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| March 27, 2008
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Dear readers,
The Biometrics Info provides you with the latest news on biometrics, smartcards and network security. We provide you with this free service 2 or 3 times a week depending on the news available.
We provide a RSS feed for daily use. During the week all the news will be available through the RSS feed with a weekly summary on friday through the Biometrics Info e-zine.
We carefully selected the newsarticles for this Biometrics Info and we hope you appreciate this edition.
Enjoy reading.
Reinier M. van der Drift
BioXS
English
Boots on the Ground; On Biometrics
Imagine if there were a knock at your door one day and you opened it to find a troop of heavily armed men.
Then imagine these men required you to give your fingerprints, a retinal eye scan, and a digital photo, all to be entered into a global database. It's all part of a "routine census patrol," you are told.
Imagine then having to give your fingerprints or eye scan in order to apply for a job, receive your paycheck or even pass checkpoints situated around the town where you live.
Echoes of 1984? Scary beyond all reason? In Privacy-conscious America, it would probably cause widespread rioting. (at least I hope it would.)
This very scenario is the reality on the ground today in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In my recent report on biometrics, I explained how this technology is helping keep our troops safer in the war zone. It's hard to criticize these measures - they've been directly responsible for much of the turnaround that the war has taken in recent months. It's now very hard for bad guys to move around anonymously.
BAA grounds Heathrow T5 fingerprinting system
BAA has been forced to suspend plans to fingerprint domestic travellers at the new Heathrow Terminal 5 after confusion over the legality of the scheme.
The suspension of the plan - based around a multi-million biometric system - comes just hours before the building opens to the public tomorrow.The British Airport Authority (BAA) said this afternoon the scheme would be put on hold until further notice.
The Information Commissioner's Office had raised concerns with BAA that the plan could breach the Data Protection Act.
BAA sent us this statement:
Following a meeting with all relevant parties, including the Information Commissioner and the Border and Immigration Agency, the introduction of fingerprinting for domestic passengers and international passengers transferring onto domestic flights at Heathrow will be temporarily delayed. BAA will be opening Terminal 5 using a photographic identification process during this time which is already in place.
We will be working closely with the Information Commissioner and the Home Office over the next few weeks to agree the best approach going forward.
The Register
Date: 2008-03-26 |
Infosecurity needs pragmatic solutions, says Aviva chief
Aviva's security head, Paul Wood, talks to SA Mathieson about the City's approach to infosecurity, including toughening data protection regulation, the shortcomings of suppliers - and why finance is a better sector to work in than people think.
Aviva's headquarters is a relatively anonymous tower surrounded by iconic City buildings: among its neighbours are the "gherkin" tower, Lloyds of London and two small churches that would not look out of place in a Cotswold village.
Paul Wood can't see any of them. When he joined Britain's largest insurer in 2006, his office was on the 20th floor, but he is currently in what he describes as a "goldfish bowl" with no external windows on the second floor.
InformationWeek
Date: 2008-03-26 |
Albania to Have New Biometric Passports
Interior Minister Bujar Nishani says the government has chosen a French company to produce new biometric passports and identity cards for Albania.
Nishani says Paris-based Sagem Securite will start producing ID cards and new passports within the next six months.
The company was chosen from among seven companies bidding in an international tender.
No new ID cards have been produced for Albanians since the fall of communism in 1990 because of problems with the country's civil registry.
Tightening up visa verification
The importance of immigration checks in the security process at European airports has received inadequate attention over recent years, according to industry experts.
Indeed, when speaking about security at UK ports and airports in March 2006, government security official Lord Carlile admitted that customs and immigration services were "spread a little thinly, and that's not entirely satisfactory". He added that "nobody could put their hand on their heart at the moment and say they feel totally confident that all terrorists are likely to be caught coming in from abroad".
Jane's Public Safty
Date: 2008-03-26 |
Fingerprint Scans Replace Clocking In
NEW YORK (AP) — Some workers are doing it at Dunkin' Donuts, at Hilton hotels, even at Marine Corps bases.
Employees at a growing number of businesses are starting and ending their days by pressing a hand or finger to a scanner that logs the precise time of their arrival and departure — information that is automatically reflected in payroll records.
