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RFID: Shall We Freak Out Now? |
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Dr. Samuel Says -
Rants
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Written by Dr. Samuel Centralia, Ph.D., D.D.S., Esq.
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Friday, 06 February 2009 |
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Among those given to a certain low-level but persistent paranoia, the
expanding use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology is
just one more cause for alarm. Initially developed as a method for
inventory tracking and management, the technology is now being used in
various ID and passport systems. RFID tag systems basically use a
combination of integrated circuitry and radio waves to enable data
storage and tracking of things. Or people, as we shall see.
Google around even for a few clicks and you can quickly get a sense of the concerns and controversies surrounding RFID systems. RFID tags can be incorporated into ID cards, clothing, various items, even under your skin. What’s scary in the short-term is how quickly the systems are being deployed as costs come down. Some of the entities currently using RFID: Libraries, universities, museums, amusement parks, VIP nightclubs and -- of course -- several governments worldwide.
Here’s a nice jolt of paranoia to start off your weekend. This video was made by a hacker to demonstrate just how easy it is to sniff out and clone personal data off RFID passports and IDs. He does so with $250 worth of RFID reader equipment and a laptop, while driving around San Francisco. “I don’t believe that we should have any kind of identification documents with RFID tags in them,” says our tour guide. His video makes a pretty good case as to why.
As a dispassionate scientific obsever of such phenomena, I find it fascinating when technology so clearly outpaces any regulation, standardization, or even clear thinking aobut potential ramifications. As a part-time fugitive with several passports, I have less notional concerns. Either way, good stuff to know.
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