The security technology used to protect information stored on the UK's prospective national ID card was reportedly hacked and the data cloned by a computer expert in just 12 minutes.

The Daily Mail newspaper hired computer expert Adam Laurie to test the security that allegedly protects the information on the chip that is embedded in the card being issued to foreign nationals.

Laurie was able to copy the data on the card in minutes with a Nokia mobile phone and a laptop computer.

Data on Chip Easily Manipulated

With the help of another technology expert, Laurie was able to create a cloned card and change the data. Information included on the chip includes physical details of the recipient, name, fingerprints, among other personal details.

After rewriting the data on the card, Laurie reversed the bearer's status from 'not entitled to benefits' to 'entitled to benefits.'

Gov't Plans to Issue Cards in 2012

Laurie then added new content to the card that would be visible to any police officer or security official who scanned it.  It read: "I am a terrorist -- shoot on sight." (Source: computerweekly.com)

Home Office officials told the Daily Mail that the same technology used in the foreign national cards will be used in the UK citizen cards the government plans to issue in 2012. Home Office officials are working on a response that will be issued later.

This story is just another example of how sensitive data can be leaked using radio frequency ID tags (RFID).

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