The people that think there are privacy concerns are the people that do not understand how RFID tagging actually works. RFID tags come in two types, active and passive. The only difference is the type of transmitters.

The antanae of a passive transmitter has to pass through a magnetic field. This creates an electrical charge which powers the system briefly so it can transmit it's serial number.

An active transmitter always broadcasts it's serial number. Both have a very limited range, usually 10-15 feet or less. Both only store a serial number. This serial number is corolated back to the main database to find out what it actually is. They can't be used to track you. Automotive companies have been using passive RFID tags on their car bodies for years to track vehichles as they are created. The have the astonishing range of 6-12" from the corrosponding sensor. It's a great idea for DoD, but the average everyday user should go back to drinking their latte and shut up.

[ reply ]

Link to this comment: http://www.securityfocus.com/comments/articles/7294/23377#23377