Re: Multiple uploads don't verify checksums

["Steve Knecht" <skglobal@earthlink.net>]

Guy, Marin bypassed the data checksums on this without my knowledge
repeatedly into the database that we are using for the election. (The one
with Voter Reg totals input).  Will RESET ELECTION take away any corrupted
counters and therefore wipe out any of these situations described below??
Or do I need to backtrack to a db prior to the uploads and reinput Voter Reg
totals (not a good alternative).
-----Original Message-----
From: Guy Lancaster <glanca@gesn.com>
To: Bugs <bugtrack@gesn.com>
Date: Thursday, February 24, 2000 10:27 AM
Subject: Multiple uploads don't verify checksums


>  When uploading multiple memory cards during the same
>connection, the Accu-Vote does not verify on successive
>memory cards that the checksums match the data.  This is
>both a blessing and a curse.  Steve Knecht discovered this
>in dealing with memory card corruptions and was able to
>upload memory cards that were coming up as "PLEASE
>RE-INSERT...".  However the checksums SHOULD be verified
>first and therefore this is a bug.
>
>  In fact, all that is checked is that the memory card is
>not write-protected and that its status is not blank and not
>audited (i.e. the election finished).  Thus you could upload
>corrupted counters and if the precinct data isn't reading
>properly (connection problems???) then the AV could crash or
>upload meaningless data.  And if there is a connection
>problem, the AV could write the upload audit log entry to
>the wrong location and corrupt a previously okay memory
>card.  In short, not checking means taking unknown risks
>with the data.
>
>  This is my fault (I wrote the code) and I'll "fix" it for
>the next release (1.94y?) but until then be warned, if you
>have a memory card that is failing the checks, bypassing the
>checks using this method is dangerous.
>
>  And of course we'd all prefer that these memory card
>corruptions just went away.  Those and computer crashes.
>And crime.  And lousy weather.  And...  :-)
>
>              Guy
>
>