RFID Chips: False sense of Security

Furious Ge0rge · 03-20-2008, 01:29 AM

http://tv.boingboing.net/2008/03/19/...-an-rfide.html

Not only is RFID a scary prospect in an Orwellian-esque future, but it makes it easy for credit card hackers to get your credit card number.

I think it's time to throw in the towel and get myself a limited edition of Truthism Gum Tin Foil hat, and cover my credit card in it. Thanks TwoKaySix for the awesome tip.

Swerve22 · 03-20-2008, 01:54 AM

Interesting...I wonder if a bank company will now actually take the initiative and create a solid tinfoil plated credit card

More likely we'll have to get them underground through twokay.

Really though, that's pretty lame.

larry_wendel · 03-20-2008, 02:01 AM

Never saw that coming.

things2auction · 03-20-2008, 03:42 AM

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/sec...g=wnrss&cpg=cj

Im ordering my RFID blocking wallet today....lol

SynTek · 03-20-2008, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Furious Ge0rge

http://tv.boingboing.net/2008/03/19/...-an-rfide.html

Not only is RFID a scary prospect in an Orwellian-esque future, but it makes it easy for credit card hackers to get your credit card number.

I think it's time to throw in the towel and get myself a limited edition of Truthism Gum Tin Foil hat, and cover my credit card in it. Thanks TwoKaySix for the awesome tip.

RFID devices have huge number of applications beyond use by the thought police. As the world becomes more wired you could see such devices being used in mundane settings like a stores sign - identifying the location and linking it to the companies web site for quick reference. There are thousands of applications and yes many of them are silly, dangerous and perhaps even a little evil. But I wouldn't run for the tin foil hat just yet, build it and keep it in reserve for now.

graysonp · 03-20-2008, 09:34 AM

I don't think that looks like a serious threat. It's way too inefficient to wander around trying to find a fraction of consumers who actually have a credit card with the RFID technology, and then read the card. A large portion of consumers don't have cards, don't carry their cards, don't use cards with RFID, etc. You're probably searching for less than 1-4% of the US population with this technique.

Phishing scams, stolen cards, etc, are all much more efficient than this, and theives are gauranteed to find a useable credit card in a relatively short amount of time. They can dig through hundreds, if not thousands, of cards at once, and consumers are using valid cards online at an extremely high ratio of non-card payments. They're not going to resort to scanning a handful of people for cards they may or may not have.

m3s0h0rn7 · 03-20-2008, 11:21 AM

As opposed as I am to the RFID movement in this country, propegated by the U.S. Government, the technology itself is very nice and has many uses. The security needs a better built system for sure, but I doubt anyone looking to lift numbers is going to get away with scanning a crowd's worth of *****. Someone's gonna freak when they feel their *** getting rubbed with a card scanner, the logistics of the "hack", which in reality, is due to poor programming, are improbable in real life.

2term8r · 03-20-2008, 11:24 AM

I'll put a RFID in my cat

paintballpimp092 · 03-20-2008, 12:31 PM

Pass the Reynold's wrap!

EY3 · 03-20-2008, 06:17 PM

its so convenient, yet its the mark of the beast.

paintballpimp092 · 03-20-2008, 07:41 PM

I have to agree with you on that one... next they'll be wanting to implant microchips in us with all of our information and "they're only the size of a grain of rice, you'll feel no pain!"

I don't give a **** how small they are, nothing like that is EVER going in my body with my consent. If it gets in there without my consent, I'm trying to take it out. End of story.

Animalm0ther3 · 03-20-2008, 07:59 PM

Through my cold dead skin.

Ya, I'm not getting chipped.

Swerve22 · 03-20-2008, 08:04 PM

TwoKaySix was right...

Animalm0ther3 · 03-20-2008, 08:19 PM

I honestly don't know why any freedom loving American who appreciates the civil liberties this country was founded on would actually voluntarily stay in this country if something like this were to happen.

FluffyMumkins · 03-20-2008, 08:52 PM

RFID is insecure but what the hell do government workers know anyways?

The internet is a series of tubes too!

Nsanepig11 · 03-20-2008, 09:56 PM

they have been in passports for a year or two now as well.

Darth Bagel · 03-20-2008, 10:35 PM

RFID tags really aren't as big brother-ish as people seem to think they can be. The amount of power you'd have to radiate to read it at any kind of range is quite illegal and more than likely pretty unhealthy as well, especially for the nubsicle operating the reader.

FluffyMumkins · 03-20-2008, 10:39 PM

While there are some genuinely good uses for RFID tags, the insecurity of RFID technology by nature should keep it from being allowed to keep crucial information such as credit card and social security numbers.

EY3 · 03-20-2008, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Bagel

RFID tags really aren't as big brother-ish as people seem to think they can be. The amount of power you'd have to radiate to read it at any kind of range is quite illegal and more than likely pretty unhealthy as well, especially for the nubsicle operating the reader.

still, who has the power to turn them off?

that can be done while they are being read.

PDXMark · 03-21-2008, 03:37 PM

Ok ppl-

Let say some how these RFID's do become the next fad. I'll tell you how to hack it.

An RFID tag is made of an antenna that has a certain shape based on the frequency the RFID tag needs to radiate.
Here's how you change that frequency-

You'll need an Exacto knife and maybe a magnifying glass if your near sight is not good.
Next you'll want to find the antenna aray in the ID. Most likely this will be easiest seen by holding to a light source.
Now with the Exacto knife make as many cuts as you want to the antenna aray.
Every time you make a cut, you alter the radiating Rf frequency. It's that easy!

You can find all the links to Rf spoofing threw Make.com and hackerlife

And- If RFID ever does happen, well, I could become 30 ppl in one day!

Chucky76 · 03-21-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paintballpimp092

I have to agree with you on that one... next they'll be wanting to implant microchips in us with all of our information and "they're only the size of a grain of rice, you'll feel no pain!"

I don't give a **** how small they are, nothing like that is EVER going in my body with my consent. If it gets in there without my consent, I'm trying to take it out. End of story.

you could take it out...but what happens when THEY make it so you need to have one in order to buy groceries or get a loan or go to school?

[/tinfoilhat]