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Submitted by: Bill Hickey
NCVA List Master
NRT-0123 Terrorism Future Use of Technology:
A report from London's Royal Academy of Engineering has warned that terrorists could potentially develop an ability to read from a distance personal details stored on RFID chips and - given the right antennas and amplification - detonate a bomb when a particular person gets within range, according to a 26MAR report cited in an online press article. The report, entitled "Dilemmas of Privacy and Surveillance: Challenges of Technological Change," also described some other technology threats that have already occurred or may come to pass.
Unencrypted data, such as the data in UK's biometric passports, can be forged. According to the report, the only way to keep RFID passport information truly safe is to encrypt with extremely tough algorithms and to disable the access to encrypted data on the passport by using a key stored on the passport itself.
The potential for more dangerous data leaks is increasing. For example, the UK is reportedly planning to take fingerprints as well as names and addresses from children as young as 11 and store it all in a government database. The consequence of data breaches or leaks on such a database could be "extremely serious," according to the report.
(eWeek.com 27MAR07)
Last Modified: Saturday, 14-Apr-2007 09:45:01 EDT