Emmaco News Update

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

RFID is Useful, But is It Safe?

Posted by Carl Weinschenk on August 21, 2008 at 10:08 am

It’s good to see that the government is taking the topic of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) security seriously. This SC Magazine piece, which notes that RFIDs are getting more attention as their use increases, says that the Federal Trade Commission will host a free workshop on the topic next month.

One example cited in the story – a paper written by three MIT students detailing how to beat the Boston subway system’s RFID-based Charlie Card fare collection system — is detailed in this Tech Radar piece.

A judge ruled that the students couldn’t be forced to withhold the paper detailing their exploit until the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority studied the document. The students said that they planned to delete key details and safeguard the fare system. MBTA now will try to meet with the students.

The story says that a similar situation exists in London, where the Oyster Card system has been hacked by Dutch university students. That vulnerability is discussed in this Control Engineering item. The story says that the SANS Institute reports that the Mifare RFID chip, which is the same one used by the Charlie Card, has been broken. SANS says that Mifare is used to access UK government departments, hospitals and schools. This Heise Online story explains the threat to British ePassports. The Dutch, understandably, have put their use of Mifare on hold.

This well written E-Commerce Times feature details the shortcomings of RFID security. The bottom line is that the technology is evolving rapidly and that its uses are changing drastically.

For instance, RFIDs to this point essentially have been short-distance technologies. Ways are being found to combine RFIDs with Wi-Fi and other long-distance platforms to greatly increase the distance the signals are carried. In many cases, new systems are creative combinations of several technologies. For this reason, end-to-end security is lacking.

Where there are problems, there are vendors offering solutions. Earlier this month, for instance, a British company released a system that prevents “skimming,” or reading, of wireless payment access cards. The new technology has the impressive name Quantum Tunnelling

NSCA Tech Week Cancelled

InfoComm, NSCA Cancel TechWeek

Source: ProAV MAGAZINE
Publication date: August 27, 2008

By Pro AV Staff

InfoComm International announced that the inaugural NSCA TechWeek, originally slated for
Oct. 20 - 24, 2008, has been cancelled.

According to InfoComm, TechWeek was designed to be an accessible training event, offering a variety of networking opportunities. InfoComm and NSCA chose to cancel the event because members of both organizations expressed positive interest in the training component of the event, but emphasized the need for more regional training and did not see the need for exhibits since the annual InfoComm trade show presents an exhibition every June.

NSCA and InfoComm plan to work together to determine how regional training can be provided in multiple locations and dates throughout the coming year, rather than at one location. Future events will not include an exhibit component, according to officials.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Yesterday's Emmaco Blog Visitor Count

FCC Prohibits Wireless Mics in 700 MHz

FCC prohibits wireless mics in 700MHz band after DTV transition
Aug 25, 2008 3:14 PM

The FCC has voted unanimously to ban the use of wireless microphones and other devices in the 700MHz band after the transition to digital television Feb. 17. Also included in the FCC order is equipment for cue and control communications and that synchronizes TV camera signals.

The FCC also wants to prohibit the manufacture, import, sale or shipment of devices that operate as low-power auxiliary stations in the 700MHz band after the transition is complete. Anticipating the decision, wireless microphone vendors like Shure have not manufactured such mics since the end of 2007.

Wireless microphones have long been sharing the spectrum with broadcasters on Channels 52 through 69. Those channels, however, are being reclaimed for advanced wireless uses by industry players and first-responders after the transition to DTV.

Responding to consumer groups, the FCC Enforcement Bureau has opened an investigation into how manufacturers market wireless microphones to users.

The Public Interest Spectrum Coalition alleged in a complaint last month that users of wireless microphones, including Broadway stage shows and large churches, are unwittingly violating FCC rules that require licenses for the devices. The group accused wireless manufacturers of deceptive advertising in how they market and sell the microphones, which largely operate in the same radio spectrum as broadcast TV stations.

Most wireless microphone owners are unaware that FCC rules require them to obtain a license. Wireless microphones that operate in the same frequency bands as broadcast TV stations are intended for use in the production of TV or cable programming or the motion picture industry, according to FCC rules.

The FCC rarely enforces the licensing requirements on the microphones because there have been so few complaints; the microphones are programmed to avoid TV channels. However, transition to digital broadcasting has forced the FCC to act.

It’s not known how many wireless microphones are in operation, but Harold Feld, an attorney for the Media Access Project, said the total is likely more than 1 million. “These are the favored frequencies because they can be run at lower power and can be used for very high-quality audio,” Feld told the Associated Press.

The wireless microphone issue stems from the FCC’s consideration of using the spectrum between TV channels for transmitting wireless broadband signals. Consumer groups and some of the nation’s largest technology companies say these “white spaces” represent enormous potential to make broadband more accessible.Wireless microphone users and manufacturers have objected to the FCC over future white space devices because of fears of interference, even though many of them haven’t been granted government licenses for the microphones they’re using.