Comments on: New RFID travel cards could pose privacy threat

A forthcoming federal travel ID may be implanted with an RFID chip that can be read up to 30 feet away.

[My-Self]

RFID can't be read more than 10 inches away ...

At least, that was the standard answer 1 year ago when opponents criticized the technology.

They were accused of being nothing more than a bunch of conspiring freaks.

1 year later, we're at 30x that, and nothing would prevent this range from being extended again.

Still want to go to that opposing political party's convention ? are you sure ? You might pay for it.
OTOH, if you attend to this political rally, or you're seen at this group's meeting, it might be good for your career ...

You're still free to go wherever you want, but now be ready to pay for the consequences.

It's not the 30 feet they want

I work with passive RFID readers all day long and I have yet to see one that can read more than about 4 feet away. They're apparently ASKING for something that can do >25', but I'll be suprised to see anybody deliver with current technology. Now I'm not saying it will never be done, but here's the challenge:

Passive RFID chips are powered by the antenna reading the signal. The antenna puts out a signal that powers the circuit. By law, this signal cannot be more than 4 watts because of health concerns. If you want to stop the government from doing this, the best way is to make sure they do not get some kind of "waiver" to the 4 watts law. With 4 watts, you'll never get a read from 25' away or from outside a car or bus or anything like that. They will need to come up with another way to power the circuit.

Also, you might be interested in seeing the results of current RFID implementations. Passive tags still struggle to have consistent reads. In other words...you'll never know if you scanned the whole bus because you can't count on the fact that every tag will beacon.

[My-Self]

RFID can't be read more than 10 inches away ...

At least, that was the standard answer 1 year ago when opponents criticized the technology.

They were accused of being nothing more than a bunch of conspiring freaks.

1 year later, we're at 30x that, and nothing would prevent this range from being extended again.

Still want to go to that opposing political party's convention ? are you sure ? You might pay for it.
OTOH, if you attend to this political rally, or you're seen at this group's meeting, it might be good for your career ...

You're still free to go wherever you want, but now be ready to pay for the consequences.

It's not the 30 feet they want

I work with passive RFID readers all day long and I have yet to see one that can read more than about 4 feet away. They're apparently ASKING for something that can do >25', but I'll be suprised to see anybody deliver with current technology. Now I'm not saying it will never be done, but here's the challenge:

Passive RFID chips are powered by the antenna reading the signal. The antenna puts out a signal that powers the circuit. By law, this signal cannot be more than 4 watts because of health concerns. If you want to stop the government from doing this, the best way is to make sure they do not get some kind of "waiver" to the 4 watts law. With 4 watts, you'll never get a read from 25' away or from outside a car or bus or anything like that. They will need to come up with another way to power the circuit.

Also, you might be interested in seeing the results of current RFID implementations. Passive tags still struggle to have consistent reads. In other words...you'll never know if you scanned the whole bus because you can't count on the fact that every tag will beacon.

[Dave_M]

Terrorist Threat

If the RFID in passports and ID cards are transmitting at a distance of 30 ft what is there to stop terrorists from scanning crowds to insure they can find the Americans.

[Dave_M]

Terrorist Threat

If the RFID in passports and ID cards are transmitting at a distance of 30 ft what is there to stop terrorists from scanning crowds to insure they can find the Americans.

[jschind]

How Long?

I think the US government has nothing but good intentions with this technology. They want to protect our borders and our citizens. But once the government decides that this is needed in every drivers license and every social security card... how long will it be before it seems like a good idea to continuously collect data on where people are? You know, we could lower taxes by selling your shopping habits to marketing firms... If there is a violent crime in the city, wouldn't it be nice to see who was in that area at that time? But wait! Criminals will be smarter and leave their drivers license at home... we should just implant these chips in people at birth. I think you see where I'm going...

There HAS to be a way to get similar results WITHOUT invading on our personal privacy.

[Michael00360]

computer chips

What happens when someone tampers with the chip to change the information. You've seen it in the SCI-FI movies, but you know it's just a mater of time before it will be a reality (if it's not already here). What happens to when someone steals the chip?

Then What?

Well..let's see

Yes, chips can already be written to by RFID readers in almost all implementations of passive RFID chips so that is a concern. The best way to secure it is by using tags that implement public/private key encryption.

As far as stealing it?...well...you report it stolen. How is that much different than a stolen ID?

