The new RFID Passports designed and created to be hack proof can be hacked in less than an hour using a cloning tool. British researchers embedded pictures of Osama bin Laden and a suicide bomber onto a set of chips and then tested them. They came up as “real” according to the agency that sets e-passport standards which is very worrying.
Using his own software, a publicly available programming code, a £40 card readerand two £10 RFID chips, Mr van Beek took less than an hour to clone and manipulate two passport chips to a level at which they were ready to be planted inside fake or stolen paper passports.
A baby boy’s passport chip was altered to contain an image of Osama bin Laden, and the passport of a 36-year-old woman was changed to feature a picture of Hiba Darghmeh, a Palestinian suicide bomber who killed three people in 2003. The unlikely identities were chosen so that there could be no suggestion that either Mr van Beek or The Times was faking viable travel documents.
The passports do not match the printed ID numbers embedded into every document, which should raise some suspicions but that would seem to be easier to fake than the already hacked chip.
To protect your RFID Passport from skimming get your protective cover at RFIDBlockr.com
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.
The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft.
The crime takes many forms. Identity thieves may rent an apartment, obtain a credit card, or establish a telephone account in your name. You may not find out about the theft until you review your credit report or a credit card statement and notice charges you didn’t make—or until you’re contacted by a debt collector.
Identity theft is serious. While some identity theft victims can resolve their problems quickly, others spend hundreds of dollars and many days repairing damage to their good name and credit record. Some consumers victimized by identity theft may lose out on job opportunities, or be denied loans for education, housing or cars because of negative information on their credit reports. In rare cases, they may even be arrested for crimes they did not commit.
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Remove mail from your mailbox as soon after delivery as possible.
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Deposit outgoing mail in street mailboxes or at your local post office instead of your home.
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Never give personal information over the telephone.
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Shred any documents with personal information such as pre-approved credit applications, credit card receipts, bills and other financial information.
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Obtain a copy of your credit report once a year to check for unusual activity.
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Check your financial statements in a timely manner, and immediately report any charges you don’t recognize to your financial institution.
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Report all lost or stolen credit cards, checks or driver’s licenses.
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Memorize your Social Security number, and never carry the card in your wallet.
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Beware of mail or telephone promotions offering instant prizes of awards. (If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.)
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Protect your RFID enabled Credit Cards with a RFID Blockr Wallet
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Protect your RFID Passport with a RFID Blockr Passport Case
11.5 Use common sense.
This Father’s Day ditch the tie this year! Get Dad something to protect his most precious asset: his identity!
United States of America (Press Release) June 1, 2008 –
RFID is embedded in things like credit cards and drivers licenses, your techy father is going to start wanting some ways to keep that data safe from skimming RFID theft. It’s a real threat and hackers have already cracked current RFID technology.
A fine copper mesh sewn into the wallet’s lining protects your RFID embedded credit cards and IDs in a Faraday Cage.
Available from RFID Blockr, the men’s wallet has seven card slides, two interior bill sleeves and a quick access ID slot with window.
Also available is RFID Blockr’s ultra sleek passport case with six card slides, two interior pockets for credit cards, cash, passport and extra ID.
