Behind the times
Technology moves lightning fast these days. Experts are becoming more knowledgeable faster than ever before, which leads to new technology becoming available faster. The problem is that some institutions we rely on are unable to cope with the new speeds. This is especially worrisome because criminals are abusing this part of the weak interface.
It is relatively easy to defeat a security CCTV with commercially available parts (no, I am not going to tell you how to do it so no links). The RFID chip in everything from bank cards to passports has been beaten
(http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/08/hackers_clone_r.html),
and the list goes on. Neither the law or law enforcement is able to cope no matter how sure they are because they fail to employ or listen to the experts. In the case of RFID even before there was RFID in passports experts said it could be hacked
(http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/13/pf/rfid_passports/index.htm?cnn=yes)
now an expert hacked it in 2 weeks. Please, please, please listen when experts talk. The actually know something. Even wiretapping can be defeated easily with off the shelf parts. This was posted in a major engineering publication, including examples and experimental results but law enforcement has not yet deployed a solution.
(http://www.crypto.com/papers/wiretapping/)
I really can’t say it enough, when a subject matter expert tells you that technology has advanced too a point of concern, please listen. Talk to them and do what needs done.
Until next time.