Smartphones able to detect forged documents

The National Forensic Service has developed technology through which smartphones can quickly detect forged documents.

The state-run forensic agency said Thursday it has made a patent application for the technique.

It consists of a two part process, based on steganography, which is the science of hiding information by embedding messages within media.

A visible QR code is imprinted on the documents, along with it a key code deciphering the QR code data that is invisible to the naked eye.

Smartphones that have the correct application installed, can read the code’s data, it is then able to tell whether content of the paper document matches that of the QR code.

When the smartphone app is unable to decipher the QR code or if the content of the paper document and code differs, it alerts the user that the document has been forged.

Traditional anti-forgery methods have focused on making the distinct marks and signs of original documents difficult to forge. Up until now holograms and cryptograms had been highly sophisticated to the point that only trained experts were able to discern authenticity of documents. Suspicious documents had been handed over to institutions such as the National Forensic Service, which had taken a considerable amount of time to work on them.

However, with the new technology, anyone with a smartphone will be able to tell the authenticity of documents.

The technology can be applied to various certificates, ID cards, checks and report cards. заявка на кредитную карту по паспорту