[LINK] Access card 'more secure than Medicare'

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

Access card 'more secure than Medicare'
September 6, 2007 - 5:34PM
SMH
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Access-card-more-secure-than-Medicare/2007/09/06/1188783404068.html

The controversial access card will be more secure than the current 
Medicare system, the federal government says, despite new reports 
showing it could be targeted by cyber criminals.

The access card is intended to replace the Medicare card and up to 16 
other benefit cards, streamlining access to a wide range of government 
health and welfare services.

There have been ongoing concerns about the privacy implications of the 
new card and a new report from the Australian Institute of Criminology 
warns the card could be targeted by cyber criminals.

The study details concerns about how computer technologies could be 
infiltrated by criminals or even terrorists.

But Human Services Minister Chris Ellison says the new card will be 
significantly more secure than the current Medicare system.

"The access card will replace the existing Medicare card, which figures 
in 70 per cent of serious and organised crime identity investigations 
and 50 per cent of all fraud investigations," a spokesman for Senator 
Ellison told AAP.

He said the current technology was 23 years old and criminals were 
exploiting that.

Security was paramount with the new card, he said, which was being 
developed with the Australian Federal Police and the Defence Signals 
Directorate.

"The proposed card's security design relies on multiple layers of defence.

"There is security on the surface of the card, the chip, and though the 
access card system," the spokesman said.

"Each layer includes security and privacy-enhancing features which add 
together to provide a comprehensive end-to-end security framework."

And the inclusion of a biometric photograph and signature on the face of 
the card was also designed to reduce fraud and prevent identity-related 
crime.


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Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Sydney Australia
brd at iimetro.com.au