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RSA Creating RFID Blocker Tag
burgburgburg writes "RSA is introducing a new RFID cloaking system to guard secret data. The RSA Blocker Tag technology uses a jamming system designed to confuse RFID readers and prevent those devices from tracking data on individuals or goods outside certain boundaries. At its security conference, RSA demonstrated the blocking technology in a pharmacy setting. The pharmacist provides your prescription in a special bag with the Blocker tags. When the drugs are in the bag, RFID readers are blocked. Take them out, they're readable. The tags work by emitting radio frequencies that fool RFID readers into thinking they're receiving unwanted data, causing them to shun data from that source. RSA promises that this new technology will not interfere with the normal operation of RFID systems or allow hackers to use security technology to bypass theft-control systems or launch denial-of-service attacks." Maybe it's just me, but this seems to not address any of the important RFID issues at all.
OK paranoid people, now you've got something to line the inside of your tinfoil beanies!
I guess soon we will all want to start using lead paint again on our houses.
Now I can stop wearing all this aluminum foil!
After this, of course, Wal-Mart comes up with the RFID-blocker-blocker. And then RSA develops the RFID-blocker-blocker-blocker. And so on.
I hope they start selling a t-shirt with a giant version of those tags printed on the front.
RSA's next annoucment will be tags that will block the operation of the tags that block the operation of the tags on the things you buy. This will be offered as a security enhancement to stores to prevent the RFID system from being jammed.
www.eFax.com are spammers
About 6'2" tall, maybe... 2 feet wide... with a breathing hole if possible, and maybe some plastic towards the top to see out of.
Oh, I don't know about that. Seems this is just the thing to keep those guys wearing RayBans and black macks, lurking in an arcane sea-green Dodge Dart parked in the far corner of the drugstore parkinglot from discovering which medication you're on this week for your schizophrenia and irrational paranoia.
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
The pharmacist provides your prescription in a special bag with the Blocker tags. When the drugs are in the bag, RFID readers are blocked.
"Excuse me sir, could you please leave your stack of empty Walgreen sacks here at the counter"
--Best Buy employee
"If you think you have things under control, you're not going fast enough." --Mario Andretti
SCO has issued a 'cease and desist' letter to the RSA, claiming that their use of RFID blocking technology violates SCO's IP wherein they use 'patented processes' to block RFID tag scanning. Patent searches reveal that SCO has recently hired several convicted shoplifters and their associated technologies now belong to SCO.
So, what keeps politicians from stealing DVDs?
Oh yes, I feel safer already!
</BLOCKER>
Should market a powerred belt buckle with enough strength of signal to jam everything in a reasonable area. I imagine a suitably rebelious buckle with a little battery.
I know people who would buy one just to be difficult, others because they are smart.
ls
What do you mean? This addresses the very most important problem with RFID, namely:
The fact that RSA can't make any money off it!
>You think that's bad? Imagine a bomb which explodes when it detects the RFID tag
>in an American passport nearby.
Seeing as only 4% of Americans have passports this isn't really a big problem. Anyway, it'd be easier to have it detect comically obese people.
We need to remove this dangerous physics information from places kids and robbers can get it!
<sarcasm>
Absolutely! And those cesspools of scum and villainy where they are stored -- libraries! Not only are they breeding grounds for people to meet and discuss terrorist related activites (like how they feel about current politics!) but people can read books there free of charge. This is in clear violation of the copyright holder's rights!
Physics has destroyed more people's lives than we can count (ever heard of a place called Nagasaki?). We should outlaw all knowledge of it and persecute those who study this forbidden lore. Clearly this type of activity does not make people happy. Have you ever seen a physics graduate student? Probably not, b/c they never see the light of day. Ever.
People should just be good consumers and buy whatever they are told to buy.
Won't someone please think of the children!!!!
</sarcasm>
And yes, I know the parent was being sarcastic too.
-- The Genesis project? What's that?
Naw, what keeps me from stealing is the plastic wrap around the DVD and CDs. What good are they when you get them home? I have many at home that I cannot open yet after two years of trying.
Because if you're a shoplifter, you're really going to worry about following every law out there.
funny munging
Probably the Patriot Act. That way they can just label the RFID blocker a Terrorist.
Just let all information formats on RFID tags be public. Let anyone buy a reader. Obviously, going in to a store with a RFID tag re-writer would be a problem, but the checkout-register could doublecheck randomly.
Make storing customer personal information on such a tag a felony, even if the customer signs any forms indicating otherwise. Business can still use RFID for quick checkout, inventory management, etc.
Since we all have readers, we can doublecheck that the tags are, in fact, erased. I would suggest having readers all over the store, even on the way out. If they are not properly, totally erased, bring them back to the counter. Even 10% of customers doing it would provide major incentive to get the tags erased correctly, the first time.
In fact, why don't we walk around the store with RFID readers? That way we can check the real price of each item - no confusion or misleading shelf placement. If there is a rebate, that information should be on the tag.
Lastly, to achieve nirvana, all we have to do is require the wages of people who made the item on the RFID tags. That way the (now well informed) consumer can choose between shoes, clothing or other goods made in various countries - and actually be confronted with how little people earn in some places. Sure not everyone will care, but enough will.
a war on terrorism? How can we end a war on a method?
What a brilliant idea!!!!!
This shall be implemented soon.
Thanks.
OBL