Viruses leap to smart radio tags

from BBC News

Well, this is great news for privacy! Never thought I'd be saying good things about a possible virus, but keep up the good work boys!

edited to take out http:/ in link tag. Gets me every time!

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4810576.stm>

secure, or can truly be made to be 100% secure.

Imagine that Fast Freddie at the office were to put a small RFID tag on your back (or on the sleeve of your coat while shaking your hand). Perhaps they drop one in your pocket.

You return to your desk, and your telephone (equipped with an RFID reader) recognizes your presence by the RFID tag in your employee ID card you keep in your wallet. It automatically takes your phone out of "away" mode and notifies you that you have three voicemails waiting.

Meanwhile, the RFID tag with the virus on it uploads its payload to that same phone. The virus re-configures your voicemail to automatically cc Fast Freddie on every message you receive.

At the end of the day, you get in your car to drive home. You put your key in the ignition and the RFID tag in the key disenages the security system, allowing the car to start. It also signals your personal preferences to the cars computers-- adjusting the mirrors, seats and climate control to your preferences. Meanwhile, the RFID chip with the virus on it signals the car to disengage the power breaks and steering the moment the car starts moving more than 60 MPH...

I think your post pretty clearly lays out the issues with RFID, and in fact any non-closed electronic system. At what point do any advantages get outweighed by safty? We'll go to far toward computerization of course (I need electronic feed back in my toilet paper dammit!), horrible things will start happening, and eventually we will start sealing off electronic systems just for safeties sake.

However, you post gives me an idea....
:evilgrin:

scans the RFID tags inside your driver's license and all the credit cards in your wallet.

It secretly (and illegally) pairs your vote with your identity.

This information is saved in the machine's hard drive and added to the RNC's database for political data mining.

This data is then also shared with the latest airline, train and bus passenger screening database.

Then, the following happens two days before the 2016 Republican National Convention in Sugarland, Texas:

The computer "red flags" a "suspicious" number of Democratic voters booking train and bus trips to Texas coinciding with the convention. The computer flags these Democrats and funnels their reservations into specific planes busses and trains. In fact, they see to it that Democrats traveling to the convention by train are booked into reserved seats on the rear cars of specific trains.

The day before the convention, dozens of trains, planes and busses carrying Democrats to protest at The RNC are diverted for "security reasons" and never seen again.