more on May I See Your ID?

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

From: John Kemp <john.kemp () earthlink net>

Dave,

(for IP if you like)

The article is plain wrong on both accounts:

1) The author fails to explain how it will be possible to create a
"hard-to-forge" ID card. An ID card just creates a class of people that
Bruce Schneier (somewhat famous crypto expert) calls "trusted but
malicious" - people who have an ID card, but who are hell-bent on
terrorism anyway (for example, Tim McVeigh would probably have
qualified for a US national ID - hard to see how that would have
curtailed his bombing activities).
2) As for the issue the author has with certain information - this is a
classic case of "security through obscurity". If ignorance is your only
defense against bomb-making and other activities then you are in
trouble. I hope that national security experts do not depend on such
information simply not being available to potential terrorists. Surely
it is better just to plan for the possibility that someone *will*
acquire such information, however difficult that may be?

Regards,

- JohnK 

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