globalguerrillas.typepad.com — It copies the microwave-oven-method, but in a much smaller scale. It generates a strong EM field with a coil, which should be placed as near to the target RFID tag as possible. The RFID tag then will receive a strong shock of energy comparable with an EMP and some part of it will blow, most likely the capacitor, thus deactivating the chip forever.
Jan 4, 2006 View in Crawl 4
jdongJan 5, 2006
Scariest thing, I've built one of these before, almost exactly the same way (disposable flash camera capacitor used with a nice, professionally-wound electromagnet for physics lab demos), and when discharged relatively near to any kind of electronics (walking past, for example), it's capable of dealing a pretty damaging blow, if not rendering the whole device useless.
linker3000Jan 5, 2006
Say goodbye to the chip in your credit card, PDA, digital wrist watch and that guy next to you with a pacemaker.
repellentJan 5, 2006
Are you thinking what I'm thinking?<a class="user" href="http://www.electric-clothing.com/chipped.html">http://www.electric-clothing.com/chipped.html</a>
swarveJan 5, 2006
Anyone got a new RFID passport?My new Aussie passport comes with one in the center page, im thinking of zapping it as i dont want my info read by anyone.
dealcrackerJan 5, 2006
Why not smash the thing with a hammer? Faster and cheaper! While you're at it, might as well tip over a display case or two, destroy the POS terminals and rough up the cashier? Yeah this is fun . . . hope ya enjoy "servicing" your new cell mate too.
jasongetsdownJan 5, 2006
first digg link I've seen to a tech terrorism site.
quiescentwonderJan 5, 2006
No digg.If you morons would read a little before assuming you can cause mass chaos with one of these things Digg would be a better place. These only destroy ACTIVE RFID TAGS. Not the other kind, not the kind that would be in passports and the kind that will eventually replace bar codes. Besides, this is the equivalent of ripping UPC codes off of products, and we have all been capable of doing that for a long time haven't we?"So, what...then a nation that has all it's people get rfids and then gets into war with a nuclear nation will be in trouble when the first nuke is detonated midair to create an emp blast when the the damaged capacitor creates a sore? Plausible? Probable?"I usually wouldn't respond to this but this story is just so ridiculous. So... besides it not destroying anything but the ACTIVE version of RFID... how in the hell would the registers ring up bar codes anyway? Everything is ruined, not just RFID tags. Amidst all of that, you seem to have forgotten that this proposal is not even close to probable, plausable? Maybe with a lot of time and effort and money.Those people who have RFID tags embedded in them? Those aren't active, so it won't work here."Obviously RFID manufacturers will need to figure out how to defeat something like this. Similarly any chip on-board a satellite needs to be "hardened", be able to take the abuse of space such as radiation and extreme temperatures. How soon will we have hardend RFID tags?"They don't need to be hardend, because this device will pretty much ruin any electronic equipment if you get close to it, but OH! Look! Doesn't ruin anything buy ACTIVE RFID tags."Say goodbye to the chip in your credit card, PDA, digital wrist watch and that guy next to you with a pacemaker."Exactly"A high powered blast of EM waves is likely to be very dangerous for the user. There's a reason why microwave doors are so carefully designed to prevent any EM waves from escaping: it's dangerous. More like a cancer generator than and RFID deactivator."Uhh, no. These aren't the same thing. Microwaves emit microwaves (hence the name), EM stands for electromagnetic. Not even close; no cancer."Barcodes aren't dangerous at all, thats stupid. RFID tags actually allow for unique potential tracking of individuals, you can't do that with bar codes. Its a matter of privacy, if privacy is unimportent for you, two thumbs up, but for those of us who do give a s**t, thats who oppose RFID tags becoming more and more standardized in products. You should be allowed to risk your privacy all you want, but for those who want to maintain theirs, they should be allowed that similarily."I'll ignore the fact that it's not possible and ask why WalMart would want to know which door you walked out of the exit... or where you were walking around the store? Marketing maybe, but who gives a s**t, it doesn't invade your privacy as it would be illegal for them to track specifically you, it would be anonymous. RFID tags being used as bar codes can't be tied to you unless you use a credit card to buy them. Besides that, you care that WalMart would be tracking your movement around their store? You aren't involved in this, what are security cameras? Security cameras track everyone in the store at all times and it's recorded. Once again, these aren't active RFID tags so once you leave the proximity of the reader, they have no idea where it is."I may not be doing anything illegal today, but what happens when the laws change and what I did last week becomes illegal? Databases can be searched. I am not doing anything wrong, so the government has NO need to track me."Not doing anything wrong buy destroying a store's property? I think that's a bit illegal. Even if it isn't illegal, you can't be arrested for rearranging all the items on a store's shelves, but they sure will get pissed and throw you out and tell you not to come back if you do it too much.
Closed AccountJan 5, 2006
"Uhh, no. These aren't the same thing. Microwaves emit microwaves (hence the name), EM stands for electromagnetic. Not even close; no cancer."And here are some links that teach basic high school principles of electromagnetic waves (Microwaves included):<a class="user" href="http://www.darvill.clara.net/emag/emagmicro.htm">http://www.darvill.clara.net/emag/emagmicro.htm</a><a class="user" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_spectrum">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_spectrum</a> <a class="user" href="http://imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/ems/micro.html">http://imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/ems/micro.html</a><a class="user" href="http://www.purchon.com/physics/electromagnetic.htm">http://www.purchon.com/physics/electromagnetic.htm</a>Duh.
bagmanMar 12, 2006
From the UK; RFID Passports on the way per US request soon to be followed by RFID ID Cards.EU ministers approve biometric ID, fingerprint data sharing<a class="user" href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/01/jahc_biometric_id_standards/">http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/01/jahc_biometric_id_standards/</a>Well, if you have nothing to hide?.....This can be used to justify almost anything right?Count me in for the zap squad.
smartguyJun 21, 2006
can anyone teach me how to build a rfid zapper step by step
smartguyJun 21, 2006
my car send out a code everytime it is started will the RFID zapper will be able to take out my car brain so i wouldent need a chipped key to started my car
tiakDec 17, 2006
If you're within range for the EMP to destroy an extremely small unpowered electronic device, you've got other things to worry about.
tiakDec 17, 2006
... You realize that's the equivelant comment of "it would be nice to smack someone in the face with an active tesla coil" right?... Or how about "It would be fun to beat a puppy"... Hurting people != cool
forgisteMar 2, 2007
Im sure that they would put the RFID tags inside the packaging to make it harder to rip off.
plusthebearApr 25, 2009
These people must be paid for saying these things. It's the only thing that will let me sleep at night.
plusthebearApr 25, 2009
Thank you. Seriosuly.
plusthebearApr 25, 2009
Later material possessions. And creepy guy hanging over me.