It's not as easy to cheat in DXCC as you think. You might be able to get
away with a faked QSL or two with non-rare countries, which is pretty
meaningless, but it's very difficult to cheat on a semi-rare or rare
country. But do prove me wrong: let's hear some of the many ways you can
cheat. I'm not talking about cheating at the DX end, like Don Miller or
Romeo, which is supremely difficult to do and very uncommon, but cheating
that would result in awards that are not deserverd.
And just because it may be possible for some minor cheating to occur, that
doesn't mean we should leave the door wide open. I don't see the logic in
that. If QSLs submitted to LoTW were not authenticated, it would be possible
to completely corrupt the DXCC program, making a mockery of it. If you're
interested in how that might occur, read the threat analysis in the original
LoTW specifications:
http://www.eqsl.cc/qslcard/LOTWSpec.pdf
Yes, the security is strong, which requires a slight inconvenience and delay
when you sign up, and running a program on your log when you use it, but I
feel the security of this venerable program is well worth the trouble.
73, Dick WC1M
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Gilbert [mailto:xdavid@cis-broadband.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2012 6:06 PM
> To: cq-contest@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] authentication for log submission
>
>
> I've always thought that such an extreme level of security for LoTW was
> wildly inappropriate given the numerous ways that people can and do
> cheat in DXCC. It's like installing a bombproof door on the entrance to
> a tar paper shanty, and the day that sort of thing shows up in
> contesting is the day I no longer bother to contest. I can manage my
> online IRA more simply than I can a hobby ... where's the sense in that?
>
> Besides, I've yet to hear of a single case of anyone actually being able
> to alter someone else's log submission, so at this point incorporating
> LoTW authentication for contest logs sounds to me like setting up a
> Howitzer to kill a unicorn in case one should ever show up.
>
> Dave AB7E
>
>
>
> On 6/5/2012 10:40 AM, Dick Green WC1M wrote:
> > Don, you are a man after my own heart! I'm totally paranoid about
> > security scenarios, which is one reason LoTW security is so tight.
> (snip)
> > So, I don't think it would work. However, if there is a scenario that
> > would work, the best solution would be to use the LoTW authentication
> > system for log submissions. That would have the dual advantage of
> > verifying the call sign in the log and allowing automatic submission
> > of the log to the LoTW QSL system (something many have asked for.)
> >
> > 73, Dick WC1M
> >
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