Australia's Geekiest Man 256
An anonymous reader writes "Why have a key to open your front door when you can have an RFID tag implanted in your arm that will do the trick? Computerworld has a story up about the outgoing Linux Australia group president's hacked home, in which just about anything from watering the lawn, to opening his blinds, or checking the mail can be controlled through a software environment. Jonathan Oxer is an electronics and coding whiz who apparently has an RIFD tag implanted in his arm that opens his front door, and his front gate is hooked up with gigabit Ethernet — able to tell him when someone enters the property or send him a virtual email or sms to say he has real mail. Apparently the iPod Touch has just inspired him to begin linking all his little hardware hacks together into the one single, software controlled handheld touch device. I wonder if Steve Jobs ever thought the Touch would end up being used this way?"
Pretty damn cool (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Pretty damn cool (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Pretty damn cool (Score:5, Funny)
Not to rain on anyone's parade (Score:5, Funny)
And gravity.
Then again (Score:5, Funny)
What sort of emergency do you have in mind? No home security will deter a determined malicious threat from entering, but a gadgetted up house you could fully control with a device that fits in your pocket, could create enough of a distraction to escape.
Re:Then again (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah perhaps I didn't think that one through completely, but I'm just not comfortable with security measures being implemented or disengaged simply by proximity.
Speaking of your distraction scenario, and clearly because I read too much /., I had a vision of all TVs and computer screens splashing goatse on the would-be evildoer. Something tells me that would at least confuse most anybody's plans.
Re:Then again (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Then again (Score:5, Informative)
Malaysia car thieves steal finger [bbc.co.uk]
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Basically when you left the car you couldn't test if the car was locked because you had the key that meant it would automatically unlock. Thus someone else had to test to see if you'd locked it.
If this is fitted to a house then you have the same problems.
Does everyone who uses the house have to have this e.g. the house lock is fully automated. What happens when you have guests and you want just to leave the d
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The button is on the door handle and works both ways. press once to unlock twice to unlock them all, if unlocked one press will lock them alll.
For all RFID systems it shouldn't be all automatic there should still be a physical aspect to work with to unlock the it
Re:Then again (Score:5, Insightful)
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Re:Then again - careful what you wish for (Score:4, Funny)
Shhhhh! Do you really want to give the movie studios any ideas and then have to sit through "Home Alone Version 4.0"?
Re:Then again (Score:5, Insightful)
If handguns are to work at all to deter assault or robbery, a reasonably high percentage of the general population has to be packing. Unfortunately when there are that many guns floating around it's likely the assailant / robber has one too and all you've done is increased the chances of somebody getting killed rather than just mugged or robbed.
In the end I'm not sure I buy the idea that handguns deter crime significantly anyway. Even if they did, given the rate at which they're used to inflict grievous harm by angry spouses, stupid children playing with them, and homeowners spooked by noises shooting themselves in the foot at night, I don't think having handguns distributed into society actually works to reduce overall human suffering.
Re:Then again (Score:4, Informative)
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Well then, they don't teach chain saw safety, or drill safety, in schools.
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This is exactly why UK versions of cars with proximity card ignition keys have this "feature" disabled. Buy a European version and it will unlock when you walk up to it. Buy a UK version, and you need to press the button on the card like pretty much any normal remote central locking. Car owners don't really want it, and insurance companies *really* don't want it.
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Re:Bah! (Score:5, Funny)
Your mother
RFID? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:RFID? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:RFID? (Score:5, Informative)
There is absolutely no encrypted handshake between the RFID tag and the reader. Hence an attacker could VERY easily conduct a replay attack using an easily duplicated tag. Given that the tag he uses is implanted into his arm, anyone that walks past him on the street could steal his front door key.
But I guess this isn't much of an issue for fellow geeks, because what sort of geek walks outside their basement and gets within the vicinity of other people in the first place?
Virtual email? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Virtual email? (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:Virtual email? (Score:5, Insightful)
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link error (Score:2, Informative)
Cancerous Police state much? (Score:5, Informative)
Just as an FYI for anyone considering this, implanted RFID have been known to cause a high incidence of cancer around the implantation area. There's research showing it in animal models, I found out after my pet had to have his RFID tracker replaced (they use this in pets to let vet offices identify your pet if it gets lost).
Apparently the body doesn't like certain subcutaneous implanted foreign objects and cancerous growths build around it.
The other issue I would like to point out is that putting RFID chips into people and treating them as cattle has for some time been a dream of the uber wealthy elite classes. This tracks back to the eugenics movement to present day. See Aaron Russo's documentary "America: Freedom to Fascism". [youtube.com]
As such, I would not be in a hurry to usher in the era of slave I mean people tracking.
