RFID Guardian: The personal RFID firewall

Filed in archive Privacy and Security on April 12, 2007

Dutch researchers are busy creating a personal RFID firewall which will allow monitoring and controlled access to RFID tags. Called as RFID Guardian the developments in the project were unveiled at the Emerging Technology conference by Melanie Riebac who is involved with the project . This firewall derives inspiration from the author of SpyChips, Katherine Albrecht who stated that she doesn't want any one to read which type of bra she is wearing underneath. I think she has gone too far to blame RFID. Why would anyone keep the tag attached to their clothing even while wearing it?

The project will help in creating a personalized security policy and it will be enforced using features built into the tags such as automatic key management, cryptography and kill commands. The final product is expected to be a battery operated device including an RFID reader which will reveal information regarding the tags attached to goods being purchased. Probably this device will give a peace of mind to all those people who oppose this technology with all their lungs. I am not advocating RFID out here but if you consider on a fairer note the benefits offered by the technology are far more than what people think.