Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 14

Thread: CTA Cards(Chicago Transit Authority)

  1. #1
    Banned
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Posts
    44

    CTA Cards(Chicago Transit Authority)

    I was wondering if anyone had any information on these cards as far as what kind of data is stored on them and how it is stored.. Is it the same kind as is used by MTA in nyc? Just wondering if we could have a discussion about this.

  2. #2
    Senior Member hesperus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    416
    Google magic :

    System setup CTA asked Chicago-based company Card Imaging to set up the badging system in 1996. The goals included constructing a system that could badge large groups of people with distinct characteristics, accommodate inevitable card losses, and provide reports about system use by each of these special-fare and free-fare users.
    Printers (for photos) supplied by Eltron International Inc., Simi Valley, Calif., imprint the images onto sturdy 10-mil-thick polyester and PVC magnetic stripe cards. "We selected Eltron printers for their reliability and for their ability to accept 10-mil-thick cards," Rajki says.

    Card technology CardPro of Westmont, Ill., supplied the cards themselves, which came with mag-stripe data such as the card number and fare information related to the badged group. "These cards use a high-coercivity mag stripe, which means the data cannot be erased," Rajki says.
    Cards with microprocessor chips - smart cards - may replace the magnetic-stripe cards in the near future, says Simonetti. The cards will carry photos, and the chip will provide a greater variety of services. The big advantage of smart cards, however, lies in reducing maintenance costs, says Simonetti. "Right now, our cards are inserted into slots and carried through the readers on a system of belts and pulleys that must be maintained," he says. "With a smart card, users will only have to touch the card to the reader to pay their fare."
    http://securitysolutions.com/mag/security_card/

    The magnetic stripe contains three tracks, each 0.110 inches wide. Tracks one and three are typically recorded at 210 bits per inch, while track two typically has a recording density of 75 bits per inch. Each track can either contain 7-bit alphanumeric characters, or 5-bit numeric characters.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_stripe_card

    If you want to start a discussion, get off your arse and provide a little content.

  3. #3
    Banned
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Posts
    44
    Detailed information about card data is what im looking for... not generic crap.

  4. #4
    Senior Member hesperus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    416
    Right. Sorry.

    And good luck.

  5. #5
    If you're looking for info related to these cards and security...

    There's been instances of CTA cards in the past that get used w/o money being deducted from them... It was in the news recently. You may want to dig those articles up for a start.

    If they're smart, it's just an ID that's stored on the card.

  6. #6
    T3h Ch3F
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Posts
    718

    !!!!!

    Originally posted here by Prat
    Detailed information about card data is what im looking for... not generic crap.

    Just FYI this type of attitude will not get you any help around here.


    -Gal
    Get some good religion from Bad Religion.

  7. #7
    Senior Member nihil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    United Kingdom: Bridlington
    Posts
    17,188
    If anything, the question is rather naiive. These cards are issued to a variety of social groups, and, given the obsession of local authorities for over-accounting, they will have different information on them all. After all, the card is just a data storage medium like a CD or a floppy disk?

    Where the card is issued to a pensioner or a schoolkid, there is pretty minimal information on them. Name, address, DOB, SSN, school, pension fund, entitlement, that sort of stuff.

    For a worker or contractor there will be all sorts of accounting charge codes, skillsets and God knows what data on them. This greatly simplifies the public accounting function.

    You have two choices, get yourself a card reader and go figure, or use the data laws and ask what data are being held? There are probably even civil rights societies that have this information?

    If they're smart, it's just an ID that's stored on the card.
    Close you actually store codes, only when the data hits the mothership is it decoded.

    Anyway, no-one else has asked so I shall............why does someone want this information?.........why have they dropped off the radar for a couple of years and then resurfaced?...........unless they have been "spending some quality time with Bubba?"




  8. #8
    AO's Mr Grumpy
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Posts
    903

    Re: !!!!!

    Originally posted here by Galdron
    Just FYI this type of attitude will not get you any help around here.
    What a prat

    Here in the UK a prat is a --Well I don't really have to explain it, should be self explanitory, a prat is a prat
    Computer says no
    (Carol Beer)

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Posts
    723
    Well its back to this again, another thread about an interesting subject degenerates to questioning motives and personal insults (thought you were above that nihil) I guess Spyder=mod gore=top antipoint earner says it all, ****in retards.

    If people don't have something relative to the topic, why don't they just shut the **** up???

    Prat, your best bet is to find a site interested in reversing and/or cards as all you will get here is insults (excepting Hesperus) from people who don't know **** about the subject. If you do find something interesting send me a linky or post it here please
    Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
    The international ban against torturing prisoners of war does not necessarily apply to suspects detained in America\'s war on terror, Attorney General John Ashcroft told a Senate oversight committee
    -- true colors revealed, a brown shirt and jackboots

  10. #10
    Senior Member nihil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    United Kingdom: Bridlington
    Posts
    17,188
    Lumpyporridge

    Detailed information about card data is what im looking for... not generic crap.
    Is a downright ignorant and rude reply to Hesperus' genuine attempt to help.

    as all you will get here is insults (excepting Hesperus) from people who don't know **** about the subject.
    I have implemented more of these systems than you ever have, and most probably ever will, given your current understanding of the issues involved

    There are three scenarios:

    1. It is information in the public domain. This applies to COTS (commercial off the shelf) solutions. Usually for simple access control or short term multiple usage passes (daily travel card/weekly travel card etc.). All you have to do is go to the supplier's site or call them and they will gladly tell you.

    2. It is a custom implementation. In this case the copyright belongs to the organisation and is "company confidential". That means if you disclose it you are liable to instant dismissal, and could have your tail-end sued off. Scenario: we spent $11,000,000 on this system, and this guy revealed information that required us to spend a further $5,000,000 to prevent people faking our cards and stealing our services.

    3. It is Government/Military..............in this case your version of our Official Secrets Act applies...that means 7~Life when you are convicted, at least it does over here.

    When someone who has not posted in just about THREE WEEKS over THREE YEARS ago, suddenly pops up and asks a question such as was asked.............yes I do question their motives, and quite rightly too!.............I am sure that parents here do this on a day to day basis when their children ask them for something?............if they do not then Iwould not consider them to be caring and concerned.

    It is clearly stated on the front page of this forum that it does NOT promote or condone illegal activity. That, of its very self, requires that we sometimes have to question motivation and intent?

    Might I suggest you do a little research into FRAUD and IDENTITY THEFT

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •