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(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick

Thu, Dec 1st 2005 8:56am





UK Gov't Promises IDs Are Absolutely Un-Forgeable... Maybe

from the speaking-in-absolutes dept

You should generally be careful when using "absolutes" (or should I say, you should always be careful in using absolutes?). Over in the UK, where they're introducing a new national ID card, the former head of of MI5 has said any attempt to forge the cards would be "absolutely useless." That's an absolute (and fairly bold) statement -- and one likely to attract certain types of folks to take up the challenge. Of course, he's only talking about if the card is run through a computer system. If you're just flashing the card, then forgeries might be able to get by... but it'll be difficult: "significantly reduce the viability of creating counterfeit or modified cards for simple visual verification." Either way, pretty bold statements for something that may be tough to actually provide. Update: On second thought... no. I messed up this post in a big way. The MI5 comment was that the cards would become useless if they were forged -- basically pointing out the problem. The government did come back and say that the cards were unlikely to be forgeable, but it wasn't the former MI5 person saying it. No more posting before fully awake.

5 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    Card Security is not the Point

    identicon
    Jim Harper, Dec 1st, 2005 @ 9:54am

    Lots of people focus on card security and think that a secure card has security value. But that's beside the point: It's fraudulently acquired cards that make ID systems so breakable. There can be perfect card security, but not perfect card issuance procedures. (Think DMV.) That's the achilles heel of identification-based security.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    PVR_CRAZY, Dec 1st, 2005 @ 10:22am

    The smarter the authorities get, the smarter the criminals get. This has been the case throughout history and I seriously doubt that will change. Matter of fact them saying it can't pass a computer check seems unrealistic to me. As long as there will be computers there will be people whos sole purpose in life is to hack them. I am sure there are people reading this post thinking they would like to try it.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Dec 1st, 2005 @ 1:36pm

    Mike, I really respect how open you are to correction and revision to the posts you make. It gives me much more confidence in, well, the stuff you don't retract :-)

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Eventually

    identicon
    Larry Dillon, Dec 1st, 2005 @ 2:26pm

    Eventually all of this kind of stuff becomes forgeable as technology advances. It's always a game of leap-from.
    The point is that this sort of scheme ends up being much better at identifying law-abiding citizens than criminals, especially the most dangerous, well-funded types.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    now if only ...

    identicon
    Anonymous, Dec 1st, 2005 @ 9:23pm

    now if only our president was as willing to admit mistakes.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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