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Oyster cards at risk of losing public confidence, researcher claims

Dutch researchers have released details of the online security vulnerabilities in the chip set that is used to run Oyster cards used in London's Underground train network.

The details were made public at a conference this week as Radboud University also published an academic paper on the vulnerabilities on its website reports ZDNet.co.uk

According to research team leader Bart Jacobs, a professor of computer security at the university, Transport for London (TfL) should change the security of the Mifare Classic chipset in the cards.

He told the website: "The great danger for [TfL] is how easy it is to clone cards. If you can clone a new one every day, it becomes a [paying] proposition. And suppose I clone your card.

"Transport for London will see that and block the card number, but that will block the clone and the original. That is where the risk is. At some stage people will lose confidence in the card."

The vulnerabilities came to light weeks ago when the researchers managed to crack the system and enjoy a day's travel free of charge.

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