Communications of the ACM
Online Voting a Step Closer Thanks to Breakthrough in Security Technology
University of Birmingham researchers say they have developed a technique that would allow people to cast ballots online, even if the computer they are using is infected with malware.
Credit: reputationxchange.com
Researchers at the University of Birmingham say they have developed a new technique that could enable people to cast an election vote online, even if their home computer is infected with malware.
The team, led by professor Mark Ryan, took its inspiration from security devices issued by some banks to develop a system that employs an independent hardware device used in conjunction with a personal computer. The researchers call their system Du-Vote and believe it could be ready for use in the U.K.'s 2020 or 2025 general elections. "
This system works by employing a credit card-sized device similar to those used in online banking," Ryan says. "From the voter's perspective, it's straightforward: you receive a code on the device and type it back into the computer."
Birmingham researcher Gurchetan Grewal says the technique is able to address the issue of a voter's computer potentially being infected by malware. The researchers say their technique can ensure security even if the security devices themselves were manufactured under the influence of a malicious actor.
"This is currently the only piece of work that addresses a core problem of e-voting--namely, that someone may have viruses or other malware on their computer," Grewal says.
From University of Birmingham
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