The Register: Trump campaign arms up with ‘unhackable’ phones after Iranian intrusion

Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/14/trump_unhackable_phones/
Source: The Register
Title: Trump campaign arms up with ‘unhackable’ phones after Iranian intrusion

Feedly Summary: Florida man gets his hands on ‘the best ever’
With less than a month to go before American voters head to the polls to choose their next president, the Trump campaign has been investing in secure tech to make sure it doesn’t get hacked again.…

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: The provided text discusses the use of highly secure technology by the Trump campaign to prevent cyber intrusions ahead of the upcoming presidential election. The technology, developed by Green Hills Software, employs a unique operating system designed for stringent security, with assertions of being unhackable. This narrative highlights both the critical importance of security in electoral systems and the ongoing challenges posed by cyber threats.

Detailed Description:
The text reveals significant insights into the intersection of cybersecurity and electoral integrity, underscoring the heightened focus on secure technology in political campaigns. Key points include:

– **Investment in Security**: The Trump campaign has proactively invested in secure technology to mitigate risks of hacking, particularly following past cyber incidents.

– **Green Hills Software’s Offering**:
– The company has supplied devices equipped with the Green Hills Integrity-178B operating system, renowned for its use in military applications like the B-2 bomber and F-22 fighter jets.
– This OS boasts a high security certification (Evaluation Assurance Level 6), suggesting rigorous security protocols.

– **Claims of Immutability**:
– Green Hills claims their operating system is impervious to intrusion attempts, citing extensive penetration testing and a focus on tight coding practices.
– The company’s CEO emphasizes the extensive review process for their code to enhance security.

– **Implications for Voting Systems**:
– The assertion that secure technology should be applied to voting machines highlights the critical nature of safeguarding the electoral process.
– O’Dowd advocates for the same rigor in securing election systems as is applied in military operations, indicating a call for legislative and operational improvements in election security.

– **Cautious Skepticism**:
– While Green Hills claims invulnerability, experts remain skeptical, noting that no software is entirely immune to determined attacks.
– This perspective reinforces the need for continuous vigilance and improvement in cybersecurity protocols, especially in the context of politically sensitive systems.

– **Future Prospects**: The company aims to extend its secure software solutions to election systems, reflecting a growing acknowledgment of the threats that electoral infrastructure faces.

Overall, the significance of this text lies in its exploration of how advanced security technologies are being utilized in the political arena, the potential risks to electoral integrity, and the challenges of maintaining robust cybersecurity in a landscape rife with threats. Security and compliance professionals should take note of ongoing advancements and the critical need for enhanced protection measures, particularly as elections increasingly become targets for cyber operations.