Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : 2026 TeoTwawKi ... 2032 Darkest Interregnum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Elroy Jetson who wrote (4950)	3/22/2006 5:23:29 AM
From: KyrosL	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 219954

OT -- You are right, if a secure ID card is used in an obviously stupid way, of course it and any other secure authentication scheme will fail. A secure ID card is pointless if all you need to use it is its "number". The card is secure only if you use its biometric authentication, e.g. via a palm or fingertip reader, or by physically presenting yourself to a bank or other facility that can do the biometric measurement when applying for a credit card, etc.

To: Elroy Jetson who wrote (4950)	3/22/2006 1:52:23 PM
From: Maurice Winn	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 219954

Elroy, quite right - make lenders responsible for identifying the borrower correctly. Then they'll not be too casual about giving credit. And, make the consequences for criminals so bleak that the incentive to steal goes away. There is a weird attitude these days, around the world it seems, to blame the victims. If your car is broken into, it's your fault for leaving valuables in view and failing to lock your car. The absurd length the "justice" system goes to in Australia I think it was, was to prosecute people for failing to lock their car. It was/is an offence to leave a car unlocked. I don't think I'm making that up. The security industry is vast. Security is a complete pain in the neck to normal people [aka honest people]. I think part of the problem is so many people are essentially dishonest [I guess about 60%] that crime is treated as a cost of doing business, a thing to be expected because it's uncool to be goody-two-shoes, it's cool to be on the take, getting away with something. Punishment is actually, contrary to urban legend, not wanted by most people - "there but for the grace of god go I ...". As you say, when the lenders are sloppy and it costs them money, then they'll be more particular. I had to explain to ASBBank Ltd how their system of ID checking was fundamentally insecure as their staff could be the crime centre. Of course, they don't like to believe that, just as customs were surprised when their staff were running the drugs. No surprise to sensible people - authoritarians have trouble understanding that THEY are the problem. Mqurice

To: Elroy Jetson who wrote (4950)	3/22/2006 2:20:14 PM
From: energyplay	Respond to of 219954

Hi Elroy - I will certainly agree with - "...all security is hackable. The security for the latest smart chip Visa cards has been broken, leaving Visa with major problem even before the card has been widely introduced. A secure national ID would likely secure the nation against people playing harmless pranks - those sort don't have the time and resources needed to break the security. But the national ID card security would fail when faced with terrorists, spies, and people intending to commit major financial frauds who have the motivation and resources needed to counterfeit the needed cards." -except for some of the terrorists. The spies certainly have the resources, as do most of the financial fraud guys. Lots of the terrorists seem to not all that bright or well trained, especially the ones who are going to be blown up. The guy who rented the truck for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and then showed up at the truck rental office to try to get his deposit back (after the truck was blown up!) comes to mind. The terrorists have a wide range of capabilities. Some get trained by foreign intelligence organizations, and some of them buy their IDs from guys hanging around the Department of Motor Vehicles. I think we are very fortunate that we aren't dealing with the KGB or Stasi. Hopefully the ID will be something like the newer high value currency - lots of tricky items to copy, many not revealed to the public or most law enforcement, and changing every few years. But I don't think it will be changed often enough. Glad the theives got nailed.