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Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Privacy and Security
N THIS CHAPTER, WE BEGIN WITH A LOOK AT THE PRIVACY AND SECURITY ISSUES inherent in the use
of RFID systems and at consumer concerns about this technology. In the rest of the chap-
ter, we cover various security- and privacy-related aspects of an RFID system, from the
physical layer to the application layer. We explore some of the measures that are being
taken to protect consumers’ and citizens’ privacy, and we identify potential RFID security
vulnerabilities and discuss possible countermeasures.
Privacy and Security Issues
News stories on RFID often lead in with bleak and sometimes inaccurate descriptions of
the possibilities for abusing this technology. They paint a picture of a world where every
possession you have has a unique identification tag: the wallet you got for Christmas last
year, the bank notes in your money clip, medicines in your cabinet, electronic items, toys,
media, groceries in your kitchen, your automobile. You are warned that someone might
drive past your house and be able to inventory all of your possessions and find out about
your tastes, your health, and your lifestyle, all without you knowing about it. You are told
that this technology may allow “Big Brother” to locate you automatically in public places,
tracking your every movement as you go in and out of stores, churches, and night clubs.
What if governments and private sector ...