Hackers clone E-Passports

[formercia]

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,71521-0.html?tw=wn_index_1

Hackers clone E-Passports

By Kim Zetter| Also by this reporter
02:00 AM Aug, 03, 2006

LAS VEGAS -- A German computer security consultant has shown that he can clone the electronic passports that the United States and other countries are beginning to distribute this year.

The controversial e-passports contain radio frequency ID, or RFID, chips that the U.S. State Department and others say will help thwart document forgery. But Lukas Grunwald, a security consultant with DN-Systems in Germany and an RFID expert, says the data in the chips is easy to copy.

"The whole passport design is totally brain damaged," Grunwald says. "From my point of view all of these RFID passports are a huge waste of money. They're not increasing security at all."

Grunwald plans to demonstrate the cloning technique Thursday at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas.


It made me think of the scene in 'The Thomas Crown Affair.'

Follow the man with the black bowler....

[babylonsister]

1. Nom. Christ, can't these bozos get ANYTHING right?

I can see it already, 10 years down the road, after paying beaucoup bucks for one of these newfangled passports, all being recalled due to "structural" anomalies. :eyes:
But is anyone listening to this guy now?

[formercia]

4. They will just make you buy the new and improved version

Sounds like e-voting.....

[kurth]

2. "took him only two weeks to figure out how to clone the passport chip"

Another clusterfuck in the works.

[formercia]

3. The solution

they are going to encrypt the data.

lol...just make a copy of the encrypted data. Who cares what it says....:sarcasm:

This gives me all kinds of ideas for a merry prank...