Secure PDAs

An anonymous reader writes "This article at LinuxDevices.com introduces a unique Linux-based 'secure PDA' co-developed by IBM and Consumer Direct Link, Inc. (CDL). The Paron MPC combines the functions of a PDA, Bluetooth wireless access, cellular telephone, and biometric fingerprint recognition, along with a security-oriented hardware/software architecture. The device is claimed to be the world's first handheld wireless device with built-in biometric user authentication. The Paron is based on an Intel StrongARM SA-1110 processor and uses a Linux 2.4.x kernel and provides a GUI environment and PDA app suite based on Trolltech's Qtopia and Opera's browser much like the Sharp Zaurus."

Comments

So other PDA's are palm...

[Anonymous Coward]

But we give this one the finger?

Biometric security

[airrage]

We currently run biometric clocks for our timecard authorization, but in deploying this technology there is nothing terribly secure about it. For instance, a quick google will show you all the methods of defeating the fingerprint scan, and once a thief has this device, it's not much trouble to "dust" the last fingerprint, and create a good scan with illustrator. So remember, gotta wipe the sensor everytime!

Re:Biometric security

[orthogonal]

So remember, gotta wipe the sensor everytime!


Oh, trust me! I wipe my sensor everytime.

Re:Biometric security

[meatspray]

actually the new IPAQ 5400 (due out soon) will have a fingerprint scanner on it. the strange thing is the sensor is only .5mm high, you have to swipe your finger across it.

there's a picture of it herehttp://www.brighthand.com/article/iPAQ_5400


Although this would proably leave a very small cross secion of the print behind, it shouldn't be enough to get a good capture of. (now the ones you leave on the sides and bottom. . . well that's another story)

BioMetric User Identification

[mumblestheclown]

If microsoft did "biometric user identification", we'd be screaming bloody 1984.

Instead, it's linux-based. Neat-o.

The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity. ~André Gide

Not-so-secure PDA

[kaosrain]

This may not be so secure after all, if it includes Bluetooth. Read here for more.

-Kaos

Re:Not-so-secure PDA

[virtigex]

The concern about Bluetooth is mainly focussed on devices that are shipped with security disabled. In addition, the device would have to provide a service (such as the ability to make a phone call) for that service to be abused. Most major manufacturers ship with security enabled and I doubt whether the PDA exports any services either.

It's about time

[L. VeGas]

I've been wanting a secure PDA for years. My Palm III is always saying things like "You don't think I'm too old, do you?" and "Those Pocket PC's sure look thin." I'm about ready to trade it in for a "trophy PDA".

never work

[TerryAtWork]

Bruce Schneier has handled this in his book
Secrets and Lies.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/04 71 253111/qid=1036775441/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/102-248505 7-0576118?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Biometrics is not ready for prime time. When they hack it, are you going to be isssued a new thumb?

Re:never work

[dr_dank]

Well, you've got nine other fingers as well as ten toes. If you get hacked that many times, there's not much else that anyone can do.

Re:never work

[swillden]

Never work for what?

That's the question.

Biometrics are useful for some applications and not useful for others. As a mechanism for securing extremely sensitive data, they're only useful in extremely confined circumstances. As a key for casual protection of low-security data, they're excellent. As one of multiple factors used to protect moderately high-security data, they can also work well.

Blanket statements about any security technology are invariably false.

Re:never work

[fermion]

It has been a while since I have read that book, and I don't have it in front of me, but if i recall he realized that in Applied Cryptography he implied that properly vetted and implemented algorithms would imply security. In the fullness of time he realized that the view was naive. As such, S&L was written to convey the message that algorithms alone are insufficient. A secure system must consider users, application, the nature of the security threat, and the cost of breached security, As such, in general, all security methods fall short.

In this case, IBM tends to market to sophisticated markets. They tend to, and are increasingly, trying to serve the sophisticated market in new ways so as not to lose to MS, Dell, and others. Hopefully we will not see these devices everywhere, because, as you say, once a thumbprint is compromised it is always compromised. I honestly do not know if this is a useful tool, but i can imagine some applications where it could be.

On the other hand if MS did this, your point might be valid because then the technology would be shoe-horned into general use. For instance, if the validation was in the OS and IE, and the reader were on the keyboard, thousands of merchants might use the fingerprint for sole verification. This would create a large incentive to hack the system, which, a you point out, would only require the capture of the digital signature of the fingerprint, which is not a replaceable token.

