Why is there an RFID tag in my clothes?
Marks & Spencer is including radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in clothes at one of its shops in a trial to improve stock accuracy and product availability. According to the company, the tags have been inserted into removable clothing labels and hold only a unique serial number which identifies the garment.
What is an RFID tag made of?
RFID tags are made of three different components: an RFID chip, which is an integrated circuit (IC), an antenna, and a substrate. A tag manufacturer typically does not make all three components in-house.
What are RFID clothing tags and how do they work?
A number of companies make RFID Clothing Tags encased in protective plastic. These tags are designed for use in the laundry and uniform rental business. The tags used are typically 13.56 MHz tags, which have a read range of less than 3 feet (1 meter). Today, there is no way to embed a tag that is undetectable to the consumer into clothes.
What’s the Dark Side of RFID?
“The dark side of RFID is surreptitious access,” said Bruce Schneier, a security expert with Counterpane Internet Security Inc. “When RFID chips are embedded in your ID cards, your clothes, your possessions, you are effectively broadcasting who you are to anyone within range,” he said.
Should RFID chips be embedded in your ID cards?
“When RFID chips are embedded in your ID cards, your clothes, your possessions, you are effectively broadcasting who you are to anyone within range,” he said. “The level of surveillance possible, not only by the government but by corporations and criminals as well, will be unprecedented.
What is the range of RFID tags?
The tags used are typically 13.56 MHz tags, which have a read range of less than 3 feet (1 meter). Today, there is no way to embed a tag that is undetectable to the consumer into clothes.