Friday, April 15, 2005

Biometrics shift focus from theft to injury

A security system which required the car owner to use his fingerprint to access the car led to the driver losing more than his car, according to a BBC story Bruce Schenier pointed me at.

"Police in Malaysia are hunting for members of a violent gang who chopped off a car owner's finger to get round the vehicle's hi-tech security system.

The car, a Mercedes S-class, was protected by a fingerprint recognition system."

So biometrics in this instance caused the attackers to change tactics - rather than stealing the car they also kidnapped the driver then seriously injured him to deal with the security system.

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