RFID security falls short

Companies deploying RFID for applications requiring strong security are taking risks, while users of RFID in small-scale, standalone tagging systems for supply-chain apps are less vulnerable, says Forrester Research.

RFID Journal says end-users of RFID technology are getting mixed messages regarding data security, but a new Forrester report concludes that with respect to data security, passive RFID tags and readers, as they are currently designed, are appropriate only for a limited number of scenarios.

The report says companies need to balance efficiencies gained from the system against the security and operational risks that RFID introduces. The report describes the main areas of vulnerability within an RFID deployment and provides recommendations in the form of steps companies should take to protect data.

Many security experts are still questioning whether e-passports, which have a 10-year life span, have enough security built in to survive a decade of hackers and technology advancements, reports Linux World.

Despite these concerns, the US government thinks otherwise and has already started to issue the electronic passports. The US passport service says with the exception of a relatively small number of people, most security concerns have been addressed.

The e-passport is a contact-less smartcard with a secure microprocessor that uses a passive radio frequency to transmit data over an encrypted wireless link to a reader. The passive technology requires a reader to power the chip.

Motorola has taken a $3.9 billion gamble on the retail, healthcare and transportation wireless markets by agreeing to acquire bar code scanning giant Symbol Technologies, M-Net New Zealand reports.

According to the report, the move gives Motorola a boost in mobile computing, inventory scanning and RFID.

Motorola CEO Ed Zander says the transaction significantly advances Motorola`s enterprise mobility strategy and is consistent with the company`s focus on building its intellectual property portfolio and extending Motorola`s mobility leadership.

UK police are testing a system that controls police access to buildings and computer systems using a fingerprint scanner, but could use RFID in future if the system is implemented.

The Register says the pilot will have fingerprint scanners on just a handful of rooms, but the police could extend the scheme to use RFID chips on pass cards, which would enable them to tell where civilian employees were on police premises.

The system is aimed at blocking unauthorised access to computers and to make the administration of the police force`s security more efficient.