Re:Cancerous Police state much? (Score:5, Insightful)
Why? By definition, people who are obscenely rich have lots and lots of money, which is a far more effective way to manipulate people than RFID tags. Come on, really, do you picture the super-rich saying, "man, what I'd really like is to be able to implant electronics into the working class so I can watch their every move"? They're rich. They have yachts, and private aircraft, and small islands, and can do anything they want with their lives... do you really think they give a shit about what time Joe Sixpack staggers home with some drunken bar skank?
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Re:Cancerous Police state much? (Score:5, Funny)
I'm not uber-rich yet, but when I get there, I want my minions to have RFID tags as well as silver lycra bodysuits.
It's a style thing.
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"man, what I'd really like is to be able to implant electronics into the working class so I can watch their every move"
o you really think they give a shit about what time Joe Sixpack staggers home with some drunken bar skank?
You are taking organizations too simply. Maybe a guy at the top of a company doesn't give a flying fuck about tracking employees. But big organizations have many layers of management and there is a possibility that you can have some people actually reading/managing that RFID data.
Management drone 1: Hey, I've seen that company X and company Y have mandatory implant policy.
Management drone 2: Sure, we have to be on the competitive edge. I'll suggest that to my boss.
Management metadrone1: Great idea, imple
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Re: Average Joe (Score:2)
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This only helps controlling people that play by the rules.
There has always been a link between economic differences and crime. When the differences are very large, the super-rich are fantastically wealthy at the expense of more crime in society. For some, the solution is to make the economic differences smaller, while for others the solution is to spend more money
Re:Cancerous Police state much? (Score:5, Insightful)
That being said, I'm also in no hurry to have any tracking devices implanted in me either.
Re:Cancerous Police state much? (Score:4, Interesting)
You know something else that has a pretty short range, the toll pay transmitters you can use for toll roads.
But guess what I recently found out, plenty of states are installing these detectors on the quiet on all sorts of roads, unmarked.
The one official explanation I saw was that it was for traffic study...
Not only is it fairly useless for traffic shaping, but when they pick up your ID off those things, it's linked to your CC or bank account, name address etc. And they are keeping records of where you've been with it. Do a little search I'm sure you can find more info.
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Of more immediate concern to me is that an unscrupulous criminal could pick up this guy's RFID as he passes by in a mall or on the street and intercept the RFID signal. He could then follow the guy home to find out where he lives. Then when the guy is not at home he could walk up to the house, re
Research much? Scare easily? (Score:5, Informative)
Known? Implanting "subcutaneous foreign objects" might cause cancer, see the quote below. And the research done on mice indicates it typically happens in one percent or two.
"It's important to emphasize that those studies are not necessarily sufficient to view these implants as known hazards. The data suggest that the devices foster cancer by causing inflammation of the tissues that encapsulate them. There is a large amount of scientific literature linking cancer and inflammation (the National Cancer Institute has some information on the matter). RFID tags turn out not to be the only form of animal tagging that causes cancer through inflammation; standard metallic ear tags can do so as well. That paper also notes that there have been a number of case reports where human prosthetic implants have induced cancers in the surrounding tissues.", taken from Ars Technica [arstechnica.com]
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Although I wouldn't mind getting a RFID tag in my arm so I can log in to computers and stuff like that instantly.
The chance of cancer (minimal) is worth the convenience.
There are far worse causes of cancer in our lives every day.
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Hah. It's funny, I googled your quote and read that entire article. It seems you selectively left out bits like this one.
While
Re:Research much? Scare easily? (Score:5, Funny)
You can mock all you like, but how many times has a building that they were occupying had an aircraft crash into it since the implantation?
Don't Eat Anything! (Score:2, Troll)
The fact? The suggestion that it might is enough to make you avoid it? The OP claimed it caused cancer in a "high number" of cases. That was blatantly untrue in fact, there was no evidence to back up his claim.
I certainly won't bring up the discussion on what foods cause cancer and at what rate. Or how much sun you can take before you get skin cancer. The fumes from your house or ground gas might cause cancer. Or the pe
No Science, Silly Math (Score:5, Insightful)
No, I said the OP claimed a HUGE percentage got cancer when in fact they don't. Secondly there was no research done on humans, and mice are not humans.
The fact that 1-2% could even possibly get cancer does not mean 30-60 million people will get it. Science is a bit more advanced than that. I'm not giving you any credit for your math skills. In fact it's probably unlikely they will get cancer at all from this "potential" threat. You are just making outrageous claims from no evidence what so ever.
I would take those odds, they're really quite good, but I don't want to be tagged none the less.