Manufacturers say these biometric devices improve efficiency and streamline payroll operations. Employers big and small buy them with the dual goals of keeping workers honest and automating outdated record-keeping systems that rely on paper time sheets.
The new systems have raised complaints, however, from some workers who see the efforts to track their movements as excessive or creepy.
Noortech wins Saudi Customs' biometric access control project
Noortech has been awarded a new physical security project by Saudi Customs. Luberef awards Noortech a contract to supply time attendance and access control systems. The project expects completion in two weeks and is located at one of Saudi Customs' facilities in Riyadh. In addition to the Saudi Customs, Noortech is being retained by a growing number of government and private sector bodies to cater to their physical security systems needs.
SecureID News
Date: 2008-03-26 |
Privacy chief says biometric concessions not good enough
Proposed Europe-wide rules governing biometric passports are still unsatisfactory despite some concessions, according to Europe's top privacy watchdog the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS).
The European Commission has proposed a revision of EU regulations governing the issuing of passports. The new rules demand that passports contain certain security features involving biometric identifiers in the form of fingerprints.
The EDPS, Peter Hustinx, has reviewed the proposed rules and identified some welcome exemptions, principally for children and the elderly. But he said that the concessions do not go far enough to protect the rights of citizens.
"The fact that the Commission took into account the need for fallback procedures, stated in previous opinions, is more than welcomed," said Hustinx. "These exemptions are, however, still unsatisfactory. They fail to address all the possible and relevant issues triggered by the inherent imperfections of biometric systems, and more specifically those related to children and elderly."
PRECISE BIOMETRICS RECEIVES ORDER FOR 50,000 MATCH-ON-CARD LICENSES FOR A MAJOR US POLICE DEPARTMENT
Lund, Sweden, Mar 26, 2008 - (ABN Newswire) - Precise Biometrics has been awarded an order to supply 50,000 licenses of Precise Match-on-Card(TM) for an employee ID card program to one of the largest Police Departments in the USA. The total project value for Precise Biometrics is expected to reach SEK 2-5 million.
Precise Biometrics supplies the well-proven and widely deployed Precise Match-on-Card(TM) technology to enable the Police Department to prove their employees' identities in a fast, secure and reliable way. The total project value is expected to reach at least SEK 2 million, comprising both Precise Match-on-Card(TM) software and fingerprint readers. The project will run during 2008 and 2009, and may result in additional hardware orders.
ABN Newswire
Date: 2008-03-26 |
Award-winning Software Serves as Platform for Large Scale Biometric Deployments Around the Globe
RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Daon, a leading provider of identity assurance software announced today that its award-winning platform now powers biometric initiatives around the world with more than 60 million total enrollments. Reflected in this number is a new US biometric credentialing program with 175,000+ enrollments with an average of 10,000 new enrollments per week. In addition, it includes a second US government program that has more than 50 million enrollment records housed in a secure database.
These projects were part of the criteria used by Frost & Sullivan in recognizing Daon with their 2008 Product Line Strategy Leadership of the Year award. This award acknowledges Daon’s ability to introduce a suite of products that responds to the needs of end-users in the world biometrics market. With a growing number of countries and commercial entities employing biometrics for identity assurance, millions of constituents are experiencing the convenience aspects, enhanced customer service and greater protection from identity fraud.
BusinessWire
Date: 2008-03-26 |
Bell ID reports Canadian bank deal
Bell ID, worldwide technology leader in the field of smart card management solutions, today announced that it will be providing a full EMV solution for managing over two million cards, to a major Canadian financial institution.
Bell ID will implement and support its ANDiS4EMV smart card management solution, enabling the bank to migrate its card base from magnetic stripe to MULTOS step one EMV chip cards.
The ANDiS4EMV solution from Bell ID comprises of a powerful card, application and key management system and data preparation engine. In addition, the solution leverages the ANDiS LDAP capabilities, and profits from Bell ID's comprehensive web services interfaces, facilitating the integration with core retail banking systems including the customer service and IVR operations.
NEC and Daon Enables Unparalleled Speed of Deployment for Japan Biometrics Identification System Project
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In just 9 months, NEC Corporation and Daon have taken Japan’s border control system from procurement to nationwide deployment, enabling the timely and effective launch of a multi-modal biometrically enabled border control system for the world’s second largest economy. The system went live in November, 2007 and was used to successfully process more than 10,000 travelers through Narita International Airport during the first morning of operation.
