US blocks overseas ISPs from voting site - GoFuckYourself.com

Sarah_Jayne · 09-21-2004, 10:12 AM

Kind of makes it fun to try to get an absentee ballot. I got mine from Democrats Abroad just because they sent me an email and it was the easy way for me to do it but I had to be on that mailing list at the time to get the notice.

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US blocks overseas ISPs from voting site

The US Department of Defense is preventing people who use big ISPs such as BT and Wanadoo from visiting a Web site for absentee American voters, citing the risk of hackers

Many of the world's major Internet service providers have been blocked from providing access to a US government Web site for Americans based overseas who want to take part in the forthcoming elections.

Wanadoo and BT have both been hit by the blockade, according to sources familiar with the situation, and early reports have claimed that Telefonica and China Telecom are also hit.

The move has caused frustration among expatriates worldwide. The site, www.fvap.gov, is the online home of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, which allows registered American voters to vote in their absence.

The US Department of Defense, which runs the Federal Voting Assistance Program, confirmed on Tuesday that "certain Internet service providers" were being blocked from accessing www.fvap.gov.

"The goal is to make it more difficult for hackers to deface and/or hijack the website," said Lieutenant Colonel Ellen Krenke.

"The Federal Voting Assistance Program is currently working on a solution to this problem and hopes to have it in place as soon as possible."

Lieutenant Colonel Krenke added that she didn't have a list of the ISPs affected.

BT is still investigating whether it has been hit by the blockade, but sources within the company have reported that they are unable to access www.fvap.gov.

It's unclear at this stage how the blocking is taking place. The US Department of Defense may have identified the IP blocks used by major ISPs, or it may be relying on the Autonomous System Number that is used to identify an Internet service provider's network as a whole to other ISPs.

A spokeswoman for Democrats Abroad said she was aware that customers of BT and Wanadoo had been affected, and was unimpressed by the claim that the measure would prevent hacking.

"I can't see the advantage of hacking the site," she said, explaining that voters still have to order, receive, sign and return their voting forms. "You've not going to change the voting [just by hacking the site]."

The deadline for submitting absentee ballots in some states is 2 October, so there is concern that the blockage could prevent some people from taking part in the election.

Democrats Abroad have responded to the Department of Defense blockade by setting up a separate site, called www.overseasvote2004.com, to handle absentee ballot requests.

According to the Department of Defense there are other ways of taking part in the election from overseas.

"In the meantime, overseas voters can contact their embassy or consulate, use the FVAP toll-free number or contact their local election official or secretary of state via telephone or the internet for more information on obtaining an absentee ballot," said Lieutenant Colonel Krenke.

ZDNet UK's Jonathan Bennett contributed to this report.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/040921/152/f31do.html

Reak · 09-21-2004, 10:14 AM

Sarah the GFY newsbot

Sarah_Jayne · 09-21-2004, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Reak
Sarah the GFY newsbot

well yeah but this one effects me

VirtuMike · 09-21-2004, 10:35 AM

Wow check that out - the Bush administration is doing everything it can to rig this election. I'm impressed. Taking the ability of citizens to vote away. This is a group that is surely heavily democrat. They know this.

Michael O · 09-21-2004, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by VirtuMike
Wow check that out - the Bush administration is doing everything it can to rig this election. I'm impressed. Taking the ability of citizens to vote away. This is a group that is surely heavily democrat. They know this.

Well its not like they haven´t done it before

Chichio · 09-21-2004, 01:51 PM

Methodcash Rick · 09-21-2004, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sarah_webinc
"The goal is to make it more difficult for hackers to deface and/or hijack the website," said Lieutenant Colonel Ellen Krenke.

Yeah, like hackers won't use a proxy, or some other means to deface / hack the site if they really wanted too... More government bullshit...

hydro · 09-21-2004, 02:06 PM

its not possible to hack through a proxy

Sarah_Jayne · 09-21-2004, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by VirtuMike
Wow check that out - the Bush administration is doing everything it can to rig this election. I'm impressed. Taking the ability of citizens to vote away. This is a group that is surely heavily democrat. They know this.

well, personally it would upset me if anyone - democrat or not - was prevented from registering for the ballot

Manowar · 09-21-2004, 02:14 PM

Vote smartly.