Re:Oh - good, only 1-2 of every 100 people get can (Score:2, Informative)
Fearmongering? (Score:2, Informative)
As far as the body is concerned, it would see a little pellet lined with a coating. Many pacemaker housings are titanium, so if this is metal-lined, I do not see any possible way this could cause cancer being the low level radio emitter it is. I'd be happy to review any reputable journal
Re:Cancerous Police state much? (Score:5, Informative)
Inert objects implanted into the body cause fibrous encapsulation, when the body's immune system covers the implant with fibrous and connective tissues. I'm sure you probably noticed that the implant in your pet was covered in tissue after they removed it. The problem is that scientists haven't determined whether it's the RF scanners, the RFID itself, or the presence of an inert implant that's causing the cancer (or at least I'm not aware of any evidence of it). Having said that, I would never implant myself with a foreign object.
Never say never? (Score:2)
Pacemaker, skull plate, bionic ear, bone pins,...?
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Hmm, I hadn't heard of the term "bionic ear" for cochlear implants before. Kind of a creepy name if you ask me.
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The implant was created here in Oz by the University of Melbourne and a private company. I think 'bionic ear' may be (or was) a trademark or company in the early commercialization. I can't remember all the details but for some reason the term stayed in common usage here in Melbourne. Incidently, a wiki search for bionic ear [wikipedia.org] shows it understands strine [wikipedia.org].
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A casual web search show so many casual rants without experimentation or real testing that it's difficult to establish a real one. It's as bad as the "vaccines cause autism" idea, which keeps having serious journals
Excessive? (Score:5, Insightful)
Shows commitment (Score:3, Funny)
Got an implant.... now that shows you're into it.... or at least it's into you!
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Yes.
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I have a Java ring I got back a long time ago at one of the shows when Sun was demonstrating their JM ibutton that could run code on it. It would be very easy to get a rfid ring made that will work not only good but have a way to disable the rfid from transmitting.
But these guys like needled stuck into them, so they go that route.
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On a worringly frequent basis, often without clothing, with inexplicable knife wounds or covered in leaves.
Answering the question posed (Score:5, Funny)
I can think of a number of reasons.
1. You can give your key to a trusted associate, for example to housesit or run an errand for you. Giving your arm to a trusted associate is computationally intensive, destructive, and irreversible.
2. You can, for the cost of less than one hour's salary, revoke the key tied to a compromised lock, and then issue a new key. If unforseen circumstances should cause the RFID lock to require revoking, well, bad news bears...
3. Key/lock devices are well understood, hardly ever fail due to them having few moving parts which are almost never in operation, and are robust against almost all unforseen environmental conditions (i.e. power outage). Arm/RFID reader interfaces are poorly understood, by necessity have to be polling constantly, and are dependent on several fragile systems to maintain the key requirements that you be let into your house promptly any time you desire and that unauthorized users be rejected 100% of the time.
4. You have designs of ever having a romantic relationship. ("Honey, I know preparations for the wedding have been a bit busy, but we'll have to schedule your surgery sometime this week...")
5. A diligent attacker attempting to compromise your lock/key interface has no reason to attempt to compromise your shoulder/arm interface with a hacksaw.
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OT (Score:3, Funny)
I for one am well past the "take the cheque and fuck off" stage, I've survived the "working single dad" stage and the "middle age disco heart attack" stage. I think the "indifferent old fart" stage is next, I'd ask dad but he's in the "surprised to be alive" stage and mostly just grins like a child.
Go away, I don't have a lawn!
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If I recall correctly they used a big arsed needle to implant the microchips in my dogs and that was 8 years ago.
Hey honey, bend over! This will only take a minute!
Oops silly me, that was meant to go in your arm. I read the instructions wrong. Hey your options are that you can put your arse against the door to open it or
Refuting those. (Score:2)
2. Xacto knife.3. You're a geek, so you don't really go out anyway.
4.Inflatable dolls don't mind or want to be hitched.
See 3.
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The trick with your future spouse is to get an RFID lock implanted for your partner's sexual organs, for a real geek chastity belt. Of course, being this much of a geek is a bit of a chastity belt in itse
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My friend has developed similar system (Score:5, Interesting)
The system contains everything you could imagine: in-house tracking system, motion detectors, remote messaging control and web-interface administration, integration with all electronic household appliances for whatever control you could think of doing, including but not limited to gardening and feeding your dogs.
He even got VC supports to build the actual products; but then, I asked him one question: "what about power outage, which happen so frequently in China?"
He thought briefly and said "We could include an fuel-powered, emergency backup power supply for my system."
"Well, when there's a power outage, those house appliances cease to function as well..."
He then thought more deeply and said "Then we must kick in a bigger fuel-powered, emergency backup power supply for the entire house!"
