DNC warns RNC about recruiting Web site

[Judi Lynn]

DNC warns RNC about recruiting Web site
By JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press Writer
17 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - The top executive at the Democratic National Committee notified his GOP counterpart Monday that a Republican Party Web site set up to recruit GOP volunteers does not hide users' e-mail addresses from prying eyes.

The addresses can be accessed with a few simple computer key strokes after logging on to the Republican National Committee Web through a standard registration process available to all users.

In his letter to RNC chief of staff Kelley McCullough, DNC executive director Tom McMahon said: "In this time of heightened concern over the security of critical personal and financial information, participants in our political process should have every confidence that our political organizations and parties are taking every possible precaution to protect them from fraud and identity theft."

The RNC Web site appears to give access only to e-mail addresses, not other private information. Republican officials said users are protected and have the option to unsubscribe from certain lists.
(snip/...)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060925/ap_on_el_ge/party_computers

[MadMaddie]

1. Is the RNC a publicly heald organization?

If it is then they are required to meet Sarbanes Oxely.....

[Gman]

2. Not hardly

they're likely officially a non-profit.

[MadMaddie]

3. Why would the RNC have that information up anyway...

They will eventually make mistakes and we need to catch them..

[Gman]

6. Because they're stupid?

:shrug:

[Brundle_Fly]

10. I think this is just a message to show they wont sheild members

and that is a pisser, with adware, spambot, spyware and virus threats...

looks bad on the proprietor, good call to bring it to people's attention.

would piss me off.

[ck4829]

4. DNC's looking out for the RNC

God knows that if it were the other way around then the Republicans would have taken advantage of it.

Be sure to vote this November, we need to put the REAL ADULTS back in charge.

[rzemanfl]

5. Why?????? ??????????????????? If the shoe were

on the other foot, the Dem e-mail addresses would go directly to Rove and the NSA.

[last1standing]

7. Good PR here.

The DNC gives the RNC a friendly warning and they in turn come out screaming that the DNC is playing politics. It makes them look very shrill.

[133724]

8. Any one got the e-mail addresses

I'd like to add them to a few porn spam sites.....

[LiberalFighter]

19. Careful... I'm on their email list

I have been getting their campaign material too... address as Hates Bush with my name in front of it. I hope the Post Office is having a laugh with that too.

[0rganism]

9. THAT is how to handle an obvious exploit in the political computing arena

NEVER hack into the opponent's site, or give the impression that anyone on your staff might have done so. Instead, very publicly inform your opposition that their website is insecure.

You = nice guy with common sense and honor
Opponent = luzor with weak computer skills

On the other hand, if the opposition can paint your campaign as having compromised their site security...

You = nerdy crimelord with sinister intent and weak morals
Opponent = exploited victim of merciless brute-force cracking

Which gets more votes?

The GOP would like nothing more than to catch Democratic campaign staffers cracking honeypot systems.

[cyberpj]

11. Democrats warn GOP about Web site

Democrats warn Republicans of web insecurity flaw
Hole of denial
By Nick Farrell: Tuesday 26 September 2006, 15:33

THE US DEMOCRATIC National Committee has written to its opposite number in the Republican party to warn them that they have a security hole on one of their websites.
According to Associated Press reports, Democrat researchers have found that a Republican Party website set up to recruit GOP volunteers exposes users' e-mail addresses for all the world to see.

Once you have logged on to the Republican National Committee Web through a standard registration process available to all users, you can download the entire address list.

DNC executive director Tom McMahon told the RNC chief of staff Kelley McCullough that it was pretty important that "participants in our political process should have every confidence that our political organizations and parties are taking every possible precaution to protect them from fraud and identity theft."

Not surprisingly, the Republicans dismissed the security hole claim as a cheap political stunt. It seems that they have not taken any steps to close any flaw yet either in fact they are denying it exists at all.

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=34636

[tk2kewl]

12. "A cheap political stunt" but a good one!

:D

[NYCGirl]

13. Ain't that true to form? The GOP ignores a problem found by the Democrats.

Now where have we heard that before?

[Eugene]

14. How many Republicans does it take to change a light bulb?

None. There is nothing wrong with that light bulb.
People who claim it burned out are defeatists and
appeasers of the Forces of Darkness. Don't believe
what the Liberal Press tells you about it.

[skids]

15. Ah, taking hints from AOL I see. n/t

[central scrutinizer]

16. they want their corporate sponsors to have access

Freepers are prime targets for penile enlargements and get-rich-quick schemes. Spam is probably the only mail they get.

[zbdent]

17. Another example of the difference ... Dems find security hole in Rs

site ... notify them immediately ...

Rs find a security hole in Dems server ... hack hack hack ... exploit exploit exploit ... and then pay off the judge to go easy on their feloniously criminal "mischief-makers" ...

[GeorgeGist]

18. But DID the DNC give the RNC a plan...

to fix it? If not, the DNC will be to blame for any attacks. :sarcasm:?