‘Terror risk’ for electronic passport - You need your tinfoil hat! at RunningWithBulls.com

‘Terror risk’ for electronic passport - You need your tinfoil hat!

Published by bbt October 22nd, 2006 in bernard, data protection, digitalrights, digitalrightsireland, privacy, runningwithbulls.com

‘Terror risk’ for electronic passport - Sunday Times - Times Online

Antoin has been speaking with Mark Tighe of the Sunday Times regarding the recently introduced electronic passports and the security risks associated with not having adequate electronic shielding, tinfoil hat as it were, protecting the passport from being skimmed. Without proper protection, these passports maybe at risk of being hacked, similar to the recent hack attack on German passports carried out by a security professional.

What Antoin says, while sounding like a tinfoil hat moment, is perfectly correct.

These passports use an RFID technology, while having a short transmission range, could be vulnerable to being “skimmed” by electronic listeners.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said shielding was not necessary as the passports must be open at very close proximity to the reader. A source at the International Civil Aviation Organisation said: “I think it will not be long before other countries move to implement similar shielding.�?

You can read the Dept. of Foreign Affairs “FAQ” here.

Eventhough BAC (Basic Access Control) will be used, there still needs to be a shielding employed in the passport also.

I think we should invest in some tinfoil hats for our new passports.

I have found one particular product manufactured by Parabens Forensics Corporation (Portuguese for Congratulations maybe?!): the Paraben’s Passport StrongHold Bag. And at $19.95, its a bargain!

Also if you are a DIY-person, you can buy some “NATURASHIELD FABRIC”, and make your own shield. Nice and cheap, and it will keep your beloved passport safe from being skimmed!

The economist also have a very interesting article from Feb 2005 on this particular topic, and its background. [Subscription based, I think.]

[UPDATE]: Digital Rights Ireland have an update on this.

Technorati Tags: runningwithbulls , digital rights ireland , data privacy , RFID , electronic passports , biometric passports , privacy , ireland , tinfoil hats

2 Responses to “‘Terror risk’ for electronic passport - You need your tinfoil hat!”

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1 Tom Raftery Oct 22nd, 2006 at 9:04 pm

Bernard,

there is a very simple solution. Apply for a new passport now. It will be valid for 10 years. You can imagine that in 10 years time they will have resolved this issue!
2 bbt Oct 22nd, 2006 at 9:22 pm

Hi Tom,

Hmm, that solution is not that useful. Some how I don’t that is going to work.

Do you want to go to the US? Well you is gonna have to have a passport that is readable.

And I did ask about getting a passport before the new e-passports were released, and it was a no go.

I am hoping that it is scrapped, but something tells me no.

Do you want your little niños growing up with their biometric details stored in the US? I am not sure its something I would like.

thanks,
bernard