« Tommy Thompson gets his own copy of Spychips | Main | Homeland Security puts remote tracking plan on hold »
March 9, 2006
Cloning the VeriChip
I am catching up on blog entries after two months of non-stop academic work, but I did manage to cram some fun into those months. One of the highlights was doing a TV interview with security researcher Jonathan Westhues.
Security Researcher Jonathan Westhues
Jonathan and I commuted to the television studio together. Then, while we were waiting to go on the air, he showed me his VeriChip cloning device -- a gadget smaller than a cell phone that he can wave in the general vicinity of a Verichip to grab its unique ID number. The device is shown below hooked up to a laptop, but he assures me it would work just as well hooked up to a couple of AA batteries -- with no cords and no laptop at all.
Katherine Albrecht and Jonathan Westhues discuss the VeriChip
So, here's the threat model, in a nutshell:
You think you're maximum-security cyborged out with your embedded microchip. You leave for lunch, secure in the knowledge that your VeriChip-enabled doorway will keep watch over your office. You know the system will refuse to respond to anyone but you, since it is set to recognize only the embedded microchip implant squidged into the muscle tissue of your upper arm.
Then along comes Mr. Weshues. He brushes past you on the elevator as you're leaving, muttering a sotto voce "Excuse me." (Little do you realize he has just cloned your VeriChip.) As you leave the elevator and head for for the bistro, Mr. Westhues heads straight for your office door. A wave of his VeriChip cloning device, and Voila - the door pops open and within seconds he's into your most imtimate files. He's done collecting his data before you've even finished your appetizer and ordered the entree.
VeriChip skimmer/cloner device hooked up to a laptop
Think a microchip implant is secure? Think again. It's about the least secure thing you could use to lock a door -- or anything else.
VeriChip skimmer/cloner closeup
Posted by Katherine Albrecht at March 9, 2006 6:58 PM
Comments
has he released the plans for this device?
Posted by: wondering at April 24, 2006 9:16 PM
VeriChip skimmer/cloner available in Puerto Rico?
Posted by: Julio Rodriguez at November 2, 2006 11:28 AM