Radio Frequency Identification or RFID is widespread these days. Often products in stores have RFID chips embedded in their tags to assist in nabbing thieves; big corporations use the technology in asset management; and, occasionally elderly patients are monitored using RFID tags. But how do you know if you’re being tracked by RFID, whether directly or indirectly?
Hacker Marc Boon has created a product he calls the RFID Sniffer. It’s simply a credit card-sized circuit board with the outline of a dog soldered onto it, a button and an LED light. Once the RFID Sniffer is all put together (which takes Boon about 20 minutes), a user just has to press the button and if in the presence of RFID, the LED light will glow. A pre-assembled RFID Sniffer costs 40 euros (US$56) while a do-it-yourself kit costs 15 euros (US$21).
