Audit of the Utah elections emphasizes some cyber security problems

Salt Lake City – In a new report, the weaknesses of cyber security in the state's electoral system were emphasized, but found that the elections in Utah are secure overall.

The audit, which was discussed on Wednesday morning during the meeting of the State Operations Interim Committee, found several recommendations for district writers to strengthen security in Utah elections.

“In elections in Utah, a lot more is right than wrong.”

Jake Dinsdale, Senior Audit Supervisor, said before the committee that Utahns should still be confident in the general security of the elections.

“I would like to emphasize here in advance that there is much more in Utah.

The test was not a blatant mistake or reason to worry, but found some areas in which security could be strengthened.

Wireless network functions

One of these functions dealt with wireless network functions.

According to the examination, the election server was created in a country using a nationwide laptop. This meant that the laptop had installed wireless internet components.

This is a common practice, and the computer was properly configured to ban internet connections.

However, the examiners were concerned that the parts were still on the computer, which means that someone was able to change them more easily to access the Internet, which is expressly prohibited for electoral devices.

“As a result of our tests with the experts with whom we have joined together, we have found some concerns. I will say that we make a recommendation that (the) statute about the current one, prohibits the connections.

Access to information

Another problem that was highlighted in the exam report dealt with the accounts and entitled of the election workers to access information.

The examiners found that in some cases, users were granted access to system settings and configuration options that were not necessary for their election tasks.

The report states that in worst scenarios “a malicious user could use such increased authorizations to make significant changes to coordination systems”.

The report, however, states that additional controls such as system protocols and security cameras could help prevent such changes.

Auditors also recommend that election officers create stronger passwords and update more often.

“An objective way for people to come in and to look at the guts of the system”

Weber County Clerk and Auditor Ricky Hatch, Ricky Hatch, said he and the other County employees appreciate this kind of audit.

“One reason why we are so happy to have this audit is that it was an objective opportunity for people to come in and to look at the guts of the system, the guts of the process, and that they were people who were trained for this exam.

The entire report is available online for the public.

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