Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!dog.ee.lbl.gov!nosc!crash!lairdb From: lairdb@crash.cts.com (Laird P. Broadfield) Newsgroups: comp.society.futures Subject: Re: Tracking and security Keywords: phones, etc Message-ID: <1991May16.025650.18307@crash.cts.com> Date: 16 May 91 02:56:50 GMT References: <1991May15.215007.26679@sugar.hackercorp.com> Organization: "Well, a head on top, an arm on each side, two legs...." Lines: 94 In <1991May15.215007.26679@sugar.hackercorp.com> jasona@sugar.hackercorp.com (Jason Asbahr) writes: >Gordon L. Burditt (sneaky.lonestar.org!gordon) writes: > >>>If you're against implanted *tracking* chips, then the objection is >>>surely a 'civil liberties' one and not a technology-based objection. >> >>There already are external tracking devices in popular use. People >>carry them around voluntarily. They provide a perceived benefit to the >>people who carry them unrelated to tracking, and many probably don't >>realize the tracking capability is there. These people even *PAY MONEY* >>for the tracking devices. The actual amount of tracking being done is >>unknown. >> >>P.S. Cellular phones may not be very *GOOD* tracking devices, but they >>can be located within a few miles. > >Cellular phones can be located only when they are transmitting. The >concern over implanted tracking chips is that they might not have that >option. :) BZZZZZT! Thank you for playing! (Hmmm, seems to be a "bzzzt" kind of day today....) Half-correct, actually; yes, they must transmit in order to be located. No, the *user* doesn't have to initiate the transmission; I understand (conversations with a cell-switch engineer) there are several varieties of user-transparent "interrogate" transactions. If it's on, it responds. As for location, "which cell" is good for a pretty small circle (real small in some dense areas), "which lobe" cuts that into thirds. Now that you're starting to think about it, remember that that's not the only cell that can hear you, just the *best*; there's some reasonably sophisticated signal- strength measurement going on too. Whoops, just got a *lot* closer.... Now drive the test-truck around with the signal-meters hooked to a moving- map, and you've got a map of the propagation anomalies. Surprise, "you're on the west side of the road... stopped... 200 yards south of the sign... sitting down." > > >makr@and.cs.liv.ac.uk writes: > >>>As per the cursive script, I think this may take a few more years yet, >>>but it is by no means impossible. Especially if we train the system >>>only to recognise handwriting. >> >>This could bring about a revolution in computer security. Imagine a >>machine that ONLY responds to YOUR handwriting. Instead of "login, >>password" we could have "sign here to access your account sir". >> :-) > >If you work for a company that deals with relatively sensitive data, you >may be seeing part of a similar computer security "revolution". Maybe >it would be better to say that it would be seeing you!! > >I recently came into contact with a representative of "Comprehensive >Security Concepts", a company that markets EyeTRAX computer systems. > >The brochure claims "EyeTRAX signature as unique as a fingerprint or a >voiceprint" and "Cannot be altered or fraudulently used" ... > >The way the systems works is pretty simple (in concept at least). You >look into a device that resembles an electronic eye-wash station and line >up (by focusing) a set of glowing circles into a concentric pattern. Then >you hit the enter key on a mounted keypad. The salesguy told me that the >devices scanned the blood vessel pattern of my retina in an area ranging >from 5 to 10 mm, digitizing and saving the results. On my second try, >I got an 85% match of my first -- close enough. > >The salesguy hawked EyeTRAX as not only great for security but also >wonderful for drug/fatigue/illness testing. The idea is that each user >not only has a unique blood vessel pattern, but also a "unique" focus. >So whenever he/she lines up those circles, the data is affected by the >power of the user's focus. Drug use, fatigue, and illness apparently >alter this factor and result in an unsatisfactory percentage result. > >CSC is trying to push the system into the commercial sector, highlighting >its many uses. CSC also provides "personel and materials for a drug >awareness/education program tailored to meet your needs", "professional >help to counsel, educate, or rehabilitate employees on an out-patient >or in-patient basis", medical screening, narcotics and arson dogs, >private investigators, OSHA certified safety engineers "to survey your >operation and design any necessary programs", and "insurance consultation >with unsurpassed track records". > >Installing EyeTRAX apparently also reduces insurance premiums, because it >catches problems before they happen. :) > > > -Jason Asbahr > jasona@sugar.hackercorp.com > jasona@nuchat.sccsi.com >--