New news about Diebold in MD

I am posting this for Alex35332 who is a newbie with a good contribution to make. here is the news release:

PRESS RELEASE: TrueVoteMD.org CONTACT: Alex Zeese
June 2, 2006

SBE Responds to Calls for Independent Testing of Diebold Machines By Hiring a Diebold Apologist Rather then a Security Expert to Conduct Tests.
TrueVoteMD Calls Review a "Whitewash in the making"

Montgomery County: Over the past five months, a Finnish security expert Hari Hursti has tested Diebold voting systems used in many states. He found serious security vulnerabilities both in the software, PCMCIA cards that record votes and in the procedures surrounding the voting machines. One of these vulnerabilities was detected by a Maryland security assessment two years ago, but Diebold never fixed the vulnerability. The newest attack is so serious that experts are afraid to talk about its details publicly.


As these security vulnerabilities became known the Governor expressed his view that he no longer trusted the machines. Candidates and citizens called for independent testing of the machines and John Hopkins Computer Expert Avi Rubin challenged the State Board of Elections to find computer scientists who would verify that the system is secure.

In response to this widespread pressure from citizens, voting security experts and political leaders, including TrueVoteMD, The Maryland State Board of Elections recently hired Freeman, Craft and McGregor Group Inc., to do an assessment of Diebold’s voting system security. However the selection of this Florida firm to do the analysis has itself raised questions.

Paul Craft is a partner in Freeman, Craft and McGregor. “We did some research into Paul Craft’s firm and have serious concerns as to their qualifications as security experts. There has been a lot of criticism of Mr. Craft in regards to the weakening of security procedures during the time he was assisting NASED in creating voting system standards in 2005,” said Alex Zeese of TrueVoteMD.org. “ We have some of the best computer experts in the country right here in Maryland who have been very critical of the Diebold machines. The SBE should have had these well-qualified critics test the machines in order to restore confidence of voters and political leaders. The selection of this group is a whitewash in the making. With this firm conducting the test the outcome is predictable."

TrueVoteMD has compiled research into Freeman, Craft and McGregor, which shows a history of favoritism towards the Diebold Corporation and a failure to recognize the seriousness of security flaws. Mr. Craft, in particular, was involved in the revision of the national voting system standards. He consistently advocated relaxing standards in favor of the machine manufacturers. Another partner, Steve Freeman, was hired by the state of California to check for problems on their voting machines, after Maryland released the RABA report. The RABA Report raised concerns about the security of the GEMS Tabulators, that tabulate the results from all the machines in a precinct/county. Despite the risks reported by RABA and CompuWare, Freeman has repeatedly recommended the tabulators.

TrueVoteMD has published a summary of concerns about the group picked on line at: http://truevotemd.org/content/view/474/82 /
It is also below
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Alex -www.TrueVoteMD.org-www.VotersForPeace.US

I thought MD passed paper ballot legislation already

Sorry Dude, the MD Senate Democrats killed the bill, it passed the House, then the Republican Gov swapped sides came out in favor of it and the Senate Dem's killed it cold. :(