SecureIDNews | EMV for UK ID cards?

Thursday, April 16, 2009

The United Kingdom is considering adding EMV functionality to its ID cards, according to ZDNet UK. EMV is used in UK payment cards to protect against fraud and some say it can be useful while others say it’s not secure enough.

With chip-and-PIN cardholders could access government and private-sector services online using the PIN to verify their identity. Business too could take advantage of such functionality and have individuals authenticate using a PIN. Using EMV could also cut the cost of the system since it’s already a widespread standard.

But some say PIN is not secure enough. Cambridge University security researcher Richard Clayton said that PIN functionality could open up new avenues for fraudsters. Fraudsters could set up fake government sites in order to phish for PINS, similar to what criminals do with banking Web sites now.

Read the full story here.

U.S. government settles smart card infringement case

The U.S. government has settled an infringement case with Leighton Technologies by agreeing to license its smart cards.

Leighton Technologies, a subsidiary of General Patent, filed a case against the federal government in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in January 2010. Leighton alleged that 54 federal agencies used its six smart card patents without authorization. Leighton’s technology was also used in e-passports.

Malware attacks smart cards

A variant of malware called Sykipot is circulating that purportedly enables it to hijack U.S. Defense Department Common Access Cards and Windows smart cards, according to Alien Vault Labs. This variant, which appears to have been put together in March 2011, has been seen in dozens of attack samples from the past year.

British Columbia moves forward on CareCard upgrade

British Columbia is moving forward with plans to upgrade its CareCard program. According to The Vancouver Sun, the new card will provide access to a variety of regional services including electronic health records, driver license and school registration for children.

Smart cards replace paper coupons in Indian prison

Prisoners at Tihar prisons, located near New Delhi, India, will now be using smart cards instead of paper coupons for their food purchases.

As reported by The Economic Times, the former system of paper food coupons led to misuse and illegal activity within the jail. Some prisoners would use it for currency in order to get banned substances or buy favors from others.

Russian government delays universal card project

Russia has pushed back the launch of its universal eID card to January 2013, reports The Moscow Times.

Originally scheduled to roll out this month, the card is supposed to function as an electronic ID, driver’s license, proof of auto insurance, ATM card and immigration document, along with other possible features.

Report: India, the world's fastest growing smart card market

India is emerging as one of the world’s fastest growing smart card markets, according to a new research report by RNCOS. With more than one billion in population and increasing modern application areas, India is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 15% during 2011-2014.

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EMV for UK ID cards?