He's now selling household fuel-powered emergency backup power supplies and really good at it.
Fire away wise guys (Score:5, Funny)
Just pause for a moment and admit to yourself that you were thinking what language *you* would be scripting the curtains with.
Implanted??? (Score:2)
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The difference between these and an RFID tag implantation is minor. I just don't like the idea that the sensors at various shipping companies can tell when I walk near them. What's next?
Hmmmmm..... (Score:3, Funny)
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How recently?
b) If your in that much danger then your screwed anyway.
Not necessarily.
If someone just wants your keys you can give them to him.
If he requires your body parts as keys he'll take those.
If those body parts require you to still be alive, then you get to go with them.
The only scenario with a reasonably high probability of you being left unscathed is the one in which you can give them the keys.
I don't want to work for an employer whose idea of sec
Favor me with a short answer (Score:5, Insightful)
This means that the tags themselves cannot do any encryption at all.
If this is the case, why the hell would anybody want to use it to gain secure access to anything when anybody nearby the tag with an RFID reader can read the serial number and spoof the tag?
This would be like writing your credit card number on the front of your shirt -
Is my understanding flawed, here? Are there newer RFID tags that actually can do crypto (and are people like those in TFA using them)? I may be wrong in any number of ways, so I'm looking for some more solid info.
Re:Favor me with a short answer (Score:5, Informative)
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There are different kinds of RFID tags. The passive ones require no battery power, but very little but respond with a simple serial number (although there have been some development around this). The active ones has battery included and can do all sorts of things but are more expensive and has a shorter lifespan.
I suggest looking this up on Wi
Jon Rocks (Score:4, Interesting)
Like, say, Andrew Tridgall who at a recent event (linux.conf.au 2008), instead of socialising decided to reverse engineer the Sony eBook reader.
Although the blog post with photos of how he put the RFID in himself was one of the most distrubing things I've ever seen on the internet (I guess because I've worked with him).
Jobs Shmobs (Score:3, Funny)
Why the iPod touch? (Score:3, Interesting)
But when you look at home automation like that, do you ask yourself "how much time a day does he spend installing and maitaining his automatics?"
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One? (Score:2)
So, implanted RFID have the same promise as proximity cards did. Just have one card, and open all your locks!
I have six cards now. I've tried to get provider n to use card 1..(n-1), but that's never worked (I guess they sell more cards that way? But then I have to carry more cards!) That's annoying if they're taking up space in my wallet. But if each one had to be injected, I'm thinking this would not work out.
Full Interview (Score:4, Informative)
Why have a key to open your front door....? (Score:3, Interesting)
"Why have a key to open your front door when you can have an RFID tag implanted in your arm that will do the trick?
RFID tags and proximity cards (like on some cars) are not a good replacement for a key. They do not behave the same way.
We have a modern key-less system at the local swimming pool. Keys have been replaced with a wristband with a single button about the size of a UK 5pence piece (a dime in the US I think). Most of the time they work well. But when the conductance isn't quite right (usually the surfaces are too wet) they don't work. In a swimming pool and the changing rooms, the chances of things being too wet, is er, rather high. A different pool I go to uses real keys. I never, ever have a problem opening a locker at that pool. The key does what it is meant to do, that is, be a key, not a clever, technology over-engineered replacement for a key that requires operator intervention by the key creators to fix malfunctions.
We have a lecturer (professor?) here in the UK that does stupid stuff like this all the time. Gets him in the media. I'm sure he loves it. Really, really sad. Why don't people use their creativity a bit more usefully?
(Sniff, sniff) "OK, who's cooking the pork roast?" (Score:3, Funny)
home automation with ipod touch (Score:2)
If you want to hack this together, buy some x10 units (which happen to have web interfaces) write up some perl and glue it to an iphone app.
gigabit Ethernet (Score:2, Funny)
Does that help the gate open/close faster?
Not my first choice (Score:2)
Prior Art (Score:2)
Meh, it's been done before [reading.ac.uk] - 10 years ago:
Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)
Why indeed (Score:5, Funny)
Because you'd like to attract women at some point?
Captain Cyborg (Score:4, Informative)
Checkout Jon's presentation at LCA 2008 (Score:2)
Videos here http://mirror.linux.org.au/pub/linux.conf.au/2008/Wed/mel8-039a.ogg [linux.org.au]
and here: http://mirror.linux.org.au/pub/linux.conf.au/2008/Wed/mel8-039b.ogg [linux.org.au]
his ideal situation... (Score:3, Insightful)
So... his ideal situation (which he hasn't actually manage to achieve yet) is to do something that the security systems in most apartment buildings have been doing for decades.
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