Two weeks ago I mentioned I was writing a term paper on privacy issues that exist with the growing use of Radio Frequency Identification systems and tags. I ended up receiving an A on the paper so I figured I would share it with everyone. It explores both sides of the RFID issue – convenience vs privacy. It is more of a dialogic walkthrough rather than a technical breakdown of RFID exploits and hacks, but does cover the basics of RFID systems.
You may download my paper in PDF format (336kB). It’s about 10 pages. Feedback appreciated. Enjoy.
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Well written!
Great job. Interesting information, and good job at following all of the standards for writing.
That’s funny, I just finished my ethics paper on RFID as well. I’m glad this issue is getting more coverage, cause sometimes it doesn’t feel like it gets any. Nice job Paul!
Nice paper Paul, easy to read and well written. You managed to keep it concise, whilst retaining all the important information (something I’m always bad at).
Also, appropriate use of the Gerorgia typeface on the cover sheet!
This reminds me of an overly-dramatic RFID video I saw a while ago on YouTube regarding the RFID Passport vulnerabilities.
Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XXaqraF7pI
(It has explosives in the demos!)
I think this is the first paper I have seen in a while that is not in IEEE format! Where are the double columns and the micro font?
I see you decided not to cite this site in the bibliography?
Great paper, very well written. You should have stuck the example I posted before where they cracked the professor’s credit card on the spot!
great paper- seriously excellent prose in the second half, really flowing as you got going.
However, if it was me, I would have grabbed the reader’s attention with “Are RFID tags the mark of the beast?” But I suppose this was a serious university paper.
RFID tags on items don’t bother me as much- but I suppose it can be updated with information on who bought it etc- police pull over a kid in designer gear, scan the RFID and find it’s not theirs? hmm.
I’ll definitely keep an eye out for RFIDS in the future!
Great paper, well worth an ‘A’. I’m a 26 year-old teacher and have real concerns about RFID in education. A secondary school near me (in Doncaster, England) has recently rolled out a trial using RFID to track pupils via their uniform.
I’ve posted about this, quoting your paper rather liberally, here: http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2007/11/17/the-dangers-of-rfid-tags-in-education/
Keep up the good work! :-)
Nice paper. The story of Jill and her RFID tag-implanted hand reminds me of an episode of Red Dwarf, when Lister uses a severed hand to by-pass a security scanner. Kryten is disgusted, “If mechanoid’s could barf I’d be onto my fifth bag by now!” Locking your house using RFID is only as secure as the chip is.
@Adam- I’ve heard of people losing fingers/hands for those fingerprint scanning security devices.