NationStates Jolt Archive

Well i didn't see this anywhere so i posted. Caught my attention a day or so ago.
I guess the question would be whether it would be worth it to work for a company that does it ... can you just remove the chip when you punch out for the day?

http://www.freemarketnews.com/Analysis/139/3812/2006-02-15.asp?wid=139&nid=3812

CHIPPING WORKERS POSES HUGE SECURITY RISK

Wednesday, February 15, 2006


Since we first publicized last week that Cincinnati video surveillance company CityWatcher.com had implanted the first VeriChip RFID tags into U.S. employees, the story has exploded. Financial Times reporter Richard Waters got the story from us, then his story landed in Slashdot and the Drudge Report, and that resulted in over 200 Google news stories around the world and several prominent TV news features.

As talk shows and media pundits cover the issue, however, there is one crucial fact they are missing: THE VERICHIP IS NOT SECURE -- IT CAN BE HACKED. What's more, the vast majority of Americans oppose it.

Of course, CASPIAN newsletter subscribers already know the VeriChip was cloned just last month by security researcher Jonathan Westhues, putting a huge dent in VeriChip's message that its implant provides a high level of security. The truth is the chip implant does nothing of the kind.

(See: http://www.spychips.com/press-releases/verichip-hacked.html)

Below is an excerpt from the press release we sent last Thursday that initially sparked the media frenzy on the "implanted workers" story. Note that the focus of our reporting was the fact that neither CityWatcher nor Six Sigma Security had any idea that the VeriChip implant was insecure and had been hacked:

Ironically, implantable tags may not provide CityWatcher with that additional safety, after all. Last month security researcher Jonathan Westhues demonstrated how the VeriChip can be skimmed and cloned by a hacker, who could theoretically duplicate an individual's VeriChip implant to access a secure area. Westhues, author of a chapter titled "Hacking the Prox Card" for Simson Garfinkel's recent "RFID: Applications, Security, and Privacy," said the VeriChip "is not good for anything" and has absolutely no security. "No one I spoke with at Six Sigma Security or at CityWatcher knew that the VeriChip had been hacked," [Spychips co-author Liz] McIntyre observed. "They were also surprised to hear of VeriChip's downsides as a medical device. It was clear they weren't aware of some of the controversy surrounding the implant."

(Source: http://www.spychips.com/press-releases/us-employees-verichipped.html)

In the meantime, we've been busy talking with reporters and radio hosts everywhere about the serious downsides to chip implants. Here are just a few of the scores of media stories that have featured our opposition to the chips:

Ohio Company Implants Security Chips Into Employees (New York Sun) http://www.nysun.com/article/27551

Video surveillance outfit chips workers (The Register) http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/02/10/employees_chipped/

Company requires RFID injection (Security Focus) http://www.securityfocus.com/brief/134

Employees get microchip implants (WorldNetDaily) http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48760

Spy chips in employees' arms (p2pnet) http://www.p2pnet.net/story/7884

RFID Injection Required for Datacenter Access (Slashdot) http://it.slashdot.org/it/06/02/12/0031213.shtml

Firm implants ID chips (Cincinatti Enquirer) http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060214/BIZ02/602140331/1076

Our original press release (also reproduced below) can be found at: http://www.spychips.com/press-releases/us-employees-verichipped.html

----
(I should mention the post goes on, but it's a call to action, and that's not what i'm going for here)

Too late. My Number is tattooed on my forearm, just like my extended Jewish relatives.

As for RFID, that's so easy to defeat /screw with, it's pathetic.

Too late. My Number is tattooed on my forearm, just like my extended Jewish relatives.
Even if a joke, i can't laugh at that. Sorry.

As for RFID, that's so easy to defeat /screw with, it's pathetic.
Well it's a good thing they posted examples as such. More to the point of the thread, then you wouldn't mind so much working for a company that required it ...?

Even if a joke, i can't laugh at that. Sorry.No joke. And it really fu*ks with the minds of the "Jehova's Witnesses" who ask me if I know if I'm one of the 144,000.

EDIT: Not because the Jews (particularly the victims of the Shoah) side(d) with "The Beast", but because they were Marked for destruction by one of the perpetual biblical "Beasts". Sorry if I confused you...


