laser visa

[KeLviN]

does any one here own a "laser visa" card as issued by the us gov?

i have some questions about it....

[Bosniacon]

man i am bosnian / i dont get even an CC .....and specialy i can dream about L C ............/ LoL ........but i my help you out with some questions ?

[KeLviN]

how is the information stored?
Magnetic?
elecrtic?
how is that info read?
how is it made?
What is it made of?
what info is stored on it?

[astcell]

Thought it was burned with a laser, sort of like a CD-ROM.

[KeLviN]

but then it would be subject to scratches....

[skroo]

Originally posted by KeLviN
but then it would be subject to scratches....

*Shrug* same as a regular credit card's magstripe, just without the fear of bulk erasers and overly-powerful speakers. Ultimately, no medium is safe from destruction or damage, it's just a question of how much force you need to apply.

[KeLviN]

i was hopind it was some sort of RFID. What data is stored on the card?

[encrypt31945]

Originally posted by skroo
*Shrug* same as a regular credit card's magstripe, just without the fear of bulk erasers and overly-powerful speakers. Ultimately, no medium is safe from destruction or damage, it's just a question of how much force you need to apply.

I agree but I think that cd's are probably more secure. In everyday places there can be alot of magnetic stuff like when you set your credit card down on the demagnetiser at the store and it is ruined. If it had a cover or an extra layer the scratrching would probably not be too much of a consorn. Also it can probably store more data

[skroo]

Originally posted by encrypt31945
I agree but I think that cd's are probably more secure.

They're only as secure as the method used to write their data to the disc. Assuming iso9660 throughout, this means y'all better be encrypting that puppy or it's basically plaintext.

In everyday places there can be alot of magnetic stuff like when you set your credit card down on the demagnetiser at the store and it is ruined.

OK, but here's how I look at it:

Number of cards whose magstripes I've destroyed since 1986, when I got my first ATM card: one

Number of CDs I've had to replace since 1990, when I got my first CD player: around three dozen

I'm pretty anal about how I handle media - but CDs just seem to take the most abuse of anything. And not well.

If it had a cover or an extra layer the scratrching would probably not be too much of a consorn. Also it can probably store more data

Point taken on the scratching, but remember that the laser has to be able to penetrate n number of layers down to the aluminium layer. Additional layers simply mean needing to compensate the focal length of the laser further as well as providing more scratch material. But a CD does definitely hold more data than your average 3-track magstripe card.

[blackwave]

Re: laser visa

Originally posted by KeLviN
does any one here own a "laser visa" card as issued by the us gov?
i have some questions about it....

Behold The Power of Google!

http://www.lasercard.com/app/laservisa.htm
http://www.lasercard.com/tech/technology2.htm

The LaserCard contains a reflective optical recording medium (Drexon®) encapsulated between transparent, protective layers. Information is stored digitally on the card in a binary code of "1" or "0" bits that are represented by either the presence or absence of physical "spots" on the recording media. The spots are microscopic in size -- as small as 2.25 microns. The smallest size spot the human eye can see is about 20 microns.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Manufacturing and Materials
LaserCards are made of polycarbonate, a rugged plastic used in jet-fighter canopies. It is estimated to be 1,000 times more durable than PVC credit cards. The reflective appearance of the topmost layer of optical recording media is created by a high concentration of nonfilamentary silver in a matrix. The underlayer contains a moderate concentration of black filamentary silver in a matrix. This increases recording sensitivity by enhancing laser energy absorption. An encapsulation layer protects the optical media from dust and scratches, and maintains data integrity by keeping dust particles out of focus when reading/writing with the laser beam. The encapsulation layer is over coated with an acrylic hard-coat to further protect it from surface abrasion and scratches.

Additional Features/Technologies
The Following features and technologies can be added to the LaserCard during manufacturing:

IC chip
Magnetic stripe
Signature panel
Barcodes
Custom printing
Serial numbers
ISO 11693 and 11694 Standards
In September, 1995 the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) approved for publication an international standard for laser recordable, digital optical memory cards, including the method of writing and reading data on the cards. This official, worldwide standard includes and incorporates the DELA (Drexler European Licensees Association) optical card standard used by LaserCard optical memory cards, which are sold by LaserCard Systems Corporation.

The ISO standards have been designated ISO/IEC 11693 and 11694. The approval of the ISO standard, after more than five years of effort in numerous countries, confirms the worldwide acceptance of the optical memory card as an important portable data-storage device.

Features of the INS Permanent Resident Card and Border Crossing Card:

Factory Micro-Imaging and Serialization

Data encoding and serialization is hardcoded in media format.
Optical watermark is embedded in the media and cannot be added later.
Serial number can be laser engraved to the bonded inner core of card.


Personalized Embedded Hologram

Hologram is encoded onto the optical WORM media using secure reader/writers during the card issuance process.
Embedded Hologram cannot be erased, changed or altered; verifying genuine data, ID card and the card holder.
Hologram provides verification with thermal printed data on the reverse side of the card.
Control is maintained by the Issuing Authority using optical watermark card stock.
Digital Verification

A digital file of the personalized hologram can be interleaved within the hologram image, verifying optical hologram, thermal printing, and other visual security features.
The digital file (typical size 12KBytes) and interleaving protects against counterfeit imaging attempts.
Optical Data Recording

Up to 4.1MBytes of secure, updateable optical WORM data capacity.
Data is updateable at a sector level, with over 35,000 sector updates.
Access time: approximately 6 seconds to complete biometric match and record date/time stamp on card.
Optical WORM Media: All optically encoded data and holograms become part of the bonded card. Eliminates security risks of hologram placement on separate non-secure background or ink.

Card Construction: Polycarbonate and optical media are bonded together, forming the card structure. Attempts at removing or separating layers destroys the card.

http://www.infodomain.com/laser.htm
http://www.fidelica.com/Documents/Ne...erCrossing.htm

[KeLviN]

i did google!


i think those sites were fabricated by you to make me look bad!



actualy, that wasnt the point of my thread, deep down i was trying to get my inquisitive little hands on one.....

[blackwave]

call up lasercard and order one. :)

[astcell]

Kelvin, print this out and tape it to your laptop.

[blackwave]

hahaha... thanks ast, if only everyone followed such enlightenment :D

[KeLviN]

you know i'm usualy pretty good about it.