Contact:
Ken Branson, Bellcore
(201) 829-2165
kbranson@notes.cc.bellcore.com
Annie Lindstrom, Bellcore
(201) 829-4062
alindstr@notes.cc.bellcore.com
September 27, 1996
Bellcore, a leading provider of communications software, engineering and consulting services, is a recognized expert in all aspects of network security. It is therefore our responsibility to alert our customers about the possibility of any threat to the security of their networks and communications products and services.
As a result, Bellcore has issued an alert to its clients notifying them about a potentially serious problem that could significantly impact the security of the "smart cards" that are used by many domestic and international phone companies and banking institutions. A smart card can be manipulated into making a computational error which can then render it vulnerable to the mathematical techniques used by cryptographers to extract secrets stored in the card, including the secret key used to authenticate the legitimacy of that card.
Bellcore also notified them that Bellcore is available to analyze the various devices and computers that are used by all electronic cash systems to determine the extent of a potential threat to any one particular system. Bellcore also offers unique solutions developed by its team of security experts that are unavailable anywhere else. These solutions generally involve complex mathematical cryptography methods, as well as other methods that involve the physical characteristics and defenses built into some existing cards.
Bellcore has experts on this subject available to answer inquiries from the media about this situation. If you wish to set up an interview, please contact Bellcore media relations manager Ken Branson on 201-829-2165 or Annie Lindstrom on 201-829-4062.
For more facts about smart cards see "New Threat Model Breaks Crypto Codes"
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