[LINK] Access card 'more secure than Medicare'

Roger Clarke Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au
Fri Sep 7 09:47:47 AEST 2007


Am I alone in feeling that the following assertion lacks credibility?

>" ... the existing Medicare card ... 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.


At 9:11 +1000 7/9/07, Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:
>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.

-- 
Roger Clarke                  http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/

Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
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Visiting Professor in Info Science & Eng  Australian National University
Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program      University of Hong Kong
Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni of NSW



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