Japan is the second country after the United States to implement such a system, according to Japan’s Immigration Bureau. The goals of the automated border control system include the prevention of terrorism, illegal immigration and other crimes at the border. Fingerprints and facial images are obtained from persons entering the country who are 16 years of age and older (except legally exempted person).
BusinessWire
Date: 2008-03-27 |
Lumidigm Signs Deal with BioGuard, Sends Real World Biometrics to Middle East
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lumidigm Inc., the multispectral imaging biometrics company, today announced a certified business partnership with BioGuard Components & Technologies Ltd. Headquartered in Israel, BioGuard is an international biometrics solutions developer.
“We are pleased to be Lumidigm's business partner in Israel,” said BioGuard President Ephram Yeashoua, Esq. “The Lumidigm sensors will allow BioGuard to install biometric identity management systems where traditional biometrics have failed. Working with Lumidigm, BioGuard will be able to deploy the most robust biometric applications in the world.”
BusinessWire
Date: 2008-03-27 |
Francais
Politique: Bissau peine à fixer la date des Législatives
Bissau, Guinée-Bissau - La date des élections législatives prévues cette année reste une inconnue en Guinée Bissau où le pouvoir évoque une "indisponibilité financière", a appris mardi la PANA de source officielle.
"La date des élections législatives n'a pas été fixée en raison d'une indisponibilité financière du gouvernement qui éprouve beaucoup de difficultés à payer ses arriérés concernant l'organisation des élections en 1999", a déclaré le président Joao Bernardo Vieira dans un discours prononcé mardi devant l'Assemblée nationale.
Le chef de l'Etat bissau-guinéen a également indiqué que le retard est en partie lié aussi à "la sollicitation tardive auprès du PNUD des fonds nécessaires à la mise en oeuvre d'un recensement électoral à base d'un fichier biométrique".
AfriqueLigne
Date: 2008-03-26 |
Nederlands
Black Hat in Amsterdam boeiend maar peperduur
Hackers uit binnen- en buitenland begeven zich deze dagen naar Amsterdam voor Black Hat Europe, volgens de organisatoren "de beste technische beveiligingsconferentie op het Europese continent". Illustere namen als Petko D. Petkov, Joanna Rutkowska en Adam Laurie maken hun opwachting in het congreshotel aan de Piet Heinkade.
Bezoekers kunnen vandaag en morgen deelnemen aan trainingssessies. Voor donderdag en vrijdag staan de briefings op de rol. De kosten voor deelname zijn niet misselijk: briefings kosten tot 1.400 euro en voor het bijwonen van een training moeten bezoekers tot 2.100 euro betalen – per sessie. Daar mag wel bijzonder interessante informatie tegenover staan, lijkt ons.
De briefings op donderdag en vrijdag hebben intrigerende thema's als 'CrackStation', 'Attacking Anti-Virus' en 'Biologger – A Biometric Keylogger'. In de laatstgenoemde sessie presenteert beveiligingsadviseur Matthew Lewis een bewezen methode om biometrische data te onderscheppen en te gebruiken in een aanval. Petko D. Petkov is vooral bekend sinds hij vorig jaar enkele gevaarlijke lekken in Acrobat Reader en Gmail aan het licht bracht. Hij spijkert de black hats bij over "talloze manieren" om clientsoftware aan te vallen.
Registratie tien vingerafdrukken ook op 'JFK'
NEW YORK - Met de installatie van veertien scanners heeft deze week de grootste luchthaven van New York, John F. Kennedy Airport, zich gevoegd bij de grensposten waar de afdrukken van alle tien vingers van een buitenlandse bezoeker worden gescand. Dit berichtte donderdag het Amerikaanse dagblad The Christian Science Monitor.
Het ministerie van Binnenlandse Veiligheid, opgericht in de nasleep van de terroristische aanslagen van september 2001, hoopt met de afdrukken mensen die geen verblijfsstatus in het land hebben en ongewenst zijn of mogelijk een gevaar opleveren, buiten de deur te houden. Het ministerie hoopt uiteindelijk ook te kunnen nagaan of buitenlanders die het land bezoeken weer op tijd vertrekken.
Telegraaf
Date: 2008-03-26 |
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