Update on RFID passports
Bruce Schneier looks
at current plans for RFID-enabled U.S. passports; it seems that things
are headed in the right direction. "
The most important feature they've included is an access-control system for the RFID chip. The data on the chip is encrypted, and the key is printed on the passport. The officer swipes the passport through an optical reader to get the key, and then the RFID reader uses the key to communicate with the RFID chip. This means that the passport-holder can control who has access to the information on the chip; someone cannot skim information from the passport without first opening it up and reading the information inside. Good security."
Posted Aug 13, 2005 4:49 UTC (Sat)
by mebrown (subscriber, #7960)
[Link]
I think that one thing that has been overlooked in this whole thing... Passports last for 10 years. If you don't have one, get one now, before they put those darned chips in them. I just noticed that mine was about to run out, so I got it renewed so I don't have to have a chip for (at least) 10 years. Hopefully, by then they will have figured out this whole "security" thing. :-)Update on RFID passports