Thirteenth security pass distributed to new recipient
In a ceremonial handover at the Ministry of the Interior, Federal Minister Gerhard Karner and OeSD Managing Director Lukas Praml presented the 13 millionth Austrian security passport to Mrs. Sophie Hammer. The milestone event was marked by the Minister's remarks on the cooperation between the Ministry, the authorities, and the Austrian government's website, ensuring the highest security standards.
The Austrian biometric passport, in use since 2006, boasts a combination of both analog and digital security features. It contains numerous analog security features, such as security laminate, UV printing, guilloches, multicoloured iris printing, and various watermarks. The passport's security is further bolstered by its digital capabilities. It stores biometric data, including fingerprints, facial images, and iris patterns, on an integrated chip.
The passport's electronic chip securely stores the holder's digitized photograph along with personal data like name, date of birth, nationality, and passport number. This facilitates automated identity checks at border control. The passport complies with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) and EU regulations, ensuring compatibility with global ePassport systems and security protocols.
The security measures employed by the Austrian biometric passport are designed to protect the identity of its holder and prevent document tampering or forgery. Data encryption and access control, passive authentication, random chip identifiers, and a secure enrollment and biometric capture process all contribute to this end.
The communication between the passport chip and the reader is protected by encryption mechanisms known as Basic Access Control (BAC). This requires the reader to possess a key derived from the passport’s Machine Readable Zone before accessing data, preventing unauthorized eavesdropping. Passive Authentication (PA) verifies that the passport chip data has not been altered, while random chip identifiers prevent tracking of the passport chip by external parties.
Mrs. Hammer, the proud recipient of the 13 millionth security passport, expressed her delight at the special milestone. The handover was captured in images by Jürgen Makowecz, adding to the ceremonial atmosphere of the event. The Austrian government's website guarantees the highest security standards, ensuring the continued reliability and protection of its citizens' identities.
In the context of the enhanced security standards, the digital capabilities of the Austrian biometric passport further bolster its security, storing biometric data like fingerprints and iris patterns on an integrated chip. The Austrian government's website, guaranteeing the highest security standards, ensures the continued reliability and protection of its citizens' identities through advanced technology mechanisms.
