April 2, 2007

New E-Passports Contain Serious Security Risks

The new travel documents, called e-passports, are being issued to Americans who apply to either renew their passport or receive their first one. They look similar to the old passports, but they have a rectangular symbol printed on the cover indicating they contain a computer chip. The chip is hidden in the back cover and contains the holder's name, photo, birth date and other vital stats. State Department officials say the chip will improve security and help speed travelers through checkpoints by beaming their personal information to immigration officials' computers when the passports are opened. But privacy advocates say the wireless chip can be easily hacked by any terrorist or identity thief standing nearby with a chip-reading device.

Privacy advocates: Risk is embedded in each e-passport, New Jersey Star-Ledger, April 1, 2007.