[jschind]

How Long?

I think the US government has nothing but good intentions with this technology. They want to protect our borders and our citizens. But once the government decides that this is needed in every drivers license and every social security card... how long will it be before it seems like a good idea to continuously collect data on where people are? You know, we could lower taxes by selling your shopping habits to marketing firms... If there is a violent crime in the city, wouldn't it be nice to see who was in that area at that time? But wait! Criminals will be smarter and leave their drivers license at home... we should just implant these chips in people at birth. I think you see where I'm going...

There HAS to be a way to get similar results WITHOUT invading on our personal privacy.

[Michael00360]

computer chips

What happens when someone tampers with the chip to change the information. You've seen it in the SCI-FI movies, but you know it's just a mater of time before it will be a reality (if it's not already here). What happens to when someone steals the chip?

Then What?

Well..let's see

Yes, chips can already be written to by RFID readers in almost all implementations of passive RFID chips so that is a concern. The best way to secure it is by using tags that implement public/private key encryption.

As far as stealing it?...well...you report it stolen. How is that much different than a stolen ID?

[Below Meigh]

Shielded pockets..

Gee. Some silver or copper-tin fabric lining the pocket where your passport is all you need.

Ohnoooes! Prices of copper, and silver skyrocket!

[Below Meigh]

Shielded pockets..

Gee. Some silver or copper-tin fabric lining the pocket where your passport is all you need.

Ohnoooes! Prices of copper, and silver skyrocket!

[209979377489953107664053243186]

personal security becoming obsolete

Despite the assurances given out by, this new passport system still feels like a digital dog tag. Seems a little naive to the technology out there as well, that will find a way to grab that info no matter what, making every person in an international airport a potential victim of identity theft. Another example where protecting national security becomes an case of threatening our right to privacy...http://www.essentialsecurity.com/yourbusiness.htm

[209979377489953107664053243186]

personal security becoming obsolete

Despite the assurances given out by, this new passport system still feels like a digital dog tag. Seems a little naive to the technology out there as well, that will find a way to grab that info no matter what, making every person in an international airport a potential victim of identity theft. Another example where protecting national security becomes an case of threatening our right to privacy...http://www.essentialsecurity.com/yourbusiness.htm

[aprobert]

RFID Proximity Trigger

If an RFID has a unique serial then it would be too easy to created a proximity trigger, for when a certain person walks by, to do something nasty!

[aprobert]

RFID Proximity Trigger

If an RFID has a unique serial then it would be too easy to created a proximity trigger, for when a certain person walks by, to do something nasty!

[aprobert]

RFID Proximity Trigger

If an RFID has a unique serial then it would be too easy to created a proximity trigger, for when a certain person walks by, to do something nasty!

[aprobert]

RFID Proximity Trigger

If an RFID has a unique serial then it would be too easy to create a proximity trigger, for when a certain person walks by, to do something nasty!

[aprobert]

RFID Proximity Trigger

If an RFID has a unique serial then it would be too easy to created a proximity trigger, for when a certain person walks by, to do something nasty!

[aprobert]

RFID Proximity Trigger

If an RFID has a unique serial then it would be too easy to create a proximity trigger, for when a certain person walks by, to do something nasty!

[smarttools]

You can control if an RFID card is readable

There is a concern that RFID tags embedded in credit cards may make the presence of such cards detectable by anyone with an RFID reader.

To answer that concern, we have an easy way to make RFID tagged cards normally invisible, but active when you want them to be.

Background: RFID tags are appearing everywhere. They can be embedded in plastic cards such as credit cards, id cards, passports and other places. There are privacy concerns about these tags being read without the owners knowledge.

Solution: "RFID Shield" lets you choose when your tags are readable.

Information about the RFID Shield is at:
http://smarttools.home.att.net/rfshield.htm

[smarttools]

You can control if an RFID card is readable

There is a concern that RFID tags embedded in credit cards may make the presence of such cards detectable by anyone with an RFID reader.

To answer that concern, we have an easy way to make RFID tagged cards normally invisible, but active when you want them to be.

Background: RFID tags are appearing everywhere. They can be embedded in plastic cards such as credit cards, id cards, passports and other places. There are privacy concerns about these tags being read without the owners knowledge.

Solution: "RFID Shield" lets you choose when your tags are readable.

Information about the RFID Shield is at:
http://smarttools.home.att.net/rfshield.htm