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| May 18, 2006
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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
Musicrypt Signs Deal with US Independent Music Network
Musicrypt Inc., the industry's leading and most secure digital music distribution company, today
announced a deal with Broadjam.com, one of the world's largest communities of independent music artists and labels. Broadjam.com will offer its members Musicrypt's patented Digital Media Distribution System (DMDS), to deliver
their music, and promotional materials directly to radio stations across North America. The deal will provide independent musicians the opportunity to reach radio stations in the same manner as major label artists.
Broadcaster
Date: 2006-05-18 |
Serbia: New electronic ID to contain crime
BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro, May 17 (UPI) -- Serbia is to introduce electronic identification that includes biometric data and a microchip controller with the idea of providing faster identifications.
A draft law on new identification documents has been submitted to parliament for debate, the Beta news agency said.
Police experts said the idea was to contain and prevent new forms of crimes through faster and more reliable identification.
New IDs would include microchips for automatic scanning and biometric data such as face analysis, finger prints, signature and others, a digital photo of the ID holder and a digital finger prints.
Toshiba launches mini Satellite notebook
While Apple and Sony have busied themselves with new Macbooks and Blu-Ray laptops, Toshiba has stealthily produced this straight-laced but powerful little bundle of computing joy.
The Satellite Pro U200 is the first 12in laptop in its range, and is packed with features that will bring back the smile that’s been missing from your miserable face since 1995, when your last laptop was pinched by thieves.
They won’t bother with the U200 – not because it’s rubbish, but because it sports EasyGuard features, which includes a scally-proof Biometric Fingerprint scanner.
Sony Announces a Pocket-Sized PC
esterday, a description of what was supposed to be the first Ultra Mobile PC from Sony appeared on the Web. Today this device was officially announced, and while most of the rumors on this device turned out to be correct, not all of them did.
The biggest discrepancy is the fact that, while this computer will run Windows XP, it won't use the special version created specifically for UMPCs.
Nevertheless, this will still be a device capable of making many mobile computing fans drool.
For example, this model, which will be a part of Sony's UX line, will have a 4.5-inch WSVGA screen that can slide up to expose a QWERTY keyboard.
Brighthand
Date: 2006-05-17 |
Bush's Biometric IDs Feasible For Employers, Citizens, Says Digital Defense Group
OMAHA, Neb. --(Business Wire)-- May 17, 2006 -- Digital Defense(TM) Group today endorsed President Bush's call for biometric ID cards for legal foreign workers, insisting that privacy and security can be attained simultaneously and without undue burden to taxpayers. The company's Factor4(TM) biocards(TM) are the world's only self-enrolling, credit card-sized fingerprint authentication device - technology that puts a user's unique biometric signature directly onto the card and eliminates the need for a centralized database or external software during enrollment and authentication.
Axalto to Deliver Biometric Smart Cards for the National Identity Project of Qatar
Amsterdam / Doha, May 17 2006 - Axalto (Euronext NL0000400653 AXL), the world's leader of microprocessor cards, today announced it will contribute to the Qatar national ID program with the delivery of fingerprint match-on cards, associated readers and services. Qatari citizens will use these high-end cards, combining a built-in biometrics feature, contact and contactless technologies as their national ID document as of the first quarter of 2007.
La Bourse
Date: 2006-05-17 |
LiteScape to Showcase Biometric-Enabled VoIP Applications
LiteScape Technologies Inc., an AT&T approved vendor and developer of enterprise software that enhances the value and utility of IP Telephony, announced today they will be showcasing their biometric-enabled VoIP applications at this years GovTech West Conference.
As an AT&T (News - Alert) Approved Vendor, LiteScape applications are being sold via their national sales force. They also announced recently a reseller partnership with Bell Canada.
Password Hell: Top tips
silicon.com this week has been covering the issue of password management which is still proving a perennial nightmare for IT managers.
Passwords are fatally flawed, it's true, but for now they are the best option for many companies.
And in all likelihood passwords will remain a problem until the very day they are replaced by technologies such as biometrics, which is the direction the industry appears to be heading. However, until that day comes, below are some tips for fostering a culture of secure and more effective password management.
Passwords are fatally flawed, it's true, but for now they are the best option for many companies. But almost everybody could be managing them more effectively.
