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Croydon Council beefs up security
PRODUCT 'Smart water' against chip thieves Electrostatics, part of the University of W olfson Southampton in the UK, has published its report on IndSol Tracer - - the 'smart water' marking system manufactured by the Home Office Forensic Service. Findings confirm that this British invention can safely be used to mark computer microcbips with a unique water-based 'DNA' formulation which in no way affects their general operating performance. The product is virtually impossible to remove and although invisible to the naked eye can be seen under ultra-violet light. Even the most microscopic amount removed from the item's surface can be used to match the individual code to the one held on a secure Home Office database - - allowing police who recover stolen property protected by IndSol Tracer to detect its rightful owner - - a deterrent for both the thief and criminal receiver. For filrther information contact P. Cleary, Probe FX (UK) on +44 1952 222706.
Fraud prevented by optical encryption A
University of Arizona optical science professor, a US Air Force researcher and a University of Connecticut engineer have come up with another weapon in the fight against the $600 million a year credit card fraud industry. The million LA Times reports that they have come up with an optical encryption system that works by changing properties of light illuminating a clear plastic uy=n"us'-'" ,u fi~m covering a credit card. The film contains tens of thousands of pixels or tiny mirrors. The mirror bends the light striking it, reflects it and is then verified by an optical scanner. The film was developed at Arizona University by Nasser Peyghanbarian. An engineer at the University of Connecticut developed the encryption technique lbllowing his work with the Pentagon on optical signal processing and pattern recognition.
"$600
a year credit card fraud
Computer Fraud & Security December1995 © 1995 ElsevierScience Ltd
NEWS Croydon Council beefs up security n the UK, Croydon Council is considering how to use crime prevention experts to raise general awareness of computer thefts and promote ways of improving security. A 'think-tank' is being set up to examine the threat and develop ideas to spread a 'computer safety' message throughout the business community and those using PCs at home. Computer hardware is vulnerable to theft. Too many machines are left in places where they can be easily stolen. However, criminals are known to shun equipment which carries distinctive security marking, and even if marked equipment is taken it can be returned to its correct owner more easily. Police advise that expensive equipment be protected by chains, clips and locks and other accessories to make the removal of equipment more difficult and time-consuming. Users are also recommended to make regular backups of their work so that the data loss and i n c o n v e n i e n c e is minimized. In many offices and businesses the data is worth more than the hardware itself and some small operations have collapsed when computer files have been stolen.
Used Computer Buyers Guide leaflet other police eflort to prevent people buying stolen Incomputer equipment, Greater Manchester Police have launched the 'Used Computer Buyers Guide' leaflet. The leaflet has been published to raise public awareness in the run up to Christmas of the dangers of buying stolen equipment. It is estimated that over £200 million worth of computers were stolen in 1994. The leaflet contains guidelines for preventing the purchase of stolen equipment. It advises asking a number of questions including the following examples. Is the computer cabinet, keyboard or monitor damaged in any way? Has the equipment got a serial number on it? (This should show no signs of having been tampered with.) Is the equipment marked with a postcode? Ask for details of the previous owner and verify the history of the machine. The leaflet also contains the crime stoppers hotline for the UK (0800 555 111) which is the first port of call for any information about suspected stolen material. Leaflets can be obtained .from the Community Safety Section at local police stations throughout the Greater Manchester area.
Fraud prevented by optical encryption A
University of Arizona optical science professor, a US Air Force researcher and a University of Connecticut engineer have come up with another weapon in the fight against the $600 million a year credit card fraud industry. The million LA Times reports that they have come up with an optical encryption system that works by changing properties of light illuminating a clear plastic uy=n"us'-'" ,u fi~m covering a credit card. The film contains tens of thousands of pixels or tiny mirrors. The mirror bends the light striking it, reflects it and is then verified by an optical scanner. The film was developed at Arizona University by Nasser Peyghanbarian. An engineer at the University of Connecticut developed the encryption technique lbllowing his work with the Pentagon on optical signal processing and pattern recognition.
"$600
a year credit card fraud
Computer Fraud & Security December1995 © 1995 ElsevierScience Ltd
NEWS Croydon Council beefs up security n the UK, Croydon Council is considering how to use crime prevention experts to raise general awareness of computer thefts and promote ways of improving security. A 'think-tank' is being set up to examine the threat and develop ideas to spread a 'computer safety' message throughout the business community and those using PCs at home. Computer hardware is vulnerable to theft. Too many machines are left in places where they can be easily stolen. However, criminals are known to shun equipment which carries distinctive security marking, and even if marked equipment is taken it can be returned to its correct owner more easily. Police advise that expensive equipment be protected by chains, clips and locks and other accessories to make the removal of equipment more difficult and time-consuming. Users are also recommended to make regular backups of their work so that the data loss and i n c o n v e n i e n c e is minimized. In many offices and businesses the data is worth more than the hardware itself and some small operations have collapsed when computer files have been stolen.
Used Computer Buyers Guide leaflet other police eflort to prevent people buying stolen Incomputer equipment, Greater Manchester Police have launched the 'Used Computer Buyers Guide' leaflet. The leaflet has been published to raise public awareness in the run up to Christmas of the dangers of buying stolen equipment. It is estimated that over £200 million worth of computers were stolen in 1994. The leaflet contains guidelines for preventing the purchase of stolen equipment. It advises asking a number of questions including the following examples. Is the computer cabinet, keyboard or monitor damaged in any way? Has the equipment got a serial number on it? (This should show no signs of having been tampered with.) Is the equipment marked with a postcode? Ask for details of the previous owner and verify the history of the machine. The leaflet also contains the crime stoppers hotline for the UK (0800 555 111) which is the first port of call for any information about suspected stolen material. Leaflets can be obtained .from the Community Safety Section at local police stations throughout the Greater Manchester area.