The prospective
national ID card was broken and cloned in 12 minutes, theDaily Mail revealedthis morning.
The newspaper hired computer expert Adam Laurie to test the
security that protects the information embedded in the chip on the
card.
Using a Nokia mobile phone and a laptop computer, Laurie was
able to copy the data on a card that is being issued to foreign
nationals in minutes.
He then created a cloned card, and with help from another
technology expert, changed all the data on the new card. This
included the physical details of the bearer, name, fingerprints and
other information.
He then rewrote data on the card, reversing the bearer's status
from "not entitled to benefits" to "entitled to benefits".
He then added fresh content that would be visible to any police
officer or security official who scanned the card, saying, "I am a
terrorist - shoot on sight."
According to the paper, Home Office officials said the foreign
nationals card uses the same technology as the UK citizens card
that will be issued from 2012.
Guy Herbert, general secretary of privacy lobby group
NO2ID, said it was a mistake to
assume that the Home Office cared about the card, or identity theft
or citizens' benefit.
He said the Home Office wanted the central database to record
citizens' personal details in one place for official
convenience.
"It is that database which will deliver unprecedented power over
our lives to Whitehall and make the Home Office king in Whitehall.
The card is an excuse to build the database. If the card is
cancelled it already intends to use passports as a secondary
excuse," he said.
Home Office officials said they were working on a response to
the story, and would issue a statement later today.
For more information on the National ID Card scheme
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