RFID-ness

Inspired by my new Washington Enhanced Drivers License, I decided to dig a little into the RFID debate. There is quite a bit of information out there, and it's made me want to buy a little reader myself (if it's not too expensive) and play around with them a little. Who knows...

RFID: Radio Frequency IDentification, consists of two devices -- the Transponder and the Interrogator. The Transponder is the device with the information on it, usually the RFID chip containing some information (such as a number). In the case of the drivers licenses, this number is a unique identifier which is supposed to only make sense to those who have full access to your driving record. The Interrogator is a device that reads this information, emitting probes to query transponders nearby (if they are). This interrogator is the RFID reader, in a sense.

So, with the basics down, let's consider the ramifications of using RFID devices onto various things.

RFIDs are fairly inexpensive (~10-20 cents per ID) to manufacture, and I know that the retail-giant Walmart has had plans of incorporating RFID tags into each item within a store. This would definitely expedite peoples' check-out from the store, as you'd just pass your cart full of items through an Interrogator/reader of some sort, instead of having the cashier scan every single item one-at-a-time. Interesting, huh? But, I believe those plans have since halted (when they originally came about in 2004), as only the distribution centers have RFID-enabled palletes.. Individual items have yet to be RFID'ed.

Well, we enter a new realm when we start discussing the impact that RFID could have on security. It's not difficult to create an RFID with any specific data on it, making it very simple for someone to read an RFID and replicate it without any indication of duplication.

So, in theory, when you cross the border, and hand the customs official your passport, they should wave it in front of the reader, and your information should pop up. Hopefully there is some confirmation through visual-inspection (eg.: making sure the printed photo and the one inside the passport are the same), but as you may assume, there isn't any literature on this procedure... I just hope the RFID isn't the only form of verification of one's identity.

That then begs the question... Why? Why are the RFID devices so _awesome_ and everyone's so amped to use them? If it's only adding a layer of verification (mind you, a layer that is very easily replicated)... then why? I'm at a loss.

Wow, just did a little digging. I can get a reader for under 100$. I'm sure many other options exist.