. If it takes a few hours then, gee, you only have the Inauguration in January. > > Who the hell thought this was a good idea - scratch that; who the hell was making enough money to grease the right political palms for these machines to be purchased. > > FFS, just count paper every few years. THIS!!! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-with-more-russian-hacking-leaked-nsa-document/788220.md?page=2)