Blocker Tags to Protect Privacy From RFID Tags

geekee writes "According to an article at CNET, RSA Security is developing a 'blocker' tag that disrupts RFID tag transmissions, protecting a person's privacy from those who would abuse RFID technology. The blocker tag would be embedded in your watch, for instance. This method has an advantage over destroying the RFID tags after purchase because useful information on the tag could help consumers (e.g. laundry instructions)." According to the RSA scientist quoted in the article, privacy concerns regarding RFID have been overblown, but it's still worth being proactive when finding ways to defeat the tags.

Comments

God I hate those tags

[Dancin_Santa]

I haven't ever seen one, nor have I heard of any stores stocking merchandise equipped with them, but the price of Freedom is eternal vigilantism.

Shoplifting?

[ksuMacGyver]

Wonder how this would affect shoplifting? Just wear the watch and walk out $0 deducted from your bank account?!

But...

[cliffy2000]

Just remember to take off your RFID blocker watch before trying to get on a plane. Try explaining THAT to airport security:
You: "It's a watch that protects my privacy from the invasive government by sending out waves of non-dangerous radiation!"
Them: "Terrorist!"
You: "But it's just radio wa-wahhhhhhh!" *getting taken away in handcuffs*

Re:Going lotech

[acceleriter]

Is it bad if my mind was in the gutter and I knew she's the robot from the Jetsons?

Nah, it will be like another set of pricacy tools.

[twitter]

Remember "private" phone listings? What a scam that was. The phone company sold your name and number to direct marketing creeps who then annoyed you day and night. To help you out, the phone company sold you an "unlisted number", which kept your friends and relatives from being able to contact you. The phone creeps could still get your number and you still got annoying sales calls. The phone company then sold you caller ID and creeps ID blocking. So the cycle rolled, with extra money for the phone company and the rest of the world as screwed as possible.

I have no faith in a blocking tag. Retailers will set off alarms every time you leave a store if you block their signals and readers will be made to defeat them in time. All you will get out of this evil technology is more grief, just like the phone system. The root of the problem, customer data retention and sale, is what needs to be addressed.

Re:Is that legal?

[BigDish]

With current laws (unless this gets called a circumvention device under the DMCA) it would be legal. This is because the RFID tag will be unlicensed and fall under part 15 of the FCC's rules. Cell phones, on the other hand, are in licensed spectrum, and transmit with much more power than part 15. Part of the requirements for a part 15 device to operate is it must not intentionally cause interference (ie blocking a cell phone) with another, LICSENCED device (so interfering with an RFID tag is OK, cell phone is not) Additionally, most likely power levels greater than part 15 would be required to block a cell phone transmisssion. So in short, this is legal, call phone blocking isn't.

RFID Silliness

[ticklemeozmo]

Seriously, how long does it take to seperate whites from darks and if you are in that serious need of time, you have a scheduling issue.

On a tin-foil-hat note: this is how freedoms are taken away.

• "It's for convienence!"
• "But it'll save time... no one is going to monitor what types of razor blades you buy."
• "If you just swipe your finger, you'll check out quicker, save time and money 5% off to customers who use RFID!"
• "I'm sorry, but it's a requirement that all people have RFID tags in their heads. well, people were cutting off their fingers to not be tracked by us. And anyone who doesn't submit to InstaTrace is considered a criminal."

I hate to sound like a Montanian, but consider this when security and freedoms are concerned (I forget who said it, didn't bother googling).

"When you draw a line in the sand, and step over it, it does not appear to be a big step from your last position, so you allow it. But if you continue to allow it, over time, you will realize (albeit, probably too late) that you do not have your original position in sight as you turn around."