They can be verified if they have a signed chip - but the only place they actually ever get verified is at certain gov border crossings. Every other use of the passports does not involve verification - just visible inspection of photo/name
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Replying to @KimZetter @raistolo and
That makes sense - but the chip cannot be cloned either, so doesn't that mean that the numbers are not that useful, because you can just forge any name/number combination?
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Replying to @taviso @KimZetter and
As far as I can tell there's no way for a relying party to validate an identity/passport number pair, so the number is not an authenticator for the identity and thus there's not a material risk if the number is divulged. I don't see a material risk here.
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But they validate at border crossings based on previous entries. So if I enter a country, they scan the passport and database pops up showing previous activity with that passport. If the same number pops up but has different name, that would flag it.
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Replying to @KimZetter @tdierks and
The attack you're thinking of is you *want* to convince customs that you're someone else with a valid travel history, so you can't just make up a new name and number? Hmm, that sounds valid, but have you got an example why I wouldn't just be a first-time crosser?
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That's always a possibility. The bottom line is I don't really know all the ways this info could be useful, but the thieves are expert at coming up with uses for the data they steal. Marriott could have made it harder for them to devise uses, if it had encrypted the data.
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Replying to @KimZetter @tdierks and
Not clear to me why they store it at all! Just trying to understand risk, I think it's low. Thieves need to have equipment to physically forge passport and want to cross border where they don't verify passport data, and want customs to think theyve crossed before for some reason.
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Replying to @taviso @KimZetter and
Forged / stolen passports is a big problem depending on your region. High demand,https://www.politico.eu/article/europes-fake-forged-stolen-passport-epidemic-visa-free-travel-rights/ …
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Replying to @TryCatchHCF @KimZetter and
No doubt, but the difference here is that there has to be a reason for the number/identity combination to be valid and not just random. If a random forged identity will do, then no need to buy a real number.
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Replying to @taviso @KimZetter and
See previous reply - often a random passport number won’t do, raises too many flags, too much risk to the criminal.
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Can you give me a link? How do people tell the difference between a random number and a real number? If there is some way to tell, then I guess that answers my question!
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