Online Voting Security Takes a Quantum Leap

According to a recent article By Roland Pease of the BBC Radio Science Unit, “perfect secrecy has come a step closer with the launch of the world’s first computer network protected by unbreakable quantum encryption”.

The article, published on the BBC News website on 9 October 2008, talks about quantum cryptography and how it differs from the mathematically-based security systems used on today’s computer networks which are said to be extremely hard – but not impossible – for outsiders to crack.

Quantum encryption certainly sounds like the next generation of computer security but is it too early to be discounting traditional security measures and considering them sub-standard in comparison?

Ian Haughton, Managing Director of Corporate Mailing Solutions thinks not. Providing transactional mail and election services to a long list of blue chip financial institutions for several years means that Ian has been working at the core of an industry where data security is paramount. He says, “Amongst other things we’ve had to make sure our online voting system – Castavote – is based on absolute data security, otherwise our clients just wouldn’t entertain it. All voting data is secured by 128-bit SSL security certificates on servers that are protected by several of the very best hacker, fraud and malicious code safeguards.”

Castavote is a consumer-tested, custom-designed online voting system that offers voters a convenient, secure and modern online voting option that can be seamlessly integrated into any client’s website.

Getting down to the nitty gritty of security features, Castavote offers a cast iron interface including a random modulated entry system, a web server-run script to prevent incorrect data entries, a firewall-protected SQL database that holds no personal voter information, server-based scripting, and a web server that is managed by an internationally reputable company recognised as having one of the world’s most secure data centres.

Castavote offers exceedingly high levels of security together with a range of additional benefits that has made it attractive to various building societies and financial institutions.