How to steal a US passport (thanks to our own government)

[Are_grits_groceries]

Think of it this way: Chris Paget just did you a service by hacking your passport and stealing your identity. Using a $250 Motorola RFID reader and antenna connected to his laptop, Chris recently drove around San Francisco reading RFID tags from passports, driver licenses, and other identity documents. In just 20 minutes, he found and cloned the passports of two very unaware US citizens. Fortunately, Chris wears a white hat; his video demonstration is meant to raise awareness to what he calls the unsuitability of RFID for tagging people. Specifically, he's hoping to help get the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative -- a homeland security project -- scrapped. Perhaps you'll feel the same after watching his video posted after the break.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative-http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1161115330477.shtm
RFID passports cloned - http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/02/low_cost_rfid_cloner/

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9isKnDiJNPk

http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/02/video-hacker-war-drives-san-francisco-cloning-rfid-passports/

Ah yes, Homeland Insecurity strikes again........

[Why Syzygy]

1. But, has he cloned an RFID?

The point to chips is that everyone's is unique and IMPLANTED. How can that be falsified?

[w4rma]

2. The signal can be recorded and retransmitted. (nt)

[Why Syzygy]

3. That means

most likely they are still in R&D.

edit to add: Didn't know that. Thanks.

[davidpdx]

4. Crap

I hope they do, I have to renew my passport in 2 years and will be forced to get the new one. Right now I still have the old version and just had additional pages put in mine, so I'm go to go for awhile. Maybe they will rethink this and scrap it. It will be hell to reissue all those damn passports though.

My Korean wife and in-laws are going to travel from Korea to the US this summer and to be able to come over on the visa waiver they have to have passports with the chips in them.

[izquierdista]

5. Time for the tin foil?

Michael Faraday had this problem solved 170 years ago. Just put your 'tags' inside a conductive metal pouch (a Faraday cage), and no reader or antenna is going to see anything. :hide:

[Are_grits_groceries]

6. That will work. However,

how will the general public become aware of this?? I doubt the government wants to announce the flaw, and how to stop it. :hi:

[izquierdista]

7. Hints to Heloise

That, along with wrapping items you don't want security to inspect in your dirty underwear.