Bare Bones has a secure Personal Analog Device

[burgburgburg]

Bare Bones re-released their announcement about their entry into the PDA market with their new Personal Analog Device, or PAD. The Bare Bones PAD uses the strong content encryption algorithm known as "Chicken Scratch" which renders the input unreadable to all except the PAD's rightful owner, without relying on the cumbersome key-and-passphrase systems of existing encryption technologies. There are two configurations available, the PAD 150 and the PAD 300. The PAD 150 has storage for 150 pages of data. The 300 doubles that.

As any security conscious agency can tell you...

[saskboy]

No PDA is really secure. The encryption and such will always be hackable.
The only true method of keeping confidential information safe is to keep it under lock and key, or in the possesion of a concerned person all the time.

Secure PDA is an oxymoron.

you must admit

[Faggot]

If microsoft did "biometric user identification", we'd be screaming bloody 1984. Instead, it's linux-based. Neat-o.

There's plenty of automatic-MS-bashing that goes on here, and plenty of automatic-MS-bashing-bashing. But if you look at the facts and stick to the numbers, it's not very farfetched to assume Microsoft is always trying to screw us somehow.

Look at Palladium, with which they will entrench DRM on every desktop. Look at Word's closed and obfuscated binary file format. Look at all their OEM tricks, and EULA abuse, their fake Switch ads and their systematic abuse of power.

Their strategy (whose final step is most assuredly "PROFIT !!") has been to fuck consumers and users as much as they can get away with and rob their pockets of change. Next to a Finnish hobbyist's OS, they look pretty bad.

Looks fairly similiar to the Zaurus SL-5500

[pheph]

which I picked up fairly recently and is exactly what I've been looking for in a PDA (with OpenZaurus its even better). However:

this machine does not feature the slide out keyboard, and while it is quite small on the zaurus, I'd say I use it about half the time (hey, you ever get drunk and try to use graffiti? ;) )

the machine [looks] very large! Like a Jornada or something! ;)

I'd rather see 802.11b than bluetooth...

If you disagree, don't post anonymously :)

Secure?? how?

[carlmenezes]

How does the fact that it uses Biometrics make it secure? We all know that biometrics can be defeated rather easily. So what's the point? fingerprinting is easy to defeat. So are voice prints and eye scans. So someone please tell me how exactly this is more secure than the average linux PDA?

Re:Secure?? how?

[cheezedawg]

Funny- the "risk assessment" of fingerprints includes using a severed fingertip or a genetic clone of the registered finger. I'd say that if somebody cuts your finger off you have more to worry about than the security of your PDA.

Re:Secure?? how?

[swillden]

fingerprinting is easy to defeat.

Okay, e-mail me an image of my fingerprint. I don't care which, any of them will do. Right now, please.

I agree that biometrics are just moderately low-security passwords except in tightly-controlled environments (e.g. an armed guard checks your finger closely before allowing you to place it on the sensor), but they have the advantage that they're fantastically simple to use, which makes it reasonable to use authentication where you would otherwise use none.

For example, the CDA device has most of the standard PIM applications fingerprint-protected. It would be a real pain in the butt to have to enter a password every time I wanted to check my calendar, but it's quite reasonable to place my thumb on the scanner for a fraction of a second. Actually, I'd like to see a small enhancement so that rather than tapping on an app and then putting a finger on the scanner, I'd prefer to just place a finger on the scanner and have the device start a different app depending on which finger I use -- app selection *and* authentication in one step!

Further, biometrics have the advantage that, from the average user's point of view, they're not shareable. The inability of users to give their fingerprints to someone else goes a long way to ensuring that access to systems won't be passed around.

Biometrics are not, generally-speaking, good tools for strong security, but they *do* have exceptionally useful security characteristics that can be used to enhance security, when applied appropriately.

TRUE biometric security

[Kozz]

If you really want to talk about PDA security, here's one palm device that's damned secure.

Re:TRUE biometric security

[JUSTONEMORELATTE]

And here's another one!
--

NSA working on secure BlackBerry

[joehoya]

The press release mentions the potential to work with NSA (although they wrote National Security Administration not Agency) for other applications of this device. While this is possible, the device would only work for Unclassified applications unless very substatially modified. Also, NSA is already working with RIM to develop a secure BlackBerry for UNCLASS applications.

my electronic wallet

[nege]

How cool would it be to have it as your credit card too? I have heard of cell phones that work like a credit card (hold up the cell to a coke machine for example to get some caffeine). WOuld this be secure enough to do that sort of transaction? It would be really nice to have an all in one wallet / phone/ portable PC solution. (I know this article isnt about a phone, but hey, why not!)

