Slashdot Mirror
Graphics Programs Uncover Secret PINs
Errtu76 writes "The BBC is running a story stating that, among other programs, The Gimp and Photoshop have been identified as possible tools for uncovering PINs via the mail." From the article: "The researchers collected lots of so-called Pin mailers and then tested how secure they were. Many were defeated using bright lights shone at an angle on to the paper. Other Pins could be read by scanning the letter and then adjusting some of the image qualities in popular programs such as GIMP, Adobe Photoshop and Paintshop Pro."
OMFG the Gimp icon just looked at me
Now, if only they'd make a program that let's me remotely break into people's mailboxes and steal their mail. Then I'd be all set.
No one knew until now that scanning a document in black and white and adjusting the black/white threshold value can make it easier to read marginal text? Wow. Sounds like a patent application to me. Whatever.
The NSA: The only part of the US government that actually listens.
Maybe people will quit calling them Personal Identification Number numbers.
I think one of the issues here is mail security.
:-\
I mean come on, how expensive is it to get a damn lock on your mailbox?
How well does it work at blocking CIA mind-control rays? I'm worried that my tinfoil hat isn't up to the task against their post-9/11 spy satellite upgrades.
Yes, that's right... Big, powerful headline... Why not just say something like:
"All your pin are belong to GIMP!"
This has nothing to do with the graphics programs and everything to do with bad-quality printing methods.
"The amount of intelligence on this planet is a constant. The population is growing." -Cole's Axiom
Wrap the PIN mailings inside bank notes. All these programs should have banknote scanning prevention as Uncle Sam mandates, so covering the mailings inside of bank notes should solve the PIN theft problem. If this causes the currency theft problem to rise, we can simple wrap the currency inside gold leaf.
Haha, probably. But then the mods were also redundant by modding it as redundant twice :p
Send email from the afterlife! Write your e-will at Dead Man's Switch.
Don't worry. The fact that you still worry shows that mind control still doesn't work. It's when you stop worrying, then you should worry.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
"Poor print exposing Pin numbers"
If some has my Personal Identification Number Number, they may use it in an Automatic Teller Machine Machine.
In the immortal words of Dr. Nick's Diet:
// On my way to the ATM machine.
"If you're unsure about something, rub it against a piece of paper. If the paper turns clear, its your window to weight gain!"
Have fun eating greasy chicken and stealing PIN numbers
/ Thats right, I said PIN Number.
With all the fuss over identity theft and so forth, I propose SPIT ( Spit on PDA Id Tracking )which boils down to a Pocket PC's which you SPIT on. After your spit has been authenticated, you can use your snot key to decrypt all documents which were previously paper based!
Please feel free to contribute your own spit to this new project.
No, beer keeps honest men lazy.
But wouldn't it just be easier to hit strangers about the head with a sock of nickels and take their cash?
If I had a sock full of nickels, I wouldn't need to take cash from strangers by force.
is for GIMP and Photoshop to be found illegal under the Patriot Act...
I knew this article would eventually make it to slashdot after i saw the rare mention of the GIMP in mainstream media...
Well in the military, "denial devices" are not something you'd ever want to encounter, so "delaying devices" is usually what you use. :)
:)
Hitting strangers with a sock of nickels isn't Slashdot worthy. Hiting them with a sock full of RFID identification tags is.
Just because it CAN be done, doesn't mean it should!