Well it's a good thing they posted examples as such. More to the point of the thread, then you wouldn't mind so much working for a company that required it ...?
Not really. Within one fiscal quarter I will have made it so expensive &/or cumbersome to use that they will have dropped the whole idea.

No joke. And it really fu*ks with the minds ofbthe Jahova's Witnesses who ask me if I know if I'm one of the 144,000.
Do they tend to change the subject quickly and drop their "Watchtower" pamphlets?
My mom likes to go to the door with her bathrobe open when they show up. She's 64 years old ... not exactly Calendar Girl candidate ... :eek:
I don't think she's kidding. She really hates that sh*t.

Not really. Within one fiscal quarter I will have made it so expensive &/or cumbersome to use that they will have dropped the whole idea.
Sounds like the right thing to do! :D

EDIT: Not because the Jews (particularly the victims of the Shoah) side(d) with "The Beast", but because they were Marked for destruction by one of the perpetual biblical "Beasts". Sorry if I confused you .....
Ah. Thanks for the clarification. I hope my thread title wasn't too insensitive.

Do they tend to change the subject quickly and drop their "Watchtower" pamphlets?
My mom likes to go to the door with her bathrobe open when they show up. She's 64 years old ... not exactly Calendar Girl candidate ... :eek:
I don't think she's kidding. She really hates that sh*t.The only time I've seen them Flee faster is when confronted by Flamer PDAs :D Fass would enjoy that scene! ;)
Sounds like the right thing to do! :DEMPs are really useful. Kill-Code projectors are even MORE useful. :eek: :D

I work for the federal government. We use proximity badges and they have been very effective. I dont understand why you would want the RFID implanted, that would eliminate one of the methods of authentication. The proximity badges are useful for getting you into buildings, but if someone sees you walking around without an ID badge on, the fact that you got into the building is not going to ease their worries, you will still be confronted by security.

Like all security systems, there is always a decision to be made between how much convenience you are willing to sacrifice for the sake of security. For many companies, RFID is a suitable form of security. We had to make the decision, either employees can keep queueing up to get in the buildings in the morning using the old style swipe badges, or they can quickly badge themselves in using a proximity system. For most buildings, the decision was simple and the proximity badge system was implemented. The secure buildings still retain a higher level of authentication and have additional security features. But the bulk of employees benefit greatly from the ease of use of the proxy system, and considering that entry into the campus is controlled by additional safeguards, the tradeoff in security is acceptable for us.

Basically, what I am trying to get to is that, yes, it is true that RFID is not perfect, but nothing is. Like all security systems, there are tradeoffs, and for some organizations, an RFID based system is worthwhile. However, I dont see the logic of implanting it.

There's handheld com devices that have scramblers on them - the dock folk use 'em, harbormasters also IIRC ...
As for Fass ... i guess i've missed all the poetic posts! :D

Basically, what I am trying to get to is that, yes, it is true that RFID is not perfect, but nothing is. Like all security systems, there are tradeoffs, and for some organizations, an RFID based system is worthwhile. However, I dont see the logic of implanting it.
Sounds like a fair assessment, agreed.
*nods*

My mom likes to go to the door with her bathrobe open when they show up. She's 64 years old ... not exactly Calendar Girl candidate ... :eek:


Aw, dude, no dude, aw...

See, this is why I didn't support you for President, even though you were well qualified...

Aw, dude, no dude, aw...
What? No "Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson ..." :D


See, this is why I didn't support you for President, even though you were well qualified...
Did i miss that vote?
Moddamnit! That was the time i voted for Lunatic Goofballs!!
Argh!!

What? No "Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson ..." :D



Did i miss that vote?
Moddamnit! That was the time i voted for Lunatic Goofballs!!
Argh!!

Unless your Grandmother looks like Anne Bancroft circa original episodes of "Battlestar Galactica", no soup for you, pal.

And actually, I was going to write you in for the last Presidential Election, but the ballots were confusing...

