Bio-metric passports...

You know, the passports with the smart chips in that the government is forcing us all to start using.

The way they work, is that the chip contains a copy of what's printed physically in the passport. Only the data is encrypted. They key for this encryption is printed on the inside of the passport. So without opening the passport, you can't get the data off the chip, but when you know the key, the chip can be read without physical contact (from around 20cm away in fact).

This key, is unique to the passport issued for that person. It works based on a number of your personal details, like date of birth for example, and the passport issue number.

Right. Only one problem there. Imagine you're walking through the airport, with your passport firmly in your hand, swinging nicely by your side. I walk past you, carrying a briefcase. Nothing untoward there.

Only in my briefcase, I have some RF gear, and an external hard disk. I walk within range of anything even closely resembling a bio-metric passport, and heypresto, the encrypted data is stored on my hard disk, without me even touching you.

So then, I go home, and start a crackin'. I reckon it wouldn't take long to brute force passport details. Most of the details have their own built in CRC. If the key is right, the date of birth is contained in a certain part of the key. So they prove each other right.

The hardest part, would be the passport issue number. But if I'm collecting passports en-mass, that becomes less of an issue. Passport numbers are always incremented in a linear way. The more passports I have, the more accurate I can guess the passport number.

The result, identity theft.

Be careful with your passports folks

i love the way we were arguing over identity cards for years, whilst driving licences were introduced which look remarkably like an ID card!

[Viney]

...and i bet Baph thinks the moon landing was shot in a film studio!

Yes its possible, but in reality, unlikely!

Originally Posted by Viney

...and i bet Baph thinks the moon landing was shot in a film studio!

Yes its possible, but in reality, unlikely!

Viney.

I'm no consiracy theorist. I couldn't give much of a hoot about the moon landing, happened before my time, and isn't really still happening that often.

As for stuff like Roswell, yes, I know it exists, but that's about as much as I care to know. Either aliens do exist, or they don't. I'm sure we'll know when it will directly impact our lives

However, yes, unlikely that you'll get caught by this passport theft. But still a distinct possibility.

Card manufacturers are looking at doing the same sort of thing for "contact-less chip & pin" because of the bio-metric passports. The chances of you falling fowl to that are far greater.

Notice how in the outset of this post, I put "be careful with"... advising caution, not advising outright up-roar at the technology being used or it's implimentation.

Originally Posted by Baph

not advising outright up-roar at the technology being used or it's implimentation.

Why not?!

Baph the conspiracy theory king


I like a good conspiracy, gets you noggin thinking!

[Biker Biggles]

The point is that this sort of technology is being peddled by our great leaders as the answer to many of our problems.It isn't,it will cost a fortune,and those that have a particular interest in getting around it like terrorists and criminals will do just that.
I like a good conspiracy but that is just common sense.

[Spiderman]

I agree with Baph's points but I'm also totaly anti to the whole Biometric idea.
No one has given any good reason for its implemantaion and those in the know all admit that it will do nothing to tackle the world current big problem of terrorism.

So why are they being forced onto us thur this back door method? the country was againt the idea of ID cards not because they didnt want to carry any ID but beacuse of the info contained on the card.
Now nearly all the same info will be held on the biometric passports and whenever any us of renew our current passport we will get one of these new ones. No room for discussion, no way to refuse one if you need/want to travel at all.

So if the Govt dont get our consent one way they force it on us over the longer term knowing most sheeples in the country will just lay back and take it.

And if any of you think the Govt doesnt get involved in these type of illegalities against its own citizens or people who are under its control then go read up on the travesty that is the Disposessed Peoples of the Chagos Islands. John Pilger wrote some brilliant stuff about that issue!

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

The point is that this sort of technology is being peddled by our great leaders as the answer to many of our problems.It isn't,it will cost a fortune,and those that have a particular interest in getting around it like terrorists and criminals will do just that.
I like a good conspiracy but that is just common sense.

'zactly.

Most folk chalk stuff like this down as conspiracy theories. Just so happens that the honest tax payer has to fork out for the technology, for it to make the life of your average criminal easier.

I mean, I work with RF systems daily. I know just how easy it would be to modify those RF security barriers at shops. The one's that stop oiks theving the goods. Modify it to capture passports, or the "contactless" chip & pin cards when they're released.

Chip & Pin was supposed to be secure, but recently, stories of the units actually being modified have been cropping up. The theory isn't just theory, the technology gets abused.

What I posted isn't just theory. It's been done already.

Originally Posted by Viney

...and i bet Baph thinks the moon landing was shot in a film studio!

Yes its possible, but in reality, unlikely!

actually I do. The pictures are not from the moon

As far as the past ports go why do we have to have passports and ID cards? Why don't we make the bl00dy passports compulsory? No need to employ 2x as many clerks and everyone is happy.