Hi Allen,
I like the technology that rfid represents.
Having said that, I almost universally hate every common application of
its use, particularly if it involves security, or the ID of MYSELF.
Tracking cans of soup in a warehouse is another matter.
From what I've read / heard, it's relatively easy to capture anyone's
rfid data from a distance with a simple high gain antenna. Reading
credit cards from your wallet across a large room is not that
difficult. Cloning the rfid signature is not that difficult, as far as
I know. Tracking everywhere you go and everything you do in some place
like Disney and associated companies is trivial.
I'm not an rfid expert, so someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
But, in general,
RFID BAD ... VERY BAD.
Mixing WIRELESS and SECURITY ... BAD ... VERY BAD.
TRACKING everything I DO ... BAD ... VERY BAD.
Just my opinion.
Ron
On 11/19/2013 10:35 AM, Allen Beddingfield wrote:
So, as I mentioned previously, I just got back from SUSECon...this
year it was held at a Disney resort (Coronado Springs)...one of the
things Disney is phasing in is what they call "Magic Bands". Here is
a link to a little more info:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/bands-cards/understanding-magic-band/
Essentially it is an RFID bracelet that is used for your room access,
gate access if you drive on/off the property, and park access. They
also use it to tie you to your account that has your credit card saved
for any purchases you make at the resort restaurants, shops, etc...
My observations:
1. If they are going to put this into full production, they need to
crank up the sensitivity on their readers. Maybe I just had a bad
band or something, but it wasn't just as simple as touching the band
to the Mickey Mouse head on the door to open..touch it...touch
it...rub it around at just the right angle, rotate your arm around,
and half the time take the damned thing off and press it against the
door to get the light to finally turn green and let me into the room.
The scanners at the drive-up gate seemed to be a little more
sensitive, but I found it impossible to bend my arm around at the
right angle to line it up while leaning out the car window to do
this. I'm a 6'3" guy with long arms, so I can't image a short person
trying to do that. I had to take the thing off and touch it to the
sensor every time I went through the drive-up gate.
2. For purchases, you touch it to a reader, and then they give you a
receipt to sign, similar to a credit card signature receipt. There
was no checking of ID, though...I could have signed "Mickey Mouse" and
no one would have notice. So, if someone knows who I am/my room #, if
they managed to swipe my band, they could get into my room AND rack up
charges on my account.
3. It all seems a little too "big brotherish". That combined with
obtaining a thumb print to pair with your RFID at the park gate is too
intrusive for my comfort.
Thoughts?
Allen B.
--
Allen Beddingfield
[email protected]
--
(PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
call on the phone. I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
mailing lists and such. I don't always see new email messages very quickly.)
Ron Frazier
770-205-9422 (O) Leave a message.
linuxdude AT techstarship.com
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