Too late for this guy!

[bstadil]

Sony Clie 'proves' identity theft

San Jose police have broken up an alleged identity theft crime ring using search warrants to seize and examine the suspects' PDAs.

According to the New York Times the alleged ringleader had the names of more than 20 victims along with their social security, bank account and credit card numbers and other personal information stored on his Sony Clie handheld device.

Included in the To Do list were tasks such as picking up materials at the local office supply store to make fake cheques.

A police spokesman said that it was difficult for the suspect to deny that the Clie was his, as it had his parents' details stored in it under the name 'Mom and Dad'.

Two simple words:

[burgburgburg]

Passport
.Net

True, but PDA will exist (Utimaco SafeGuard PDA)

[Erik_]

The only true method of keeping confidential information safe is to keep it under lock and key, or in the possesion of a concerned person all the time.
Very true, but it's not going to stop the problem that PDA are potentially the largest outgoing 'leak' of information for companies and organisations. They contain so much valuable data...

One interesting product that is well worth a close look is Utimaco's SafeGuard PDA solution.

For one thing the pinpad screen, swaps the numbers around when you want to unlock the device. So even if you watch your neighboor use his fingers pattern when he unlocks his PocketPC, it won't help you. The product also has a lot of other interesting features...

Re:As any security conscious agency can tell you..

[Planesdragon]

The only true method of keeping confidential information safe is to keep it under lock and key, or in the possesion of a concerned person all the time.

Secure PDA is an oxymoron.

No person is truly secure. Those in power are always corruptable.

Security, when it comes down to it, is simply the challenge making the price of breaking in greater than the beneift of breaking in.

If a crook has a 1% chance of being caught and sentenced for one year for breaking into my home, and we value his year of freedom at $50,000, he had had better get more than $500 from breaking in or the risk isn't worth the gain.

Most criminals (and hackers) don't think in these terms directly, but there is, AFAIK, an pseudo-concious awareness of it. ('course, the whole bit is thrown when non-cash values, like Thrill or Political Activism are factored in...)

Cool but what about my current needs..

[Aaton]

I love my Zaurus but I have to say I still need to carry my Visor since nobody has put out a good One Time Password (S/KEY) mannager tool like Strip. Yes there is ZSafe but it just holds passwords. To generate a S/KEY you need another peice of software like LEP-Gen

Having Biometrics is neat-o but I need tools that work with what I have already have in place. I need to generate my S/KEY on my laptop when/if my Visor dies (can we say PalmOS Emulator). No what happens in you Biometric PDA dies, hope they will provide software and readers I can uses on my laptop or workstation for those days that PDA just doesn't want to work.

err and which

[Archfeld]

biometric system, or fingerprint system has not been broken already ? Kind of funny calling somthing the size of a double deck of cards secure. You think laptops walk off easily. The bottom line is physical access always compromises logical security. Maybe we could add a MissionImpossible self destruct option :)

I sure hope this description is a bad one

[BeBoxer]

Ugh. This article describes exactly how you shouldn't use biometric authentication.


Instead of swiping a badge through a reader, the employee would place his/her thumb on the Paron's small fingerprint recognition screen, and a wirelessly connected server would read the fingerprint, identify the person, and grant access if a match is found between the person making the request and the data in the server.


Uh, this is just using the fingerprint as a password to authenticate the user. Dumb dumb dumb. If they really are doing this, then anybody who can get the user's fingerprint can get access. What they should be doing:


Instead of swiping a badge through a reader, the employee would place his/her thumb on the Paron's small fingerprint recogniction screen to activate the embedded crypto processor. The processor would then use the employee's private key to authenticate to a wirelessly connected server.


Why is this different? For one, the actual authentication to the building is being done with a private key. Private keys are much easier to replace if compromised. Most people also don't routinely leave copies of their private keys on everything they touch.

Second, the fingerprint is only being used to activate the crypto processor. It only needs to be valid from the fingerprint sensor into the bowels of the PDA. But more importantly, it's not good for much. All it does is allow the crypto processor to be activated. An adversary still needs to first steal the PDA itself and then defeat the fingerprint sensor. And then they can only use the public key until it's revoked.

But trusting a wireless device to send the server the fingerprint is just plain silly. That's worse than a cleartext password. It's like authenticating on the username alone. Hopefully, this device doesn't actually work this way and the article is just simplifying for the reader.