Editorials: Wellington city council was wrong to think internet voting is safe | The Dominion Post

Wellington is a town of political junkies and digital hotshots. We are the coolest – and smartest – little capital. So perhaps it was obvious what the Wellington City Council would say about having internet elections here: “Of course.” But in fact the council’s decision is wrong. The risks – hacking, mainly – are too great, and the benefits – internet voting is supposed to boost voter turnout – are small. Software expert Nigel McNie warned councillors against internet voting and cited the problem of the Death Star. It had just one little hole of vulnerability, but it was big enough to let a bomb through.  Now of course geeks disagree about the risk from hacking. Some say internet voting can be made safe, or as safe as can be reasonably expected. But everyone knows that no system is guaranteed against hackers. 
This year about 100 banks lost more than US$1 billion from a co-ordinated attack by European hackers. They made their raids small, about $10m each, so the banks had good reason to keep their losses quiet – and the hackers could return.
Some might argue that hackers have much less reason to attack anything as humble or boring as local body elections in New Zealand. A $10m heist is one thing; screwing up small-town politicians is less exciting.
But this is to misunderstand the psychology of the hacker, which is a mixture of geekish pride and idle malice. If you set up a “safe” digital system, they will come – to prove how clever they are and to wreak as much havoc as possible.
Full Article: Editorial: Wellington city council was wrong to think internet voting is safe | Stuff.co.nz.