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."

Comments

What's Up!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

NYC MAYOR BUFFs GRAFFITI PARTY

To get the party started Ecko planned a huge block party in Chelsea, a few blocks from his Midtown NY headquarters. Along with some DJ's, dozens of graffiti writers were scheduled to show up and participate in a demonstration that included painting on giant replicas of NYC subway cars. The permits were granted by the city since mid July but City Council Speaker Peter Vallone and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg had it revoked because they thought the event would encourage children to go out and vandalize.

http://www.tagyerit.com/media/subwayblockparty.mov

Re:What's Up!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

wasssup!!!

THIS POST IS NOT THE FIRST, BUT THE LAST?

[Anonymous Coward]

I DO PERCEIVE A LACK OF WARMTH WITH REGARDS TO RECEPTION OF THE UNFIRST POST, DEAR FRIENDS!
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a|_______|_____________\__________|______|______a_ _
t|_______`._____________|_________|_______:_____t_ _
s`________|_____________|________\|_______|_____s_ _
e_\_______|_/_______/__\\\___--___\\_______:____e_ _
x__\______\/____--~~__________~--__|_\_____|____x_ _
*___\______\_-~____________________~-_\____|____*_ _
g____\______\_________.--------.______\|___|____g_ _
o______\_____\______//_________(_(__>__\___|____o_ _
a_______\___.__C____)_________(_(____>__|__/____a_ _
t_______/\_|___C_____)/INSERT\_(_____>__|_/_____t_ _
s______/_/\|___C_____)__COCK_|__(___>___/__\____s_ _
e_____|___(____C_____)\_HERE_/__//__/_/_____\___e_ _
x_____|____\__|_____\\_________//_(__/_______|__x_ _
*____|_\____\____)___`----___--'_____________|__*_ _
g____|__\______________\_______/____________/_|_g_ _
o___|______________/____|_____|__\____________|_o_ _
a___|_____________|____/_______\__\___________|_a_ _
t___|__________/_/____|_________|__\___________|t_ _
s___|_________/_/______\__/\___/____|__________|s_ _
e__|_________/_/________|____|_______|_________|e_ _
x__|__________|_________|____|_______|_________|x_ _
*_g_o_a_t_s_e_x_*_g_o_a_t_s_e_x_*_g_o_a_t_s_e_x_*_

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Important Stuff: Please try to keep posts on topic. Try to reply to other people's comments instead of starting new threads. Read other people's messages before posting your own to avoid simply duplicating what has already been said. Use a clear subject that describes what your message is about. Offtopic, Inflammatory, Inappropriate, Illegal, or Offensive comments might be moderated. (You can read everything, even moderated posts, by adjusting your threshold on the User Preferences Page) If you want replies to your comments sent to you, consider logging in or creating an account.

Important Stuff: Please try to keep posts on topic. Try to reply to other people's comments instead of starting new threads. Read other people's messages before posting your own to avoid simply duplicating what has already been said. Use a clear subject that describes what your message is about. Offtopic, Inflammatory, Inappropriate, Illegal, or Offensive comments might be moderated. (You can read everything, even moderated posts, by adjusting your threshold on the User Preferences Page) If you want replies to your comments sent to you, consider logging in or creating an account.

This wouldn't even be an issue....

[Rinzai]

This wouldn't even be an issue if we had Open Source PINs.

If they weren't secret, then it wouldn't matter how they were delivered. They could even be delivered on a large banner pulled by a 1950's-era tail-dragger Piper aircraft.

I mean, seriously, they're called (P)ersonal Identification Numbers, not (S)ecret Identification Numbers.

I'm going over to SourceForge right now to start the project. Anyone coming with me? (If someone else drives, I call shotgun!)

Trademarks are adjectives

[tepples]

Every single time there's a story about cash machines or numeric passcodes, somebody repeats this old complaint about redundancy. Thing is that these suffixed generic nouns are not completely redundant, as they help to disambiguate different meanings of a given abbreviation (for example, Automated Teller Machine vs. Asynchronous Transfer Mode). In addition, trademarks should be used as adjectives, with a suffixed generic noun. The canonical example here is "SPAM luncheon meat" even though 'M' stands for meat.