The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently released an improved version of its Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Data Generator, a downloadable Java application (http://csrc.nist.gov/piv-program/downloadable-piv-software.html) that can be used to create test data for evaluating PIV systems and cards.
The credit card-sized PIV card contains integrated circuit chips for storing electronic information, a personal identification number and protected biometric data—a printed photograph and two electronically stored fingerprints. Use of these cards by federal employees and contractors is mandated by October 2008 under the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 with the technical and operational requirements specified by Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201. FIPS 201 was developed by NIST in conjunction with other organizations and approved by Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez in February 2005.
The latest version of the PIV Data Generator has been enhanced for dynamic data production and is designed for use with the PIV Data Model Tester (available from the same Web page). The test data objects produced by the PIV Data Generator conform to the FIPS 201 requirements as well as the guidelines set forth in three NIST publications, Interfaces for Personal Identity Verification (SP 800-73-1), Biometric Data Specification for Personal Identity Verification (SP 800-76-1) and Cryptographic Algorithms and Key Sizes for Personal Identity Verification (SP 800-78-1). FIPS 201, as well as the three special publications, may be obtained at http://csrc.nist.gov.
A separate utility within the same download as the Data Generator—the PIV Data Loader—can be used to place generated data onto blank PIV cards to create customized cards for testing the conformance to FIPS 201 and the interoperability of PIV security system components.
REAL ID, DHS Issues Proposal The Department of Homeland Security has announced its proposal to establish minimum standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards in compliance with the REAL ID Act of 2005. The REAL ID requirements are a result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress passed into law, and will enhance the security and integrity of driver’s licenses.
U.S. Identity Fraud Fraud rates were calculated based on the total number of reported identity frauds divided by the number of applications; as a result, the population density was scaled out, enabling comparisons among areas with differing populations. Applications in this analysis were submitted to credit grantors from January 2005 through June 2006. The addresses on the applications may belong to the victims of the identity fraud if the perpetrator were to use the complete and accurate identity information of the victim.
The Identity Theft Task Force The Identity Theft Task Force has adopted interim recommendations on measures that can be implemented immediately to help address the problem of identity theft, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras announced today. The Identity Theft Task Force, which was established by Executive Order of the President on May 10, 2006, and is now comprised of 17 federal agencies and departments, will deliver a final strategic plan to the President in November.
Three residents of Lakeland, Fla., were indicted today by a federal grand jury in Alexandria, Va., related to their participation in a conspiracy to sell millions of dollars of pirated computer software.
Maurice A. Robberson, 58; Thomas K. Robberson, 54; and Alton Lee Grooms, 56, were charged with one count each of conspiracy to violate copyright and counterfeiting laws for their participation in a conspiracy to sell more than $5 million in counterfeit copyrighted software. Maurice Robberson was also charged with a substantive count of felony copyright infringement and one count of trafficking in counterfeit goods, while Thomas Robberson was charged with one substantive felony count of copyright infringement and two counts of trafficking in counterfeit goods.
Scientists and engineers have created and successfully tested a set of algorithms and software programs which are designed to enable the 19 individual mirrors comprising NASA's powerful James Webb Space Telescope to function as one very sensitive telescope.
NASA researchers will present findings on these algorithms and software programs, called the "Wavefront Sensing and Controls" at the Optics and Photonics meeting of the Society for Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) meeting. The SPIE meeting will be held at the San Diego Convention Center, 111 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, Calif., August 26-30. The session, called "TRL-6 for JWST Wavefront Sensing and Control" will be on Sunday, August 26 from 11:30 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. PDT, in room 29B, and is Paper 6687-7 of Conference 6687.