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Covert Recorders Nagra ← CBR
Credit Card Recorder
- wanted item
The Credit Card Recorder (CCR), is a sophisticated hi-end electronic
body wearable miniature audio recorder in a credit
card shape, developed by Nagra Kudelski 1
in Romanel (Switzerland) around 2013.
Like its predecessor, the Nagra CBR,
the CCR is a classified device that is not listed in Nagra's catalogue.
It is only available to the law enforcement and intelligence community.
The device is also known by its National Stock Number
NSN 5835-12-388-6808.
A similar device, the Nagra CCT,
is available as a covert body-wearable
Transmitter in the shape of a credit card [A].
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The image on the right shows a selection of Nagra CCR devices,
as they are shown in their brochure [A]. The device has the
size of a credit card and is just 1.5 mm thick.
It can be printed with any image, so that it can be disguised
as a regular chest-worn identification badge,
making it good enough to fool the casual observer.
Despite the fact that the exact specifications are classified, some
interesting details have leaked out through official US Government
procurement tenders, as listed below.
The device can record 16-bit Linear PCM audio at 24 kHz, and a USB-enabled
docking station is needed for play-back.
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In May 2013, the US Government decided to purchase some CCR devices which,
according to US law, had to be done in an open bidding competition.
As no reasonable alternatives for the CCR were available on the open market,
the Government then decided to single-source the device, but it is unclear
who the buying party was. According to the New York City Record [1],
the devices were procured by the Department of Investigation (DoI),
with AM and S Associates being the sole source.
Another tender states that the devices were procured through the
Department of the Air Force [2], although a later tender
lists the General Services Administration as the buyer [4].
The diagram above shows the location of the microphone, the capacitive
ON/OFF sensor and the LED indicator. The contact pads are identical to
those on a smart card, but are used here for connection to the docking
station. They are used for data transfer and battery charging.
The reverse side of the credit card (i.e. the front) can be printed like
a regular credit card or ID badge.
The cards are usually supplied in neutral white, but can be printed
by Nagra with a user-specified design. Alternatively, removable adhesive
labels can be used if the user wishes to print his own designs. The
function of the LED indicator is fully programmable and can be
disabled completely if necessary. The recorder is operated with the ON/OFF
button, or can be voice actuated (VOX).
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The brochure [A] specifies the manufacturer as Nagra Audio, but
at the US Department of Defense, the company is known as
Nagra Kudelski GmbH
[10].
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The Nagra CCR is generally used in combination with a USB docking
station, that is used for charging the internal LiPo-battery,
downloading the audio data stored on the card and changing any of
the internal settings. In addition there are several chargers
for single or multiple cards.
According to the brochure [A], the following set of accessories was
available in 2014. The same accessories can be used with Nagra's
later covert body-wearable
Credit Card Transmitter (CCT).
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CCR-DS Docking station (USB) CCR-DS-2 Single docking station (USB) with two extra slots for charging CCR Credit Card Recorder (with example print) CCT-CC Mobile charger for one CCR or CCT card CCR-MCC Charger for five cards
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Although the Nagra CCR is not featured on the Nagra website and its
brochures are only supplied to approved customers, the Russian version
of the brochure can be downloaded freely from the internet [A].
From the photographs and descriptions in the brochure, we can
make a few guesses. The diagram below shows the interior of the
Nagra CCR as seen from the front. About 2/3 of the available space
is taken by the rechargable LiPo battery. The remaining 1/3 is for the
actual PCB.
The PCB measures 30 x 50 mm and is soldered directly to the
battery terminals. At the bottom right is the capacitive ON/OFF
button, whilst the ON/OFF LED is close to the top left.
A subminiature
MEMS microphone is located at the top right. Sound is guided to the
microphone via three small holes with a diameter of just 50 µm.
At the top left is the main controller.
At the center of the PCB is a (removable?) 4GB Micro SD memory card
on which the recorded audio is stored [A].
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A few years earlier, in 2011, Nagra had already shown that it was capable
of producing security equipment in the shape of a credit card. In a joint
effort with security firm Symantec and credit card company MasterCard, the
newly established NagraID showed off at the RSA Conference [7].
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The image on the right shows a MasterCard® Display Card,
that promises to bring very strong authentication functionality to credit cards.
The devices looks like a standard MasterCard®, but features a built-in
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) combined with Symantec's acclaimed
VeriSign® Identity
Protection (VIP) authentication service.
Although this device is not related to the CCR recorder, it clearly
shows what Nagra is capable of. It proves that a fully featured microcontroller,
a power source and peripherals (e.g. LCD) can be embedded in a standard card,
just 1.5 mm thick.
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Instead of the LCD display, the CCR recorder needs a very sensitive
high-quality microphone that is less than 1.5 mm thick. It is very likely that
MEMS technology [8] is used for this. MEMS microphones are extremely small
(e.g. 2.75 x 1.7 x 0.9 mm) and directly produce a digital signal.
A real challenge would be the power source.
It is likely that ultrathin rechargable Lithium Polymer batteries are used
to provide the necessary energy. LiPo batteries can be made as thin as 0.5 mm.
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Although the Nagra CCR is still a classified 1 device, similar solutions from
other manufacturers have meanwhile turned up. One example is the Colibri
Credit card size audio recorder that is made by Sekotech in Lithuania [9].
It has the same dimensions as the Nagra CCR and has nearly identical
specifications. Like the CCR, it comes with a USB-enabled docking station.
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Device Covert audio recorder Form factor Credit card Manufacturer Nagra Power 5V via USB, cigarette lighter 9-16V DC (2W) Format 16-bit 24 kHz Linear PCM Audio 20 Hz - 11.5 kHz (-3dB) Memory 4GB (Micro SD) Temperature -20°C - +60°C Battery LiPo, 23 hours Standby 2 months Charge 90 minutes Clock Internal real-time Play-back Docking station with 16-bit 24 kHz Linear PCM and USB interface Protection Software dongle Authentication Digital signature Accessories Carrying case, badge holder, double sided printer Dimensions 85 x 54 x 1.5 mm Weight < 5 g
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- The City Record, Nagra CCR smartcard recorder and docking station kit
PIN# 2013273. 23 May 2013. Page 1261. Downloaded July 2016.
- FBO Daily, Nagra CCR Recorders - Letter of Intent to Sole Source
5 June 2013.
- OnBid, Nagra CCR Smart Card Recorder & Docking Station Kit
Website. 22 March 2013.
- dgMarket, Brand Name or Equal NAGRA CCR Recorder
GS-00J-14-ADP-0006. 18 April 2014.
- FedBizOpps.gov, Brand Name or Equal NAGRA CCR Recorder
OS106994. 22 March 2013.
- FedBizOpps.gov, Brand Name or Equal NAGRA CCR Recorder
GS-00J-14-ADP-0006. 18 April 2014.
- Business Wire, MasterCard, Symantec and NagraID...
RSA Conference 2011. 14 February 2011.
- Wikipedia, Microphone (MEMS microphone)
Retrieved July 2016.
- Sekotech, Colibri - Credit card size audio recorder
12 July 2015. Retrieved July 2016.
- NSN Center, Nagra Kudelski GmbH
Retrieved January 2017.
- Ormax, Nagra CCR (Gravador) / Nagra CCT (Transmissor)
Retrieved January 2017.
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Monday 18 July 2016. Last changed: Thursday, 09 March 2023 - 08:02 CET.
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![Electronically protected NagraID credit card. Photograph copyright Business Wire [7].](img/nagraid.jpg)