New Controversy over Black Hat Presentation

uniquebydegrees writes "InfoWorld is reporting about a new controversy swirling around a planned presentation at Black Hat Federal in Washington D.C. this week. Security researcher Chris Paget of IOActive will demo an RFID hacking tool that can crack HID brand door access cards. HID Corp., which makes the cards, is miffed and is accusing IOActive of patent infringement over the presentation, recalling the legal wrangling over Michael Lynn's presentation of a Cisco IOS hole at Black Hat in 2005. Black Hat's Jeff Moss says they're standing by their speaker. A news conference is scheduled for tomorrow AM." Update: 02/27 20:10 GMT by Z :InfoWorldMike wrote with a link to story saying that the presentation has been pulled from the slate for Black Hat, as a result of this pressure.

Comments

Ooh! Ooh!

[Kingrames]

Hat Fight!

Patent = No Hacking

[Cassini2]

They have a patent. Therefore, no one can break their security. It would be illegal.

I'm convinced.

Re:Patent = No Hacking

[physicsboy500]

They have a patent. Therefore, no one can break their security. It would be illegal.

It's also ironic that the US Patent & Trademark Office uses HID cards on their doors...

A circular protection that can not be broken

Security through Risibility?

[Odiumjunkie]

From TFA:

> HID has sent a letter to IOActive, a security consulting firm, accusing Chris Paget, IOActive's
> director of research and development, of possible patent infringement over a planned presentation,
> "RFID for beginners," on Wednesday, a move that could lead to legal action should the talk go
> forward, according to Jeff Moss, founder and director of Black Hat.

I, for one, take comfort in the fact that HID Corp can sue anyone that breaks into my workplace after cloning my security card.

Security through hat-scurity

[spun]

Dude, the hat was on the doorknob. You know that means you can't come in. I'm gonna sue you for infringing on my patented hat security system and making me go limp.