RFID Tags Open To Hacking

CNet News has an article about the ease it is to “hack” RFID tags. Many of the major goods suppliers are currently ramping up support for RFID tags to fulfill the requirement mandated by Walmart (large US shopping chain) to have RFID tags on all products by early 2005.

RFID tags come in many different shapes and sizes but most look like a small sticker on the item (although can also be embedded in the product itself). Tag readers then use radio frequency communication to read or alter information on the tag. Unlike barcodes RFID tags can hold a great deal more information and do not suffer the requirement of line of sight to be read. RFID therefore allows for a much easier method or reading information as it is possible to read the tags even when contained in trucks or containers opening up many more opportunities to monitor and maintain the logistics chain.

In the article it describes that the information on RFID tags can easily be read by anyone with an RFID reader, which can easily be purchased. Along with reading the information it is also possible to wipe or alter this information posing a potential security risk.

RFID tags have been around for quite some time but with the advent of their reduced cost and the widespread adoption by major US shopping chains, UK Defence, US Defence and Australian Defence the profile of RFID has been raised. This rise in popularity has happened quickly and as a result only now are some of the vulnerabilities or problems emerging, like those identified in the CNet article. So where is RFID heading, at the moment I am not sure but as we see RFID tags being used more frequently the problems will surface and be fixed as all involved are very keen to see RFID technology work and work correctly.

Links
CNet News RFID Hacking Article
RFDump application (used to read and alter RFID tag data)