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In this Instructable I will describe different ways to block or kill RFID tags. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. If you do not know about this technology yet, you should definitely start familiarizing yourself with it, because the number of different devices that utilize these types of tags is growing exponentially.
RFID chips are very similar to barcodes in the sense that a certain amount of data is contained within them, and then transmitted to a reading device which then processes and utilizes the information. The major difference is that barcodes have to be physically visible to the reading device, which is usually only able to scan them at a distance of a 12 inches or less. RFID tags, on the other hand, do not have to be visible to the reading device. They can be scanned through clothes, wallets, and even cars. The distance from which they can be read is also much greater than that of a barcode. At DEFCON an RFID tag was scanned at a distance of 69 feet, and that was back in 2005, the possible reading distance now is probably much greater than that.
There are a few different categories of RFID tags, but the most common ones, and the ones we will be dealing with in this instructable, are the "passive" type. Passive RFID chips contain no internal power supply. They contain an antenna which is able to have a current induced in it when within range of the RFID reader. The tag then uses that electricity to power the internal chip, which bounces its data back out through the antenna, where it will be picked up by the reader.
For more information on RFID tags check out the wikipedia entry.
RFID chips are very similar to barcodes in the sense that a certain amount of data is contained within them, and then transmitted to a reading device which then processes and utilizes the information. The major difference is that barcodes have to be physically visible to the reading device, which is usually only able to scan them at a distance of a 12 inches or less. RFID tags, on the other hand, do not have to be visible to the reading device. They can be scanned through clothes, wallets, and even cars. The distance from which they can be read is also much greater than that of a barcode. At DEFCON an RFID tag was scanned at a distance of 69 feet, and that was back in 2005, the possible reading distance now is probably much greater than that.
There are a few different categories of RFID tags, but the most common ones, and the ones we will be dealing with in this instructable, are the "passive" type. Passive RFID chips contain no internal power supply. They contain an antenna which is able to have a current induced in it when within range of the RFID reader. The tag then uses that electricity to power the internal chip, which bounces its data back out through the antenna, where it will be picked up by the reader.
For more information on RFID tags check out the wikipedia entry.
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Signing UpStep 1Reasons for blocking / destroying RFID chips
The main reason someone would want to block or destroy RFID chips would be to maintain privacy. In the last step I explained that RFID tags can be read from very long distances. The potential for abuse of this technology grows as more and more products and devices are being created with these tags built in.
Companies are getting consumers to blindly accept many RFID tagged products with the promise of convenience; however, most of the devices that contain RFID tags don't really need them. The tags may save a few seconds, but sacrifice an enormous amount of privacy and security. It is now possible for someone, with relatively simple equipment, to walk down a busy sidewalk and pickup the personal information of people carrying RFID tagged devices, without them even knowing.
Being able to block or destroy these chips allows people to decide what type of information they are willing to sacrifice for convenience.
Companies are getting consumers to blindly accept many RFID tagged products with the promise of convenience; however, most of the devices that contain RFID tags don't really need them. The tags may save a few seconds, but sacrifice an enormous amount of privacy and security. It is now possible for someone, with relatively simple equipment, to walk down a busy sidewalk and pickup the personal information of people carrying RFID tagged devices, without them even knowing.
Being able to block or destroy these chips allows people to decide what type of information they are willing to sacrifice for convenience.
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Aimed at a fingertip it hurt like anything. An electronic component so treated curls up it's pins and just dies as if hit by lightning...which, effectively, it has been.
or can't you use a RFID writer? i seen somethig on this site a while agot about that.
Remember that an EM Pulse is erroneously named. It is actually a Charged Particle Pulse. Those confused electrons and protons can overload the PN junctions in semiconductors and render them inoperative.
sOUNDS WORTH A TRY WHEN THE TIME COMES.
Photons (electromagnetic radiation) a.k.a. light is what is emitted, not charged particles. They excite the electrons in electronics to the point where they escape the metal and the metal becomes so hot from the rapidly moving electrons that it melts and burns whatever is touching it.
Nuclear decay , fusion, or fission produce nuclear radiation in the form of charged particles. Some is ionizing radiation. Our earths magnetic field deflects these coming from our sun making life possible. Some charged particles "fall into" the poles giving us aurora borealis and aurora australis. When the charged particles strike the gases in the atmosphere they excite them and they glow much as a neon light does.
The point to a EMP is to strategically knock out electronic devices minimizing casualties. otherwise just use an A Bomb you get both EMP and nuclear charged particle radiation.
My suggestion is relying on the "super-sensitivity" of RFID chips. They rely on an induced current to commence operation, so a good whack about the electronic antenna should be pretty painful.
The alternative of modifying a microwave oven to attack that part of the body infested with a chip is extreme, haphazard and could do long term damage.
If these chips are to be embedded in the back of the hand, I see chain-mesh gloves suddenly becoming fashionable.
tHESE THINGS ARE MUCH MORE COMPICATED IN FACT.
https://events.ccc.de/congress/2005/static/r/f/i/RFID-Zapper(EN)_77f3.html
Its the only way (besides the hammer method) that leaves no trace that you destroyed the chip.
The Microwave is bad idea, it can happen that the place where the chip looks slightly burned.
1) the technology is too expensive to deploy on such a massive scale
2) the technology used is much older than RFID
3) there are several designs, but most use a tuned coil (with no chip), or an electromagnetic "flutter" design (think relay style component).
The basic idea is that current tech looks for variations in a static field to detect the tag. That is why sometime the sensors go off without an actual tag tripping it. Things like cellphone antennas, metal loops on a purse, etc.
The register deactivators are basic EMP emitters that fry the crap out of the coil and blow a simple fuse inside of it. That is why you don't want to put you credit card on one of those pads.
Those pads emit a field several times larger than the RFID zapper.
The problem would be just as bad in humans - and I certainly don't want to go cutting around in my arm if I ever get forcibly injected (or wherever else they decide to put it). But I certainly would like to be able to block or 'zap' it.
Please can we get back to blocking or disabling them - I am pretty sure removal without the aid of a fully equipped hospital isn't viable.