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.
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1: Reasons 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.
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
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.
I'm assuming that the terrorists didn't chip themselves in advance.
Your best move? Just hand it to whoever and smile. Don't mention it at all. Preemptive explanations are suspicious.
If asked, just say it just got burned, don't volenteer more. If pressed, you've got pleanty of options to choose:
A ciggarete.
A hot lighter.
Kid held it up to a candel.
Fell into the campfire.
A radiater.
A heater.
The stove.
I don't know. It wasn't burned when we left the states!
But if you're in trouble just say, "I'm a little paranoid, so I put it in the microwave to destroy the RFID chip. I didn't want someone to clone my ID with a portable scanner.", then shrug and give a weak smile
Yeah... let's assume for a second that this is totally 100% true. Even then, I don't see many people getting "666" tattooed on their foreheads or hands unless they are hardcore satanists. Seriously, all you'd have to do is get this "mark of the beast" on your left hand and you'd be all good. It's not a very well thought out plan frankly.
You will needs:
-Electromagnet
DO NOT TRY W/ PACEMAKER. BAD IDEA.
Lets see...
The electromagnet generates a magnetic field that become induced (like a transformer) into the RFID chip, frying it. Yum! Fried RFID...
or use a soldering iron to melt through the card, or very gradually until you reach about half way through the card.
Seems easy enough to make.
Also, FYI, stores like walmart will have RFID sewn into clothes. Ya know those 'alarm' scanners that you walk by to get in/out of the store?
Those could be easily used to determine who comes into the store, who leaves, their criminal and financial records, RACE, etc. And problems could easily ensue.
Let's say you were a stupid kid that got caught shoplifting at age 18 and a day. Walmart could determine by any RFID chip on your ID or clothing you bought with a check, credit card, or debit card, that you were once convicted of theft.
They could instantly sound alarms and flashing lights announcing over the loudspeaker - 'Convicted Shoplifter!' and BAR you from the premises!
Let's say that you went shopping in a rather ahem bad neighborhood (or any really). Let's say that the shop keeper needed a tax write off. You get close to his scanner, and his recorder gets your info. He then steals your information, uses you as a tax write off, and the IRS comes beating at your door. While this happens, the shopkeeper is on his way to his home country...
Anyway, does anyone know what coil those RFID chips use? I am sure is is a fairly standard RFI choke of sorts.
Knowing the size, shape, number of turns, there is a way to determine the amount of power it can generate.
Please note: The government will require you to have one. It will make it a major crime to tamper with it or disable it - similar to those breath machines drunks have to put into their cars or the ankle bracelets home incarceration people have to wear. If your RFID chip fails to 'phone home' for more than a specified time, they will prevent your car from starting, your accounts will be frozen, and a capias will be issued for your arrest.. Soon, credit cards won't work without it.
While it is fanciful to dream about having privacy, it just isn't going to be as easy as everyone thinks.
You can play now with the ability to disable them, but in real life, all governments will see this as a gold mine to control everyone.
How many of you can really live in total isolation? Nothing electrical. No ability to buy anything. On the run all the time.
This is coming. Best way isn't to destroy the chips but to reprogram them with the information YOU want them to have.
Anyone got a box of spare RFID chips that are blank? And a program machine? And a guide on how to program or reprogram one?
That will be your best defense. Until they get you for having a fake identity...
I do care when the government has this information. Time and time again, democratic or dictatorial, governments have demonstrated that they cannot be trusted with any of this information. On the other hand, I'm perfectly happy for my medical history to be an open book because it shows the negligence and ignorance of those who are living off our tax money in the name of "public health".
There are many people out there who can't keep their ***** in their pants, but that doesn't mean they're equally prone to turning over the till.
As demonstrated in "Brazil" the government is quite capable of getting Buttle and Tuttle confused with each other and then failing to accept the consequences of the actions that have been taken.
There is NO WAY these can hold your personal information - once they leave the factory they are finished - they spit up their codes only, they cannot take information in. One-way communication.
Answers to your proposals -
The tags require medium frequency waves to operate the chip inside it, the tape demagnetisers Radio Yack used to sell ran at the North American line frequency of 60Hz.
RFID patches are not sewn in, they are stuck on since the piercing of the metallic antenna would either reduce its effectiveness or kill it entirely.
