2007-01-26 11:38:05.289922+00 by meuon 8 comments
While I have found some "Data Safe" and Faraday Cage Apparel wallets, Their websites do not make me feel safe. I've got a couple of RFID based cards in my wallet now, I think it's time to make them, and my next US Passport, disappear from snarfers. Still, I fear, an IDea whose time has come.
[ related topics: Bay Area RFID ]
comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment Re: made: 2007-01-26 12:57:30.373244+00 by: warkitty
I remember seeing an argument somewhere that hackers couldn't steal rfid identity information because they'd need too bulky of equipment, or getting it would be too expensive.
Lets just say my information indicates otherwise, but I'd be interested in your take.
#Comment Re: made: 2007-01-26 15:12:34.574026+00 by: Nancy
I read somewhere (here?) that a blunt hit with a hammer will deactive the passport chip without visible damage, and not render the passport unusable.
#Comment Re: made: 2007-01-26 15:39:28.049122+00 by: Dan Lyke
Warkitty: I dunno, how often do you pay attention to what the anti-theft detectors at storefronts look like? People think "hackers" means people shoulder surfing the ATM for your PIN, where I'll bet there have been at least as many thefts by people putting in fake ATMs, or faceplates in front of ATMs...
Now I'm also willing to bet that you can read these things from, say, a briefcase on a crowded subway, but if your scam is smart enough the size of the detector isn't an issue.
Nancy, I don't know what chips are being used. I know that card keys for offices are just foil patterns, so pounding them won't do anything particularly bad. But a short time in a microwave will...
Of course that may also scorch the carrier plastic.
#Comment Re: made: 2007-01-26 18:34:11.87101+00 by: Nancy
Dan - google 'passport chip' and see what you think. Looks like the next generation of passports are going to contain an RFID chip with identity info. I still don't know where I read that you can pound the chip without visible damage, yet make it unreadable. And, yes, the article said the microwave would work too. But it's illegal to tamper with your passport so you want it undetectable. Not that I'm advocating such, OF COURSE!
#Comment Re: made: 2007-01-26 18:35:59.040655+00 by: Nancy
OK I might have found it - see this: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.01/start.html?pg=9
#Comment Re: made: 2007-01-27 01:27:21.33726+00 by: meuon
But I want that password to work when I want it to, like presenting it at the Bahamas customs/passport guy. With You (Nancy.. Or Nancy AND Dan. but Definitely Nancy.)
#Comment Re: made: 2007-01-29 03:54:59.451491+00 by: radix
http://www.emvelope.com/products/show/3 http://www.kenakai.com/Item.asp?cid=2&scid=3&pid=7 https://shop.foebud.org/product_info.php/cPath/30/products_id/76
First two are wallets, the third is my favorite: an RFID-field detector. An innocuous bracelet with an LED that lights up using the RFID field to power it. Ingenious! It's a German website, that link is in German. Some of the pages on the site are in English as well, but not that one.
Soon anyone not living off the grid will only have as much privacy as they're willing to pay for.
#Comment Re: made: 2007-01-29 13:18:45.026707+00 by: meuon
https://shop.foebud.org/product_info.php/products_id/130 is close to what I want, I think I'll be trying to make one. and I can test it downtown.