Silicon.com
Date: 2006-05-16 |
Australia considers biometric identification for visas
The Australian Deparment of Immigration is said to be considering biometric testing, such as finger-printing, in an effort to tighten border security.
The Australian newspaper is reporting the governement is considering having all those who apply for an entry visa go through some manner of biometric testing.
The move to biometrics would cut down on the risk of wrongful detentions and unlawful detentions which have dominated the Australian news headlines for some time now.
The proposed biometrics scheme is said to extend across almost all visa categories.
Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone is said to be in favour of the plan, noting the biometric data would screen out non-citizens and be shared with both Customs and the police.
Australian Visa Bureau
Date: 2006-05-16 |
Toddlers used in trial of identity biometrics
A Home Office department is fingerprinting under-fives, and may include babies, in a biometrics ID scheme. The trial ends the department’s technological taboo on enrolling very young children in identity checks.
Details of the scheme emerged after the Home Office released an internal report under the Freedom of Information Act, which contained a section on fingerprinting under-fives.
The UK could be one of the first countries to fingerprint under-fives – and possibly the first. When Malaysian police last year proposed fingerprinting of babies there were strong protests from civil liberties groups in the country.
If the trial is successful, it could encourage the government to consider gathering fingerprints from very young children for passport applications. The legal framework exists for this to happen.
ComputerWeekly
Date: 2006-05-16 |
TMC Announces the Winners of BiometriTech Magazine's Product of the Year' Award for 2005
Technology Marketing Corporation is pleased to announce the winners of BiometriTech Magazine’s Product of the Year Awards for 2005.
“This year, TMC received some very impressive submissions for products in the field of biometrics,” said TMCnet Associate Editor Patrick Barnard, who served as the judge for this year’s awards program. “Whether they are for employee management, plant security, law enforcement or Web security, these solutions show the wide range of important roles which biometrics can play in today’s world.”
“It is my honor to announce this year’s winners of BiometriTech magazine Product of the Year awards.
Biometric bypass at airport raises question
My Network World colleague Ellen Messmer recounts an interesting conversation she had recently with a business traveler who has nothing but praise for an experimental biometric security-screening program run by the government at the Orlando airport. Give up your fingerprints, get a special "Clear" card, and zipitty-do-dah you're waltzing past the serpentine security checkpoint without so much as a cursory glance.
The downside? … Eighty bucks … and that's $80 a year, bub.
Which raises a fairness question, in my view. I've got no problem with airlines selling premium service -- no problem other than first-class envy, of course -- but something just doesn't seem right when it's the government giving the well-to-do yet another painless privilege while the rest of us get to the airport two hours early just so we'll have time to remove our belts and shoes.
NetworkWorld
Date: 2006-05-16 |
Fast Phil's implements Pay By Touch's biometric payments technology
Fast Phil's customers can now conveniently and securely pay for gas and snacks with the touch of a finger at all 11 Fast Phil's locations throughout the Spartanburg, South Carolina area.
"The system debits a shopper's checking account just like writing a check or using a debit card, but without having to hassle with wallets, cards, PINs, paper or checks," said Ben Willard, Vice President of Fast Phil's. "Because account numbers are not exposed, the finger-scan technology is helping us provide our customers with faster checkouts and more secure transactions."
The new finger scan service is powered by biometric payments leader Pay By Touch, which recently acquired BioPay and owns and operates the BioPay-branded biometric payment network throughout the country.
Sequiam receives $2.25 million BioVault order
Sequiam Corp.'s Sequiam Biometrics Inc. subsidiary has received a $2.25 million order for 10,000 units of its BioVault 2.0 product from Austin, Texas, distributor Davenport Sales International.
BizzJournal
Date: 2006-05-18 |
Joining USA, Japan to fingerprint and photograph foreign visitors
TOKYO (AFP) — Japan's parliament narrowly approved Wednesday a bill to follow the United States in fingerprinting and photographing foreign visitors, despite concern the security measures violated privacy.
The upper house voted 131 to 94 to support the bill, which would also allow the justice minister to expel terrorist suspects.
The lower house, where Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's coalition enjoys a wider majority, approved the bill in March.