Stores would NEVER be able to gain information like your criminal history, personal finance info and CERTAINLY NOT your race!!! I'm very curious about your reasoning for the race issue. I'm hoping you are joking about the loudspeaker part. This is all impossible because of privacy laws**.
The shopkeep story is pure fantasy, even if personal information *was* on these devices (which it isn't), there would be no way someone could directly access your financial wealth - nor would it be reasonable to assume that such information would secure enough money from a single source, off a single person, to promise a shopkeep a better life back "in his home country". There's the race thing again(!)
Now - there has been a lot of talk and "leaked" information (that I personally believe) that we will be soon on our way to a cashless society, where everything we do will be tied to the information contained in a non-removable implant that DOES contain all of our personal information, including debit card functionality. Yes, I believe that the government (and other unnamed entities) have the perverted and sick capability of using this technology as a means to enslave - absolutely. But those days are not here yet, and it won't be for quite a while - especially now that such plans are out into the sunlight where everyone can see them. The "undesirable and evil entities" we are all aware of NEVER counted on the internet to be the information exchange it has become.
Knowledge is POWER - and we MUST guarantee that NOTHING stands in the way of free information exchange, and we MUST ensure that we ABSOLUTELY preserve this freedom, NO GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION OR CENSORSHIP of any kind should be permitted. Several bills have been
recently introduced under the ridiculously-thin guise of "copyright protection" and to "fight piracy", while trying to sell it with the over-used "for the safety of your children" buzz-phrase that people are finally waking up to. Paid-off media lays the groundwork of making piracy and copyright protection such a hot topic by grossly exaggerating its impact on Hollywood - but in reality the percentage is in the single-digits - it is NOT a problem, it's a lame excuse to limit online content. Naturally, it may begin with only a very, very small portion that everyone could agree to - but once that ball starts rolling, it will pick up speed VERY quickly.
The only way we can prevent our private information from being available to just anyone is by SAFEGUARDING THE INTERNET. It's our LAST line of defense against being enslaved. (I'm not exaggerating) Information spreads from one end of the country to the other in mere minutes, we all need to watch out for one another and have his/her backs. There is going to be a massive SHOWDOWN coming, and I know everyone's instinct can feel it coming. Think about that.
Peace!!
P.S. I apologise for the "rant", but it seemed a reasonable forum to educate slightly as it dealt with privacy theft, the direction it is headed, and what we can do to limit the damage. Also, I don't want to debate this publicly (you may send me a message if you like), so if you don't agree, just ignore it - there is TONS of information out there that DOES agree.
Turns out, it was the Joe Rocket armored motorcycle jacket I bought from a riding buddy. I wore it any time I was on my bike. Not stolen, just never deactivated. It was sewn into an area around the zipper between several layers of ballistic nylon, and cowhide.
The sticker-type such as pictured above contains no chip, it is just an induction coil that alerts the reader that it's still alive - going through a cashier's lane with a deactivation pad overloads the antenna and blows a fuse so the security system sees it as being "dead"
My comments above were about the types of these similar stickers, and other types of plastic devices that are used, that transmit their codes by activation via cashier's reader and security systems.
More advanced RFIDs such as those in credit cards, can contain a simple code to verify that the information on the magstripe is valid, or they can spit up larger volumes of encrypted information. Passports have a larger amount of personal information that is also highly-encrypted. They are capable of both read and write operations, but do not contain financial details.
At the moment, most RFIDs are basic and provide a simple code (like access control) to be referenced to a lookup table, unless they are used in important documentation instruments.
After seeing these on YouTube I contacted my bank, supplied them with a variety of URLs, and stated that under no circumstances would I allow my account to be accessed by an RFID enabled device.
Thx in advance for your answers.
Strong electrical fields are capable of overloading the circuits within the chip, causing burnouts. That's why these things are limited on the distance they can be picked up. No matter how they build them later, there are always limitation on power handling capabilities. By using a signal generator and a transmitter, you can determine the frequency of the chip, and by increasing the output of the signal, you can burn out the chip.
Once you think you have defeated the chip. simply reduce the power and monitor the chip to see if it repowers up after reducing the output current. If it doesn't you're home free.
or can't you use a RFID writer? i seen somethig on this site a while agot about that.