Is RFID talk valid?

[TehMac]

I noticed an ad on a site for blocking RFID radio waves to prevent identity theft. Normally I would have passed this off as tin foil stuff, but I remember a thread a while back covering the concept of an RFID card and how it could be abused.

But apparently not. What is the deal, any peeps know?

 

[HannibalX]

Watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9isKnDiJNPk

Edit: OP is below...

 

[Aluvus]

If the data on the RFID device is not encrypted, then anyone close by can read it. The State Department, in a masterstroke of poor judgment, initially did not want to encrypt the RFID tags in passports.

http://www.schneier.com/blog/a...rfid_passport_s_1.html

RFID can also be vulnerable to cloning.

http://www.geek.com/articles/n...ght-from-ebay-2009023/

 

[spidey07]

RFID is used all over the place. Not to mention your passport.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: spidey07
RFID is used all over the place. Not to mention your passport.

Huh...Der-hey? Did you even watch the video?

 

[TehMac]

Originally posted by: iFX
Watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9isKnDiJNPk

Edit: OP is below...

Yea I saw that a while back, but I thought that guy was trying to prove why RFID stuff would be a mistake--I guess right now it's used on passports primarily but 100 million credit cards use it apparently, according to the anti-RFID site I was on.

 

[Mokmo418]

So RFID would have this problem:
It can be used to trigger a bomb when a certain number of return signals are detected... It's been proven by a few security firms, i believe.

I dont get why it HAS to be touchless, they could just make a 2D barcode to replace the old barcode standard. Big advantage: downwards compatible, just printed on paper o need to change older equipment to produce. Passport Canada is using just that for their online passport applications. As you fill in the form, it produces the 2d barcode, which you then print and bring with you at the passport office with pictures and other documents. Goes way faster this way.