Let me preface this by stating I am not a lawyer. I don’t live in California. I’m also not an expert at reading legislation, and I may also be thinking about this the wrong way.
That said, I’ve been reading California’s legislation marked SB 31, which makes it illegal to read RFID without the possessor’s prior consent and approval. This raises some very interesting questions to me…
How does this affect installed systems used for automobile toll collection? Does this mean that each time I drive through a tollbooth with this technology, the State of California has to ask my permission to read, and then I have to consent? Certainly, they can pre-authorize consent through the usage agreement, which they may need to change now. Until then (if it isn’t already in the agreement), is the State of California currently engaging in an illegal act?
The same becomes true of those using RFID for access control or payment information. Does my employer need to ask me permission to read my RFID enabled badge every time I enter the building? Or, do they need to cover it with a blanket usage agreement?
In my opinion, I think that the legislators went about this a little backwards. I personally think that they should not have made it illegal to read without permission, but that they should have done the opposite; pass legislation that requires the RFID vendors to implement technology to prevent unauthorized, unencrypted reading of data from RFID. Sure, form a technological standpoint it is certainly a challenge, but consider making it a future rollout, such as the new digital TV rollout here in the US.
Certainly neither plan is perfect or foolproof. I just see this as going after the attacker, while really not fixing the problem.
When you outlaw reading RFID, only outlaws will read RFID.
RFID in California
Larry’s core specialties include hardware and wireless hacking, architectural review, and traditional pentesting. He also regularly gives talks at DEF CON, ShmooCon, DerbyCon, and various BSides. Larry holds the GAWN, GCISP, GCIH, GCFA, and ITIL certifications, and has been a certified instructor with SANS for 5 years, where he trains the industry in advanced wireless and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) hacking. Larry’s independent research for the show has led to interviews with the New York Times with MythBusters’ Adam Savage, hacking internet-connected marital aids on stage at DEFCON, and having his RFID implant cloned on stage at Shmoocon. Larry is also a Principal Instructor and Course Author for the SANS Institute for SEC617: Wireless Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking and SEC556: IoT Penetration Testing. When not hard at work, Larry enjoys long walks on the beach weighed down by his ham radio, (DE KB1TNF), and thinking of ways to survive the impending zombie apocalypse.
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