Can you make RFID scanner to detect any 3rd party tags despite countermeasures?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the feasibility of Team Blue detecting RFID tags created by Team Red, which are designed to be read only by authorized scanners. Team Red aims to implement security measures such as passphrase activation for their tags, while Team Blue seeks to identify the presence of these tags regardless of countermeasures. The consensus is that while Team Red may achieve some level of security through obscurity, Team Blue can still detect the tags by utilizing the re-radiation of energy from the RFID chip antennas, allowing for triangulation of their location.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of RFID technology and its components
  • Knowledge of signal re-radiation principles
  • Familiarity with triangulation techniques for location detection
  • Awareness of security measures in RFID systems
NEXT STEPS
  • Research advanced RFID security techniques and their vulnerabilities
  • Explore methods for signal triangulation in RFID detection
  • Study the principles of energy re-radiation in passive RFID systems
  • Investigate countermeasures against unauthorized RFID scanning
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for security engineers, RFID system designers, and researchers focused on anti-counterfeiting technologies and detection methods in supply chain management.

cave_cat
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suppose Team Red wants to make RFID tags that only their own "authorized" scanners can pick up, such as for tagging merchandise in Walmart. Meanwhile Team Blue wants to be able to find any Team Red tags on items or prove that they are not there. They don't need to extract any info from the tags, only establish their existence and hopefully location.

Who would win, now and in the foreseeable future? Can Team Red achieve "security through obscurity" for their tags? Or can Team Blue detect the presence of the miniature chip antennas regardless of manufacturer's countermeasures?
 
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There could be a type of tag that only responds if it hears a pass phrase. Assuming that Team Blue doesn't have access to the pass phrase, then the tags will not reply to their scanner.
 
They would be detectable because the RFID chip antenna re-radiates energy. Light 'em up and triangulate.