The Homeland Security Department confronts some serious problems in its RFID program that would widen the scope for illegal access of confidential data, a new report released by Inspector General Richard Skinner warns.



As noted earlier, the DHS is taking all possible steps to introduce RFID technology to check the flow of illegal immigrants crossing US borders. Under the RFID program, RFID tags would be embedded to visas of the foreigners who are entering into American territory from Mexico.



The security lapses which the RFID tags undertakes with it could probable steal an unused RFID chip, program into DHS’s own database and have a legitimate seeming border crossing document.



The IG report noticed that while physical security controls over RFID systems were somehow satisfactory, computer security process were lacking which could permit illegal access or change of data in RFID system databases.



The report also describes physical controls over unused and damaged RFID chips are insufficient.



The main reason for the security lapses is lack of proper planning for computer security in the program’s development, the report explained.











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