Could the New RFID Passport Trigger a Bomb?

Kevin Mahaffey, a director of software development at Flexilis demonstrated how a US RFID passport, (to be issued in October), possesses inevitable security risk that could cause bodily harm.

We read about a potential security risks earlier this month, that "electronic passports had a major vulnerability that could allow criminals to clone embedded secret code and enter countries illegally", but Mahaffey is claiming much worse than identity exposure, he claims US RFID enabled passport scould actually be remotely triggered to blow up. [via RFID blog via digg]

"Mahaffey and his colleagues presented a passport attached with RFID tag and placed a small explosive charge nearby. The passport is about half-inch open. It can be put in pocket or purse. Mahaffey proved how the explosion could be occurred when the passport came within a foot of it. Video demo on YouTube of dummy blowing up, from the detonation of the RFID passport in it's pocket.

See also article in ABC.

emily | 12:54 PM | Barcode Technologies / RFID Tags / NFC |
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