London Banter - View Single Post

Roland Perry · March 19th 10, 04:58 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In message , at 15:24:57 on Fri, 19 Mar
2010, d remarked:
On Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:02:08 +0000
Roland Perry wrote:
"The passport's critical information is both printed on the data page
of the passport and stored in the chip."

So nothing "extra". The data concerned is required at check-in by
numerous foreign hotels, so is in effect public information.

I never said it was anything extra. But you don't normally leave your
passport open on the details page and let strangers photocopy it which
is the equivalent of what the RFID allows.

Happens all the time at foreign hotel desks. The information isn't
secret - if you are relying this, please be advised that "security by
obscurity" is a very bad policy.

BS. RFID can be read from a few metres away as long as you can direct
enough power at the chip to power it up.

Which needs a large (directional) aerial.

Not necessarily. The point is it doesn't have to be in contact which the
reader. Someone could brush past you

Goalposts "few metres" zooom "brush past"

even with a low powered reader and still grab the info. Its been done
with Oyster cards so it could be done with passports.

Breaking the encryption?
--
Roland Perry