Robert A. Mocny, Director, US-VISIT Program, Department of Homeland Security: “AS THE BIOMETRIC DATABASE GROWS IN SIZE WE NEED MORE INFORMATION” - a paradox indeed… Biometric collection is a tail chasing!! Security expert and BT chief security-technology officer Bruce Schneier has attacked the US-Visit border-biometrics program, saying it has had “zero benefit” in terms of security.in terms of security.

e-Passport is Extremely dangerous to the public’s privacy.
It is like writing your PIN code on the back of your Credit-Card

The Business of Fake Passports

Biometric and Chips implanted on ID cards are Cloneable and Extremely Dangerous

Please remove any remaining civil liberties and place them in the tray, Sir

One of the most crucial questions in any transaction is the identity of the entity (person) with whom the transaction is being conducted. Historically, personal relationships, face-to-face contract signings, notaries, and third party counsel are used to help establish trust in this most important aspect of conducting our business. As the reliance on paper shifts to electronic transactions and documents, so must the reliance on traditional trust factors shift to electronic security measures to authenticate before engaging in the exchange of information, goods, and services. Similarly, the need for confidentiality and confidence in the integrity of exchanged information is critical. Many other applications in everyday life also require user authentication, such as banking, e-commerce, and physical access control to computer resources, and could benefit from enhanced security. Fortunately, automated biometrics can provide a much more accurate and reliable user authentication method. However, privacy advocates in a justifiable manner argue that traceable biometrics will lead to erosion of personal privacy in both the real world and cyber-space.

There are no legal restrictions on biometrically identifying information, or biometric authentication systems. However: there are severe restrictions on collecting, creating, maintaining, using, or disseminating records of identifiable personal data. It means, Biometrics authentication must be traceless. Innovya Research & Development has developed a new Traceless Biometrics Solution protected by worldwide patents that enabling secure transactions without storage of unique biometric information and still can clearly authenticates user’s identity.

How to Steal an Identity – Real Documentary

Many people do not realize how easily criminals can obtain our personal data without having to break into our homes. In public places, for example, criminals may engage in “shoulder surfing”  watching you from a nearby location as you punch in your telephone calling card number or credit card number ­ or listen in on your conversation if you give your credit-card number over the telephone to a hotel or rental car company.

Even the area near your home or office may not be secure. Some criminals engage in “dumpster diving”  going through your garbage cans or a communal dumpster or trash bin — to obtain copies of your checks, credit card or bank statements, or other records that typically bear your name, address, and even your telephone number. These types of records make it easier for criminals to get control over accounts in your name and assume your identity.

If you receive applications for “preapproved” credit cards in the mail, but discard them without tearing up the enclosed materials, criminals may retrieve them and try to activate the cards for their use without your knowledge. (Some credit card companies, when sending credit cards, have adopted security measures that allow a card recipient to activate the card only from his or her home telephone number but this is not yet a universal practice.) Also, if your mail is delivered to a place where others have ready access to it, criminals may simply intercept and redirect your mail to another location.

In recent years, the Internet has become an appealing place for criminals to obtain identifying data, such as passwords or even banking information. In their haste to explore the exciting features of the Internet, many people respond to “spam”  unsolicited E-mail  that promises them some benefit but requests identifying data, without realizing that in many cases, the requester has no intention of keeping his promise. In some cases, criminals reportedly have used computer technology to obtain large amounts of personal data.

With enough identifying information about an individual, a criminal can take over that individual’s identity to conduct a wide range of crimes: for example, false applications for loans and credit cards, fraudulent withdrawals from bank accounts, fraudulent use of telephone calling cards, or obtaining other goods or privileges which the criminal might be denied if he were to use his real name. If the criminal takes steps to ensure that bills for the falsely obtained credit cards, or bank statements showing the unauthorized withdrawals, are sent to an address other than the victim’s, the victim may not become aware of what is happing until the criminal has already inflicted substantial damage on the victim’s assets, credit, and reputation.

How to Steal an Identity Part II – Real Documentary

Bank loses tapes with data on 4.5M clients

By Brian Fonseca – Computerworld

My eyes have expired! (The Privacy, Identity & Consent Blog)

Returning from Spain yesterday, I thought I’d jump the queue by using the IRIS biometric entry system. It’s been a while since I’ve used it, since on recent returns to the UK, the gateway has been: broken…

The slip explained that whilst it had recognized my iris pattern, my permission to use the system has expired. Why? My passport’s good for several years yet. It knows who I am. It must be confident I can’t be an imposter. It hasn’t deleted my personal information. So why can’t I get through? And what am I supposed to do about it – do I have to re-enroll? This isn’t exactly a shining example of joined-up systems design…

Privacy, Identity & Consent with… – http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/the-data-trust-blog/

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