No, I don't because because the test inputs and outputs will catch them.

On Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 1:22 PM, Danny Ching <[email protected]> wrote:
> So you do accept:
> - That it is possible for a corrupt programmer to manipulate the results.
> - That Outcome testing may not be enough to test for this
> - That we should just run with the system
>
> Is this correct?
>
>
> On Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 10:14 AM, Oscar Plameras <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>>
>> Because when I put in 1000 ballots and the resulting count is 1000 ballots
>> and
>> correctly categorized as valid, invalid, and uncategorized, is all that
>> matters
>> in the election.
>>
>> On Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 1:02 PM, Michael Janapin
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> > Sir,
>> >
>> > How can it be well and good if your check do not catch the absurdity in
>> > any
>> > coding? It's bad. Because that code Mr. Locke just produced as an
>> > example is
>> > a mischievous one. It will only take just one freaking trigger hidden
>> > inside
>> > the source code.
>> >
>> > You said your 'check' will not look for such things. Again, that's the
>> > weakness of your proposal. On the other hand, Source Code review will
>> > allow
>> > us to look for such things to assure integrity.
>> >
>> > You also said that what matters are the outcome. Don't you realize that
>> > the
>> > outcome is determined by the code?
>> >
>> > And finally, I think sir, that you are working on a "Default Accept"
>> > policy.
>> > This may not be so assuring when it comes to the code that will
>> > determine
>> > our country's next leaders. A saner policy should be "Default Deny."
>> >
>> >
>> > On Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 9:09 AM, Oscar Plameras
>> > <[email protected]>
>> > wrote:
>> >>
>> >> The check I propose is by Outcome.
>> >>
>> >> If my check will not catch the absurdity in any coding, that's well and
>> >> good.
>> >>
>> >> My check is not going to look for  such things. What matters are the
>> >> outcome
>> >> or results.
>> >>
>> >> On Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 1:40 AM, Robert Locke <[email protected]> wrote:
>> >> > Oscar,
>> >> >
>> >> > If I had a closed system that did the following:
>> >> >
>> >> >        if (current_date < '2010-05-10) {
>> >> >                do_a_normal_tally();
>> >> >        } else {
>> >> >                do_something_slightly_different_but_not_too_obvious();
>> >> >        }
>> >> >
>> >> > How would your proposed "Testing the System by Outcomes" catch this?
>> >> >
>> >> > Maybe you set the system date to be 2010-05-10, and the ruse is
>> >> > revealed.
>> >> >
>> >> > So the programmer does this:
>> >> >
>> >> >        if (current_date < '2010-05-10 && !obscure_hot_key_pressed) {
>> >> >                do_a_normal_tally();
>> >> >        } else {
>> >> >                do_something_slightly_different_but_not_too_obvious();
>> >> >        }
>> >> >
>> >> > How do you catch it then?  Obviously this is an oversimplified
>> >> > example, but I'm curious to hear how you would expose it.  Or are we
>> >> > supposed to blindly "trust" that this won't happen?  If that's your
>> >> > position, then I would say it's a bit naive.
>> >> >
>> >> > "There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an
>> >> > advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as
>> >> > against despots. What is it? Distrust." - Demosthenes
>> >> >
>> >> > Rob
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Michael R. Janapin
>> > Systems Administrator
>> > PBTS Baguio City, Philippines
>> > http://mulingsilang.wordpress.com
>> >
>> >
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>
>
>
> --
> Regards,
> Danny Ching
>
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