Journalist spoofs biometric checkpoint at Hong Kong-China border
20 January, 2012
category: Biometrics, Government
A journalist for the Mingpao Daily has managed to spoof a biometric self-service kiosk used for immigration clearance at the Hong Kong-China border, according to a PC Advisor article.
The spoofing was aided by a fingerprint cast kit bought from a Chinese online retailer called Taobao for under the equivalent of $15.
While the journalist was able to spoof one of the authentication devices not once, but twice, it was the only one of five devices at two different locations that the journalist was able to successfully spoof.
In response to the Mingpao Daily report, Taobao immediately removed the fingerprint cast kit from its site and the Immigration Department in Hong Kong has started a following up with the system contractor to discern whether the spoofing was an isolated error on the system or if it points to a greater security threat.
Read the full story here.