[dave@farber.net: [IP] more on U.S. passports to receive RFID implants starting in October 2006 [priv]]
----- Forwarded message from David Farber <dave@farber.net> -----
One thing to think about with respect to the RFID passports... Um, uh...surely once in a while the RFID tag is going to get corrupted or something...right? I'd bet it ends up happening all the time. In those cases they probably have to fall back upon the traditional passport usage and inspection. The only question is, what could (believably) damage the RFID? -TD
From: Eugen Leitl <eugen@leitl.org> To: cypherpunks@jfet.org Subject: [dave@farber.net: [IP] more on U.S. passports to receive RFID implants starting in October 2006 [priv]] Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 20:54:13 +0200
----- Forwarded message from David Farber <dave@farber.net> -----
From: David Farber <dave@farber.net> Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 17:49:06 -0400 To: Ip Ip <ip@v2.listbox.com> Subject: [IP] more on U.S. passports to receive RFID implants starting in October 2006 [priv] X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.734) Reply-To: dave@farber.net
Begin forwarded message:
From: Edward Hasbrouck <edward@hasbrouck.org> Date: October 28, 2005 11:07:28 AM EDT To: dave@farber.net Subject: Re: [IP] more on U.S. passports to receive RFID implants starting in October 2006 [priv]
From: "Lin, Herb" <HLin@nas.edu>
*Front* cover? Does that mean that if I hold the passport the wrong way, the skimmer will have a free ride?
FWIW:
(1) The sample RFID passports that Frank Moss passed around at CFP, which looked like <http://travel.state.gov/passport/eppt/eppt_2501.html>, had the RFID chip (which was barely detectable by feel) in the *back* cover. The visible data page was/is, as with current passports, in the *front* cover. This is not compliant with the ICAO specifications, which recommend having the chip in the same page as the visible data, to make it more difficult to separate them. I can only guess that it was hard to laminate the visible data without damaging the chip, if it was in the same page. But it's interesting in light of the importance supposedly being placed on compliance with ICAO standards.
(2) Moss had 2 sample RFID passports, 1 with and 1 without the shielding. He cliamed it was a layer in the entire outer cover (front and back), but it wasn't detectable by feel.
I have more threat scenarios for the latest flavor of RFID passport at:
http://hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/000869.html
---------------- Edward Hasbrouck <edward@hasbrouck.org> <http://hasbrouck.org> +1-415-824-0214
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----- End forwarded message ----- -- Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a> ______________________________________________________________ ICBM: 48.07100, 11.36820 http://www.leitl.org 8B29F6BE: 099D 78BA 2FD3 B014 B08A 7779 75B0 2443 8B29 F6BE
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Tyler Durden wrote:
One thing to think about with respect to the RFID passports...
Um, uh...surely once in a while the RFID tag is going to get corrupted or something...right? I'd bet it ends up happening all the time. In those cases they probably have to fall back upon the traditional passport usage and inspection.
The only question is, what could (believably) damage the RFID?
EMP? Could be tuned, even, since the RFID is resonant at a known frequency. There's a standard for excitation field strength, so all one should need to do would be hit the chip with 50-100x the expected input. Unless the system is shunted with a zener or some such, you should be able to fry it pretty easily. Now put that chip-cooker in a trash can right by the main entrance to an airport and perform some public service. -- Roy M. Silvernail is roy@rant-central.com, and you're not "It's just this little chromium switch, here." - TFT Dspam->pprocmail->/dev/null->bliss http://www.rant-central.com
At 01:42 AM 10/30/2005, Roy M. Silvernail wrote:
Tyler Durden wrote:
One thing to think about with respect to the RFID passports...
Um, uh...surely once in a while the RFID tag is going to get corrupted or something...right? I'd bet it ends up happening all the time. In those cases they probably have to fall back upon the traditional passport usage and inspection.
They've said they'll fall back on the traditional "If we can't read the passport it's invalid and you'll need to replace it before we'll let you leave the country" technique, just as they often do with expired passports and sometimes do with just-about-to-expire passports if you're a Suspicious-Acting Person like Dave del Torto.
The only question is, what could (believably) damage the RFID?
If you want to damage the RFID of a passport you're playing with, microwave ovens should do just fine. I don't know if Rivest's RFID-blocker chips use the same frequency or codespace as the passport RFIDs, but you could also leave one of them in the back of your passport.
Now put that chip-cooker in a trash can right by the main entrance to an airport and perform some public service.
I'd be surprised if you could put out enough energy to cook the passport RFIDs of people walking by at normal speed without also causing lots of other electrical problems.
On Sat, Oct 29, 2005 at 08:42:35PM -0400, Tyler Durden wrote:
One thing to think about with respect to the RFID passports...
Um, uh...surely once in a while the RFID tag is going to get corrupted or something...right? I'd bet it ends up happening all the time. In those cases they probably have to fall back upon the traditional passport usage and inspection.
Actually, an RFID can be ridiculously reliable. It will also depend on how much harassment a traveler will be exposed to, when travelling. Being barred from entry will definitely prove sufficient deterrment.
The only question is, what could (believably) damage the RFID?
Microwaving it will blow up the chip, and cause a scorched spot. Severing the antenna would be enough for the chip to become mute. Violetwanding or treating with a Tesla generator should destroy all electronics quite reliably -- you always have to check, of course. Also, the ID is quite expensive, and a frequent traveller will wind up with a considerable expense, and hassle. -- Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a> ______________________________________________________________ ICBM: 48.07100, 11.36820 http://www.leitl.org 8B29F6BE: 099D 78BA 2FD3 B014 B08A 7779 75B0 2443 8B29 F6BE [demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type application/pgp-signature which had a name of signature.asc]
If I apply for a new one now, and then apply for a another one once the gov starts RFID-enabling them, will the first one be invalidated? Or can I have two passports, the one without RFID to use, and the one with RFID to play with? -- The six phases of a project: I. Enthusiasm. IV. Search for the Guilty. II. Disillusionment. V. Punishment of the Innocent. III. Panic. VI. Praise & Honor for the Nonparticipants.
On Sun, Oct 30, 2005 at 03:05:25AM +0000, Justin wrote:
If I apply for a new one now, and then apply for a another one once the gov starts RFID-enabling them, will the first one be invalidated? Or can I have two passports, the one without RFID to use, and the one with RFID to play with?
Here in Germany the current ID (sans smartcard/rfid/biometics) will be valid until expiry date. -- Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a> ______________________________________________________________ ICBM: 48.07100, 11.36820 http://www.leitl.org 8B29F6BE: 099D 78BA 2FD3 B014 B08A 7779 75B0 2443 8B29 F6BE [demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type application/pgp-signature which had a name of signature.asc]
participants (5)
-
Bill Stewart -
Eugen Leitl -
Justin -
Roy M. Silvernail -
Tyler Durden