Sarah_Jayne · 09-21-2004, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Manowar
Vote smartly.

I intend to. My form for my absentee form has been in for a while now and I am still waitng for the final ballot but those are usually sent out in October. This is my third presidential election over here so I am fairly used to it but it is a long and confusing process as it is without not being able to use the site.

chupacabra · 09-21-2004, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hydro
its not possible to hack through a proxy

this is untrue. chained proxies are a favorite tool in the black-hat toolbox..

09-21-2004, 10:12 AM	#1
Sarah_Jayne Now with more Jayne Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 40,077	US blocks overseas ISPs from voting site Kind of makes it fun to try to get an absentee ballot. I got mine from Democrats Abroad just because they sent me an email and it was the easy way for me to do it but I had to be on that mailing list at the time to get the notice. - - US blocks overseas ISPs from voting site The US Department of Defense is preventing people who use big ISPs such as BT and Wanadoo from visiting a Web site for absentee American voters, citing the risk of hackers Many of the world's major Internet service providers have been blocked from providing access to a US government Web site for Americans based overseas who want to take part in the forthcoming elections. Wanadoo and BT have both been hit by the blockade, according to sources familiar with the situation, and early reports have claimed that Telefonica and China Telecom are also hit. The move has caused frustration among expatriates worldwide. The site, www.fvap.gov, is the online home of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, which allows registered American voters to vote in their absence. The US Department of Defense, which runs the Federal Voting Assistance Program, confirmed on Tuesday that "certain Internet service providers" were being blocked from accessing www.fvap.gov. "The goal is to make it more difficult for hackers to deface and/or hijack the website," said Lieutenant Colonel Ellen Krenke. "The Federal Voting Assistance Program is currently working on a solution to this problem and hopes to have it in place as soon as possible." Lieutenant Colonel Krenke added that she didn't have a list of the ISPs affected. BT is still investigating whether it has been hit by the blockade, but sources within the company have reported that they are unable to access www.fvap.gov. It's unclear at this stage how the blocking is taking place. The US Department of Defense may have identified the IP blocks used by major ISPs, or it may be relying on the Autonomous System Number that is used to identify an Internet service provider's network as a whole to other ISPs. A spokeswoman for Democrats Abroad said she was aware that customers of BT and Wanadoo had been affected, and was unimpressed by the claim that the measure would prevent hacking. "I can't see the advantage of hacking the site," she said, explaining that voters still have to order, receive, sign and return their voting forms. "You've not going to change the voting [just by hacking the site]." The deadline for submitting absentee ballots in some states is 2 October, so there is concern that the blockage could prevent some people from taking part in the election. Democrats Abroad have responded to the Department of Defense blockade by setting up a separate site, called www.overseasvote2004.com, to handle absentee ballot requests. According to the Department of Defense there are other ways of taking part in the election from overseas. "In the meantime, overseas voters can contact their embassy or consulate, use the FVAP toll-free number or contact their local election official or secretary of state via telephone or the internet for more information on obtaining an absentee ballot," said Lieutenant Colonel Krenke. ZDNet UK's Jonathan Bennett contributed to this report. http://uk.news.yahoo.com/040921/152/f31do.html

09-21-2004, 10:35 AM	#4
VirtuMike Confirmed User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Seat 1A Posts: 2,483	Wow check that out - the Bush administration is doing everything it can to rig this election. I'm impressed. Taking the ability of citizens to vote away. This is a group that is surely heavily democrat. They know this. __________________ Host it in AMSTERDAM at EUROTIVITY! - We also offer BACKUP SERVICES! XYZZY4L

09-21-2004, 01:51 PM	#6
Chichio Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,467	__________________ Exclusive Asian Content Program - FlyHighCash

09-21-2004, 10:14 AM	#2
Reak So Fucking Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 420Calendar.com Posts: 17,920	Sarah the GFY newsbot

09-21-2004, 02:06 PM	#8
hydro Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Dirty 3rd Posts: 4,216	its not possible to hack through a proxy

09-21-2004, 02:14 PM	#10
Manowar jellyfish Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 71,528	Vote smartly.