Unless your Grandmother looks like Anne Bancroft circa original episodes of "Battlestar Galactica", no soup for you, pal.
Uhm my grandmother is on "display" in a Boston museum, since she wanted to devote *most* of her body to science.
As for my mother, she envies her.
And actually, I was going to write you in for the last Presidential Election, but the ballots were confusing...Well, who did your numbers? ES&S, AG Siemens, or Diebold? If any of them, you have a sympathy pardon.

Uhm my grandmother is on "display" in a Boston museum, since she wanted to devote *most* of her body to science.
As for my mother, she envies her.
Well, who did your numbers? ES&S, AG Siemens, or Diebold? If any of them, you have a sympathy pardon.

Heehee. You said "Siemens".

I hope your Grandma haunts you naked.

Heehee. You said "Siemens".

I hope your Grandma haunts you naked.
Nah, too late. I got her first. *nods*

I'll take the number.

I'll take the number.
Well, for the conspira-philes, you've likely already got one if you're an American *US of* citizen :eek:

http://www.ssa.gov/

I'll take the number.

Heh, one day, aliens will show up and say,

"Attention humans. There is a transpatial micropathogen about to manifest throughout this area. We have developed this innoculation, which will leave a small mark on your asscheek or forearm."

And Pat Robertson will order his followers not to take the mark, and when he explains his reasons to the aliens, they will decide our species shouldn't get the vaccine...

Heh, one day, aliens will show up and say,

"Attention humans. There is a transpatial micropathogen about to manifest throughout this area. We have developed this innoculation, which will leave a small mark on your asscheek or forearm."

And Pat Robertson will order his followers not to take the mark, and when he explains his reasons to the aliens, they will decide our species shouldn't get the vaccine...
Further, those of us who had our asscheeks spread and got gangprobed by the grays (and the blues for that matter) will be vindicated. At least, i would hope they'd had enough decency to innoculate us after such a fervently humiliating (and non-financially-compensatory) act.

Well, for the conspira-philes, you've likely already got one if you're an American *US of* citizen :eek:

http://www.ssa.gov/

in the top left hand corner it said 62<>65<>67 in the scrolling thingy

I think that means something.

Further, those of us who had our asscheeks spread and got gangprobed by the grays (and the blues for that matter) will be vindicated. At least, i would hope they'd had enough decency to innoculate us after such a fervently humiliating (and non-financially-compensatory) act.

Don't sully an act of love with your sordid talk of coin.

Wish they'd figure out a little human invention called "lube", though.

Just because their spacecraft have frictionless surfaces doesn't mean my ass does...

in the top left hand corner it said 62<>65<>67 in the scrolling thingy

I think that means something.
Well, not to diminish anything for you, but ...
there's nothing to see here. Move along.

Don't sully an act of love with your sordid talk of coin.
I thought i'd settled this on that thread with Fass ...

Wish they'd figure out a little human invention called "lube", though.
Just a meager price to pay for our species, i guess.
"One small tear for my behind ... one ... GIANT REAM for mankind!"

Just because their spacecraft have frictionless surfaces doesn't mean my ass does...
See, the trick is ... have you seen the maglev research on frogs in that joint in Nijmegen?
http://www.anomalous-images.com/messages/724.html
See, the trick is ... uhm how to put this delicately ... oh never mind.
There's a reason why it hurts for the ones who drink too much liquor. *nods solemnly*

RFID chips are not inherently insecure, thats a rumor that seems to be propagating, but its not true, the ease with wich the current RFID devices have been bypassed is a result of the crappy software they use. The technology is easily as useful, safe and secure as proponents claim, it just needs some better programming than has yet been applied to the problem.

Personally I'm not against voluntarily submitting to an RFID chip, depending on the circumstances, I'd gladly get a Chip to hold medical records and access to say, my car and home (both applications are currently feasible).

in the top left hand corner it said 62<>65<>67 in the scrolling thingy

I think that means something.

not to burst your bubble or anything but those are the ages at which, depending on your health, your occupation and a few other variables, you can retire and start collecting those beautiful Social Security checkies

The barcode tattoo on the back of my neck reads 13-666-69-420.

I just wanted to cover all my bases.

The barcode tattoo on the back of my neck reads 13-666-69-420.

I just wanted to cover all my bases.
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