Iowa caucus app problems offers snapshot of potential future issues

WHAT: An apparent software problem with an app used for the Democratic caucuses in Iowa caused problems with vote reporting resulting in chaos Tuesday.

EXPERT: Purdue University professor Eugene Spafford, one of the preeminent leaders in the field of cybersecurity, is available to talk about the dangers of using electronic voting technologies.

QUOTE:  “In some ways, this was the best outcome possible. Having an obvious glitch in software during a primary vote simply illustrates some of the concerns and was so much better than a problem that was hidden for weeks, unrecoverable, or even worse: hacked by outsiders.”

MORE INFORMATION

• Has served as a senior advisor or consultant for two U.S. presidents, as well as the Air Force, the National Security Agency, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Energy, not to mention technology giants Microsoft and Intel.
• Director emeritus of Purdue’s Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security.
• A member of the Cybersecurity Hall of Fame.

CONTACT:

Writer: Brian Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu

Source: Eugene Spafford, 765-494-7825, spaf@purdue.edu