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Reading NFC Passport Chips in Linux

(shkspr.mobi)
287 points robin_reala | 1 comments | 25 Jun 25 07:33 UTC | HN request time: 0.4s | source
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dzhiurgis ◴[25 Jun 25 09:35 UTC] No.44375315[source]▶
Hol up. So what stops you from uploading custom photo + metadata onto random chip and planting it in a fake passport?
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edent ◴[25 Jun 25 09:39 UTC] No.44375342[source]▶
The data are signed with the passport issuing authority's private key.

So you could implement a chip which reacts like an official passport. When the border guards see that the signature is invalid, you can explain how it's just a prank and you'll all have a jolly good laugh about it.

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23434dsf ◴[25 Jun 25 10:12 UTC] No.44375530[source]▶
So if I strolled through the airport with a high power NFC reader/writer, I could ruin a lot of peoples trips?
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1. edent ◴[25 Jun 25 10:23 UTC] No.44375610[source]▶
No.

NFC chips can be locked. That means the data can't be overwritten. No matter the writer, nor its strength, you can't overwrite a passport's chip.

I suppose you could use an EMP - but that would ruin a lot more than just some trips.