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Innovative Uses of RFID Tags
Roland Piquepaille writes "When your newspapers write something about RFID tags, it's almost always about Wal-Mart or how these tags are threatening our privacy. But they often miss the important innovations brought by this technology. For example, in Florida, RFID drives highway traffic reports on more than 200 miles of toll roads. Or take DHL, which is tracking fashion with RFID tags on more than 70 million garments in its French distribution center. Elsewhere, in Texas, 28,000 students test an e-tagging system which promises better security for them. And what about RFID tags which could prevent surgical errors and have just been approved in the U.S last week? So, what do you think? Are these innovations promising a better future for us or not? For your convenience, this overview contains the essential details from the different articles mentioned above."
"unless they were read a lot (1000+ times a day)."
Nice, all we need then is RFID readers build into home computers (aswell as people start getting them embedded in them of course) and I can write a trojan to give my enemies cancer remotely.
*evil laugh*
Linux Wireless Hardware in the UK
The latest long-range RFID tags DO in fact have an ON/Off switch of sorts
It is called the KILL command. You send the Kill command and the tag is permanently disabled.
We the developers of RFID tags neither want to be tracked ourselves, or have people boycott RFID tagged products in mass because of privacy concerns. The Kill function was placed into the protocol back almost 2 years ago. You can have the tags killed at the point of sale, or you can even kill them personally with a home RFID reader, and there is always the hammer or scissors method.
RFID Technology is by no means robust. Brittle is a better characterization. There are more ways to easily defeat cheap passive RFID than there are ways to keep it working. I am not worried
By the way... Microwav-ing will not kill most of the latest UHF RFID tags, short of just melting the metal antenna of course.... We makeem tough.
Dr. Null
Nobody wants RFID banned. They don't want to be tracked by it. They don't want it used in insecure ways. RFID is fricking brilliant, it's just a travesty waiting to happen. Slashdot's concensus is "it's going to be bad, so be careful" not "burn them if they weigh the same as a duck."
*RING*
Mister Jacobsen: Hello?
Voice: Hello, Mr Jacobsen.
Mr. J: Who are you?
V: Mr. Jacobsen, our records indicate that you checked into the Inn 'n' Out motel last night with your wife.
Mr. J: So? What's this all about?
V: We verified that your charcoal suit indeed proceeded from your office to that hotel, but Mrs. Jacobsen's housedress moved around your home all evening.
Mr. J: All right, who the hell is this?
V: It's your cleaners, Mr. Jacobsen. Don't you think you really should have that suit cleaned? We'd hate to have to call Mrs. Jacobsen and ask her about it.
Mr. J: No, no...that's okay...
V: We have a full clean and press special going on today only. May we pick up the suit?
Mr. J: *sigh* Yeah, it's at my office, corner of...
V: That's ok, Mr. Jacobsen. We'll have someone there in a few minutes. Thank you for your business!
*RING*
Mr. J: Hello?
Voice #2: Hi, Mr. Jacobsen! This is Eddie, from Lingerie Etc. We have a great special going on right now on black lace teddies.
Mr. J: What the hell? So what?
V2: Our records indicate that your last four mistresses all wore them. We just thought you'd be interested in our special pricing, in light of your recent...activities.
Mr. J: Argggghhhhhhhh
Yes, I'm scared of what the government *could* do with this technology. However, I'm even more scared of what the fucking marketeers will do. 1984? Hardly. More like $19.95.
http://xkcd.com/386/
I can see the security guard at the front doors now: "Whoa, hold on there sir, you can't leave the hospital--you have the wrong spleen. That's right, the RFID tag identifies it as the wrong one. Just hand it over nicely, sir, and we won't have to involve the authorities..."
How hard is it to get elected to Congress?
I want to serve the people, by passing laws to protect personal freedoms, privacy, free speech, and consumer rights.
This is the feeler of interest for my campaign; the real campaign will take place in about 10 years.