Interesting video from the guy at Mythbusters discussing how he is not allowed to air an episode on RFID.
Apparently the chief legal counsels for a bunch of big companies got on a conference call and laid down the law to Mythbusters.
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As amazing as RFIDs are, they are dangerous in many ways. I don’t know if it is a great idea to show how easy hacking the RFIDs is because for one, I didn’t know before I saw this article and researched them for a while, and I am sure the majority of people don’t know what RFID stands for let alone how to hack them. Sometimes it is best to keep that kind of info. under wraps as best as possible until further security features can be implemented.
On the other hand, the credit card companies and all the other users of RFIDs that relate to personal or financial security, need to continue making them more secure and “hack proof”
The problem is that nothing is hack proof, someone somewhere, will figure out a way to crack the system. Systems were meant to be cracked. For example, the makers of systems usually know how to crack them. Take locksmiths for example. They design and create security systems such as safes and locks, and a good deal of them if they are dishonest, could potentially abuse their knowledge and commit crimes because they know their system well.
Other examples include security camera designers or house and car alarms. People who have studied these systems extensively can figure out how to get around the security features designed to keep people out.
I can see all the monetary benefits of systems implementing RFIDs, but in the end, I believe this technology would be better off kept to things like packages and inanimate objects. However they are using them in people, which to some people could be used for good such as criminals who are released – using them to track those criminals once out of prison. But all things meant for good seem to get distorted and can also be used for evil.
Here is one example: A company uses RFIDs to implant in people so they can be aware of their location – in case of emergency or need for care. And indeed it could be nice such as if your kids were kidnapped and they were implanted with chips, they would be easily trackable. Or for elderly folks who want to live on their own, but have a serious condition and they want to be monitered in case they need immediate attention. Now the company who implants the chips could easily hire corrupt people without knowing it and whoever monitors the clients could take that knowledge and use it to steal from them, coerce them, etc. Use your imagination.
When it comes to these significant advances in technology just stop from getting excited immediately. Before you support or object, consider all aspects of how the technology could be used and make sure in the end it is good to implement.