Laser spots paper 'fingerprints'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4741809.stm

I don't know how I missed this one.I wonder how much cheaper it would be to use this method?

A low-cost laser scanning system could help in the fight against document and ID fraud, according to its developers at Imperial College London.

The Laser Surface Authentication (LSA) system scans tiny surface variations of paper, plastic, metal and ceramics to detect the material's "fingerprint".

The system then records the naturally occurring pattern of imperfections.

The imperfections are so minute, say the scientists, that they are virtually impossible to replicate.

"A unique 'fingerprint' is formed by microscopic surface imperfections on almost all paper documents, plastic cards and product packaging," explained Professor Russell Cowburn, professor of nanotechnology at Imperial College, London.

"That is what makes it possible to develop a much cheaper method to combat fraud because this inherent identity code is virtually impossible to modify. It can easily be read using a low-cost portable laser scanner."
It could be used on materials such as passports, ID cards, credit cards, music or software CDs and DVDs, banknotes, and packaging.

He said the system signalled a shift in the approach to authentication and ID techniques.
It offered a much simpler and largely foolproof, in-built - thus cheaper - way to authenticate and track sensitive documents than current methods, such as holographs.

[ian@huth]

It sounds good but whilst you may not be able to replicate the paper you will probably get someone who cracks the authentication number system and can supply new authentication codes to forged documents. That wouldn't solve the problem of codes being checked with a remote database unless they manage to hack that as well.

Although thinking about it, they may not have to hack the remote database, just offer a few rupees to get the forged document code added.

[AndrewJ]

Originally Posted by ian@huth

It sounds good but whilst you may not be able to replicate the paper you will probably get someone who cracks the authentication number system and can supply new authentication codes to forged documents. That wouldn't solve the problem of codes being checked with a remote database unless they manage to hack that as well.

Although thinking about it, they may not have to hack the remote database, just offer a few rupees to get the forged document code added.

[Raistlin]

Sounds like ian's got his eyes on a new window of business opportunity

[Halcyon]

lol sounds like a plan.
Although they say it will cost less Im sure it will still be quite expensive.
There will always be ways found to crack new systems so they really need to think about this one very carefully and find the best solution.