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A hacking principle that researchers fear could be applied to crack Britain’s biometric passports has been discovered by an IT expert after just two weeks of computer tests. Lukas Grunwald, a German security consultant, says he can easily clone the information inside RFID chips, which Western leaders want to implement on passports and identity cards. Not only is it easy to transfer the data onto blank chips, but by placing the clone between a passport and reader, he showed how border control systems read the clone over the real thing. His demonstration for Wired News has since been echoed to delegates gathered at this year’s annual conference for hackers – Defcon 2006 – where Grunwald revealed his cloning technique. Although his work does not reveal how to change data on the chip without being detected, it casts a new shadow of doubt over technology the UK and US claim can reduce organised crime. The cloning technique comes just days after the Home Office was urged to consult ICT experts and set up an “ICT assurance committee” by the London School of Economics for UK ID cards. The academics’ call was a response to the House of Commons’ science and technology select committee, which wants the government to rethink the technology proposed to run the scheme. Similar concerns over the technical feasibility of biometric passports and identity cards are now being sounded by Grunwald, who works as a consultant and RFID expert for DN-Systems. “I want to say to people that if you're using RFID passports, then please make it secure,” Grunwald reportedly said. “This is in your own interest and it's also in my interest. If you think about cyber terrorists and nasty, black-hat type of guys, it's a high risk.... From my point of view, it should not be possible to clone the passport at all.” Aside from a few specialist computer programs, Grunwald cited the cost of equipment to clone the RFID chips at just over £100. Aug 8, 2006 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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