Scam fear over iris scans (Criminals using Atropine to make iris 'disappear')

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | August 26, 2005 | CORINNE ABRAMS

[Stoat]

INTERNET EXCLUSIVE

Scam fear over iris scans

By CORINNE ABRAMS
Sun OnlineTHE use of iris scans on ID cards could be scuppered by fraudsters using an optician's chemical that makes the iris disappear, an expert has claimed.

 

Ross Anderson, professor of Security Engineering at the University of Cambridge, revealed that criminals in Dubai used the chemical atropine to make their irises disappear and avoid detection by authorities.

Prof Anderson said the biggest deployed experiment for biometric identifiers was in Dubai.

"What they want to do there is catch Pakistani prostitutes who have already been deported and who are coming in again under new names," he said.

"So these women in Kerachi pull out $500, they give it to a government official and say who they would like to be and a passport is duly produced and they then go back to Dubai."

He said the women then avoid detection by officials on return to Dubai by putting the chemical atropine in their eyes so that they their pupils dilate and no iris is visible.

He said the police combat the problem by putting the fraudsters in jail overnight until the effects of the chemical have worn off.

But he added: "You can do that if you are the police in Dubai, you can’t if you are the police in Britain."

The Home Office confirmed that iris scanned were among 49 different identifiers being considered in the Identity Cards Bill, which will get its second reading in the autumn.

[Stoat]

This from as recently as July, 2005: "Unless someone undergoes surgery, such as for cataracts, which involves structures inside the eye, the characteristic of the iris scan cannot be altered. "

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050727/LIVING01/507270310/-1/COLUMNS

 

Biometrics and your eye

 

Health checkup: local advice

Dr. Gwen K. Sterns

 

(July 27, 2005) — We are all familiar with fingerprints as a means of identification. But iris "prints" are even better.

Iris scans for identification are being used in high-security areas, such as airports and banks. Iris scans at ATMs make PINs and pass codes unnecessary. Some prisons use iris scans to check the identity of inmates and visitors. Iris scans have been used in the Winter Olympics to identify biathlon athletes, ensuring rifles were given to the correct participants.

The iris is the colored part of your eye, and it is yours and yours alone. The iris has many crypts, furrows, rings, freckles and other variations that are unique to each individual — even identical twins have different iris scans. Unless someone undergoes surgery, such as for cataracts, which involves structures inside the eye, the characteristic of the iris scan cannot be altered.

Because of popular spy movies, people mistakenly think that one can remove the eye and maintain the integrity of the iris scan. However, vessels supplying blood to the eye are necessary for scanning the eye. Without the blood supply, the scan cannot be performed.

Iris scanning can be done by a camera positioned 10 to 12 inches from the eye. It is easy and quick. The scan can be performed even if contact lenses or glasses are worn. An image of the iris is stored and analyzed in a computer. The images can be compared to a database for identification and for verification of identities.

There is an extremely high confidence level in these scans because no two irises are alike. Because of the complex pattern of the iris and its distinctive features, its reliability in identification is superb. More than 250 points of the iris can be evaluated by currently available iris scanners.

John Daugman of the University of Cambridge in England developed algorithms to recognize iris patterns. A computer program transforms the patterns into a data file. Some refer to this as a "barcode" of our iris.

The data files can be recalled and compared in a large database. It is reported that identification can take place in less than 2 seconds.

There are no known side effects to the eye from the use of iris scans. "Eyedentification" is becoming widespread.

Gwen K. Sterns, M.D., is chief of the department of ophthalmology, Rochester General Hospital.

 

[the invisib1e hand]

My favorite Iris.

click the iris for details.

[SteveMcKing]

Altering the true iris pattern may be impossible, but this sounds like a genuine cheat that could work.

[Prime Choice]

I love biometrics. They rank as among the weaker links of so-called "security" systems, trumped only by weak passwords and vulnerable, unpatched services. I had some fun with one joker who thought his fingerprint biometric scanner was the be-all and end-all until I took a Gummi Bear, placed it on the finger pad and was granted access to his systems.

[Capn TrVth]

Ahem...


"Atropine, it gets the Feds out."

[maestro]

Much easier to have the right people placed, payed and working when allowing.... a 'pass'......

[SampleMan]

this sounds like a genuine cheat that could work.

A simple human inspection of the subject would reveal this, as the pupils would be massively dilate, and the person in question extremely sensitive to light. I've had my eyes dilated several times for flight physicals, and everyone you meet instantly comments on it. i.e. its very noticeable.

[SampleMan]

this sounds like a genuine cheat that could work.

A simple human inspection of the subject would reveal this, as the pupils would be massively dilate, and the person in question extremely sensitive to light. I've had my eyes dilated several times for flight physicals, and everyone you meet instantly comments on it. i.e. its very noticeable.

[KittyKares]

It concerns me that terrorists might be able to use this trick. It's so hard to stay ahead of the crooks.

[Right Wing Assault]

Yeah, if the humans or the scanner can't see the iris, just reject the person. Tell them to go away until they have some irises. What's the problem? Is the scanner too stupid to see there are no irises?

[aft_lizard]

I heard that if you wrap plastic wrap around your finger and pressed it on a fingerprint scanner, 50% of the time, maybe less it will pick up the latent print from the previus accesor.

[SteveMcKing]

These become the excuses of the all-too-human operators who screen people. Training may help, but the bottom line is that moles keep slipping through.

[SkyDancer]

I thought atropine was a poison if used incorrectly ... it's a antidote to certain kinds of bio-weapons like Sarin developed during WWII ... my dad used to have an atropine syringe in a plastic bag on his uniform ... but if you use it and there's no threat you'd have to get medical help ....least ways that's how he explained it .... (after he read the article here).