EURion constellation
The EURion constellation , also known as Omron rings after the developer Omron , is a pattern on banknotes . Since images of banknotes can be recognized algorithmically on the basis of this pattern , it is technically possible to produce copiers and printers that can prevent copying for the purpose of forgery . The algorithms actually used by hardware and software were deliberately kept secret by the developers ( security by obscurity ).
The name EURion constellation was coined by Markus Kuhn, a computer scientist at Cambridge University , who discovered this pattern. The word EURion is a suitcase word made up of EUR (the currency code of the Euro ) and the name of the constellation Orion , which the pattern closely resembles.
Markus Kuhn experimented in 2002 with a Xerox copier that refused to copy certain banknotes. The EURion constellation was described by Kuhn as a pattern of five small green, yellow, or orange circles. These are repeated in different places within the banknote.
Andrew Steer later investigated these patterns further. He discovered simple integer relationships between the squared distances between the rings, which is an indication of how the pattern can be efficiently recognized by image processing software.
The EURion constellation, however, is not the only feature with the help of which duplication software recognizes attempts to copy, scan or process banknote images. The pattern is mainly used by color copiers; In contrast, in image processing programs such as Photoshop , it does not seem to be used to recognize banknote images.
Affected banknotes
One of the first banknotes to have this security feature was most likely the 10 guilder banknote of the Netherlands, followed by the 100 and 200 DM notes ( BBk-IIIa ), which were put into circulation from October 1, 1997.
| currency | Notes with EURion constellation | Notes without EURion |
|---|---|---|
| Egyptian pound | £ 5 (2002), £ 10 (2003), £ 20 (2001), £ 50 (2001), £ 100 (2000) | 25 piastres, 50 piastres, £ 1 E |
| Armenian dram | 1,000 dram (2001), 5,000 dram (2003), 10,000 dram (2003) | 20,000 and commemorative certificate 50,000 dram |
| Aruba florin | All (2003) | |
| Australian dollar | Commemorative Certificate $ 5 (2001), $ 5 (2016) | all other banknotes |
| Bosnian mark | 200 marks | 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 marks |
| British pound | £ 5 (2002), £ 10 (2000), £ 20 (1999), £ 50 (2010) from the Bank of England | |
| Bulgarian lev | All (1999) | |
| CFA franc | All (West and Central African, 2003) | |
| Chilean peso | All (new series from 2009) | the old series is replaced by default |
| Chinese yuan | 1 ¥ (2004), 2005 edition of 5 ¥ and more | |
| Danish crown | All (series 1997, 2004, 2009) | |
| Djiboutian Franc | 1,000 Francs (2005) | 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 francs |
| Euro | All (2002, from 2013) | |
| Faroese crown | All (2001) | |
| Japanese yen | Commemorative coupon 2000 ¥ (Series D, 2000), Series E (2004) | |
| Canadian dollar | All (2004/2007) | |
| Comoros Franc | 1,000 and 2,000 francs (2005) | 500, 2,500, 5,000 and 10,000 francs |
| Croatian kuna | 5, 10, 20 kuna (2001), 50, 100 and 200 kuna (2002) | 500 and 1000 kuna |
| Malagasy ariary | All (2006) | |
| Moroccan dirham | All (2002) | |
| Mexican peso | $ 1000 (2004), $ 50 (2005) | $ 20, $ 50 (1993-2005), $ 100, $ 200, $ 500 |
| Namibian dollars | All (2012) | |
| Netherlands Antilles Guilder | 10, 25, 50, 100 NAƒ (1998) | 250 NAƒ (1986) |
| Norwegian krone | All (1999) | |
| Polish zloty | 10, 20, 50, 100 złoty (new banknotes since April 2014) | 200 zloty |
| Romanian leu | All (2005) | |
| Swedish crown | 50 Kr (2006), 100 Kr (2001), 500 Kr (2001), 1000 Kr (2006) | 20 kr |
| Swiss franc | All notes of the ninth series | All notes of the eighth series |
| Singapore dollar | All (1999) | |
| South African rand | All (2005) | |
| South Korean won | 1,000 ₩ (2007), 5,000 ₩ (2006), 10,000 ₩ (2000 and 2007), 50,000 ₩ (2009) | 1,000 ₩ (1983–2007) |
| Thai baht | 100 ฿, 1000 ฿ (2005) | 20 ฿, 50 ฿, 500 ฿ |
| Tunisian dinar | 10 dinars (2005) | 5, 20 and commemorative certificate 30 dinars |
| Turkish lira | All (2005) | |
| U.S. dollar | $ 5 (from 2008), $ 10 (2006), $ 20 (2003), $ 50 (2004), $ 100 (after new $ 5) | $ 1, $ 2, $ 5 (until 2008), $ 100 |
| currency | Notes with EURion constellation |
|---|---|
| Belgian franc | 500 Francs (1998), 1,000 Francs (1997), 10,000 Francs (1997) |
| German mark | BBk-IIIa: 50 (from Feb. 1998), 100 and 200 Marks (from 1st Oct. 1997) |
| Dutch guilder | 10 guilders (July 1, 1997) |
| French Franc | 100 Francs (from December 15, 1997) |
| Austrian schilling | 500 and 1000 schillings (October 20, 1997) |
| Slovak crown | 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 crowns (1999) |
| Turkish lira | 20 million lira (2000) |
Banknote recognition through software and hardware
Various scanners, color copiers and image processing programs such as Adobe Photoshop newer than version 7 or Corel Paint Shop Pro refuse to process banknotes. The Counterfeit Deterrence System (CDS) used for this purpose was described in an article in Wired magazine . It was developed by the Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group . The integration of the CDS, which is available as a binary module, into products takes place on a voluntary basis, according to the organization.
Experiments by Steven J. Murdoch and others showed that the recognition of banknotes does not depend exclusively on the EURion pattern. Other characteristics are also taken into account that are not yet known to the public. One of them seems to be a digital watermark of Digimarc to be.
The algorithms used to recognize banknotes are kept secret, with the aim of preventing counterfeiters from circumventing the protection (see Security through obscurity ). Instead, the recognition software is passed directly to developers of electronic reproduction devices who then build it into their devices. Considering the principle of security through obscurity than adequate, one can come to the conclusion that the protective effect of the system is limited by the fact that it in open source software ( open source ), for example, the image processing program GIMP or open source device drivers are not installed under secrecy can, and such software can accordingly continue to be used for digitizing and processing banknotes and other "protected" documents.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Wired article on Counterfeit Deterrence System , accessed August 29, 2012
- ^ Digimarc: SEC Filing, Form S-1 / A, Exhibit 10.9, Counterfeit Deterrence System Development and License Agreement . November 24, 1999.
