Pentagon Introduces High-Tech ID Card

[William Knowles <wk () C4I ORG>]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAW33P66EC.html

Oct 10, 2000 - 07:02 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon plans to issue 4 million or more
high-tech identification cards to soldiers and other personnel
worldwide, hoping to provide better security for access to bases,
buildings and computer systems.

The new "common access card" contains a tiny computer chip, using
"smart card" technology to store and processes a myriad of
information. Similar technology has been used by smaller governments,
including Spain and Finland, and in commercial operations.

"I'd view this chip as a small computer without a monitor or power
supply," said Paul Brubaker, Defense Department information officer,
unveiling the new card at a news conference Tuesday.

The Pentagon is developing plans to use the card for everything from
processing food service charges in military mess halls to keeping
track of manifests and deployments and guaranteeing restricted access
to secure buildings and computers.

The card has the capability of being linked to either personal codes
or fingerprints to enhance security throughout the military, Brubaker
said. It is expected to take several years for the cards to be issued
throughout the services.


*==============================================================*
"Communications without intelligence is noise;  Intelligence
without communications is irrelevant." Gen Alfred. M. Gray, USMC
================================================================
C4I.org - Computer Security, & Intelligence - http://www.c4i.org
*==============================================================*

ISN is hosted by SecurityFocus.com
---
To unsubscribe email LISTSERV () SecurityFocus com with a message body of
"SIGNOFF ISN".