Sebastián Pino Castillo Clock WRs Invalid

[Xishem]

Stefan might have a point but he get it across without being so arrogant!!!

Hi. Welcome to Speedsolving. We don't have free cookies.

 

[Zarxrax]

Stefan might have a point but he get it across without being so arrogant!!!

I'm not going to suggest that Stephan isn't arrogant at times, but perhaps you are just a bit sensitive? I saw nothing in his comment directed negatively towards you. He was merely pointing out a flaw in your reasoning. I was actually going to make the same comment, but Stephan did it first.

 

[krnballerzzz]

Damn, it's pretty freaking hard to come up with a solution that doesn't require a bunch of monies :3. I like Stefan's password encrypted idea combined with Chris' salt algorithm. What about time locking the file so that it can't be opened until a certain time?

 

[Kirjava]

What about time locking the file so that it can't be opened until a certain time?

not possible.

 

[krnballerzzz]

not possible.

We can try naming the file PLEASE DONT OPEN UNTIL "THIS" TIME.

 

[Pedro]

We can try naming the file PLEASE DONT OPEN UNTIL "THIS" TIME.

Yeah. Will it stop someone from opening it before?

 

[Lucas Garron]

not possible.

I think the issue with a suggestion like this isn't "not possible", it's more about "maybe possible, but more trouble than it's probably worth, while only covering a limited range of side-channel attacks".

Brainstorming could be good, though.

Personally, I don't think making this more digitally complicated will help. *Possibly* the encrypted archive + password could be used to increase security and accountability a bit, but I'm not sure if that's worth enough.

Are we even ready to abolish printed scrambles?

 

[Kirjava]

maybe possible

I'd like to hear how you think so. I can't think of a way that it could be implemented without being vulnerable to attack.

Anyway, I agree otherwise. All these ideas just make the whole thing needlessly convoluted.

 

[TiLiMayor]

Locked Zip with scrambles sent to the delegate (by Ron, or Tyson) the day the event gets posted on the WCA page, then the day of the comp, the password is sent to the event organizer, then the organizer and the delegate and maybe a few other witnesses open the Zip.

Then the scrambles get posted along with the comp results whenever they are uploaded to the WCA.

 

[Lucas Garron]

I'd like to hear how you think so. I can't think of a way that it could be implemented without being vulnerable to attack.

Well, you could make decoding rely on a passcode transmitted by internet/phone at a specified time. You could build a special computer with a secure timer that doesn't decrypt / release the key until a specified time.
Not that I advocate this, but depending on your constraints, it's *possible* for most definitions.

I can't think of *anything* that could be implemented without being vulnerable to attack. That's the point. If the delegate wants to, (s)he can get around almost anything. We don't have the resources to run competitions where scrambles are as secret as Apple products. And even those get leaked.

 

[ElectricDoodie]

Assuming internet access.
WCA (Tyson, Ron, etc...) uploads scrambles to a Cloud Network, with a password to get in to access it. If access is breached by anyone, it can be found out, and a new scramble is uploaded to the Cloud.

If on day of competition Cloud files still haven't been breached, then delegates get the password, and access the Cloud to retrieve the scrambles.

 

[Kirjava]

I was looking for something that wasn't essentially the same as Stefan's idea.

 

[krnballerzzz]

I was looking for something that wasn't essentially the same as Stefan's idea.

Morse code. Delegates get special training in decoding it. On the day of, a trooper is dropped from plane into the competiton with radio equipment. The WCA then sends the encrypted scrambles to the delegate via radio contact. Solution found?

On topic: Electricdoodles idea requires too much internet, which most competitons won't have access to.

 

[Tyson]

Morse code. Delegates get special training in decoding it. On the day of, a trooper is dropped from plane into the competiton with radio equipment. The WCA then sends the encrypted scrambles to the delegate via radio contact. Solution found?

On topic: Electricdoodles idea requires too much internet, which most competitons won't have access to.

Haha... last summer, Macky, Toby, Ambie, and I spent quite a bit of time learning morse code. We almost bought iambic paddles.

 

[Mike Hughey]

I like the paratroopers - cubing just gets cooler and cooler!

Seriously, I guess it does seem like all of this probably isn't worth the trouble, but when I brought the topic up, I was just basically taking the same perspective as Lucas - brainstorming might pay off. If it doesn't, that's okay, but I thought that with all the smart people on here, it was worth a try.

 

[cmhardw]

Yes I agree with the comments about brainstorming. I understand that most solutions are unnecessarily difficult to implement, but perhaps through brainstorming a relatively simple and yet still relatively effective method can be found to make the whole process more secure.

 

[krnballerzzz]

How are delegates chosen in the first place? I don't see it in the regulations on how that is decided. Is it just a "that guy is trustworthy since he's done x and y" decision or do the top WCA officials have something written up?

 

[Cubenovice]

[Brainstorm]
- Use printers of the type used for salary-specification sheets or PIN codes: they spit out "sealed sheets"
- Scrambles generated, printed, etc etc opened by a certified notary, solicitor or scrivener
- The delegate responsible for the scrambles may not participate
- A scrambler program that generates encrypted scrambles
- Scramblers are seated behind screens: no prints of the scrambles: Only the actual scramblers see the scramble
- post all scrambles on speedsolving.com 7 days before the event: let's all cheat!!!!!
- hide scrambles into chinese fortune cookies
[/Brainstorm]

 

[MaeLSTRoM]

Is it really worth changing though? It seems to work well enough as it is and this is the first(?) time it's happened so it's not a major problem.
Just my say on it.

 

[Meep]

How are delegates chosen in the first place? I don't see it in the regulations on how that is decided. Is it just a "that guy is trustworthy since he's done x and y" decision or do the top WCA officials have something written up?

As far as I know it's moreso if there is a need for one in the area (decent sized community, delegates having to travel far to have competitions there), along with a current delegate making a recommendation to the WCA.