Under the bill, which will go into effect by November 2007, all foreigners aged 16 or older will be photographed and electronically fingerprinted when they enter Japan.
USA Today
Date: 2006-05-17 |
Deutsch
Streit um biometrische Daten
BASEL – Nach dem Fussballkrieg in Basel am letzten Wochenende hiess es schnell: nie wieder! Heute, wenige Tage später, sind die Verantwortlichen bereits heillos zerstritten über die Methoden.
Warum stemmt sich die Swiss Football League gegen wirksame Massnahmen im Kampf gegen Hooligans? Von Präsident Peter Stadelmann werden klare Antworten erwartet.
Blick Online
Date: 2006-05-17 |
Fingerprint - die biometrische Lösung für komfortable Sicherheit
Was die Kriminalistik seit langem nutzt, kommt auch für den Schutz sensibler Unternehmensbereiche zur Anwendung: Die zweifelsfreie Identifikation eines Menschen durch seinen Fingerabdruck. Dieses Erkennungs-Verfahren hat JUNG in dem neuen Fingerprinter auf perfekte Weise umgesetzt. Das kompakte Gerät übernimmt als Zutritts-Kontrollsystem die Erfassung und Auswertung von Fingerabdrücken der Personen, die den jeweiligen Gebäudeteil betreten wollen.
AusbauGuide.de
Date: 2006-05-16 |
Francais
Biométrie ou le développement quotidien de la police technologique.
Qu’est ce que la biométrie ?
Les appareils à reconnaissance biométrique permettent d’identifier des personnes sur la base de caractéristiques physiques individuelles, comme l’empreinte digitale, l’iris, la forme de la main, du visage, etc... Leur développement récent était jusqu’alors freiné par le coût très élevé du matériel, qui devient à présent abordable.
Bellaciao
Date: 2006-05-18 |
Axalto: bien orienté après contrat biométrique au Qatar.
(Cercle Finance) - Le fournisseur de cartes à puce Axalto, premier fournisseur mondial de cartes à microprocesseur, annonce sa participation au programme de cartes d'identité électroniques au Qatar.
Axalto fournira des cartes basées sur la technologie match-on card permettant l'identification biométrique par empreinte digitale, ainsi que les lecteurs et services associés. "Les Qataris utiliseront ces cartes haut de gamme - qui combinent biométrie, technologies avec et sans contact - comme pièce d'identité officielle à compter du premier trimestre 2007.", précise Axalto.
cercle finance
Date: 2006-05-18 |
La CCDJP veut une surveillance biométrique dans les stades
BâLE - Après les débordements des supporters à Bâle, les directeurs cantonaux de justice et police veulent une surveillance biométrique dans les stades. Mais les milieux sportifs attendent surtout que la loi anti-hooligans entre en vigueur rapidement.
La Swiss Football League (SFL) ne veut pas d'un "Big Brother is watching you" dans les stades, a affirmé à la radio alémanique DRS Thomas Helbling, président de la sécurité à la SFL. Cette déclaration provoque l'incompréhension de la Conférence des directeurs cantonaux de justice et police (CCDJP).
La CCDJP ne comprend pas comment la SFL pourrait faire appliquer une interdiction de stade, prévue par la loi anti-hooligans, sans un système de reconnaissance biométrique, a indiqué à la DRS Roger Schneeberger, secrétaire général de la conférence.
SwissInfo
Date: 2006-05-18 |
Nederlands
Verplichte vingerafdruk bezoekers Japan
AMSTERDAM - Het Japanse parlement heeft woensdag een wetsvoorstel aangenomen dat alle buitenlandse bezoekers van 16 jaar en ouder bij binnenkomst in Japan verplicht hun vingerafdrukken af te laten nemen en zich te laten fotograferen.
Voorts moeten in het kader van terreurpreventie scheep- en luchtvaartmaatschappijen passagiers- en bemanningenlijsten overleggen voordat zij Japan aandoen.
Het systeem wordt waarschijnlijk over achttien maanden ingevoerd. Het publiek moet worden voorgelicht en technische en praktische details moeten worden uitgewerkt. In 2004, het laatste jaar waarover cijfers bekend zijn, telde Japan 6,6 miljoen buitenlandse bezoekers.
Telegraaf
Date: 2006-05-16 |
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