Classifying RFID attacks and defenses

• Published in: Information systems frontiers Vol. 12; no. 5; pp. 491 - 505
• Main Authors: Mitrokotsa, Aikaterini, Rieback, Melanie R., Tanenbaum, Andrew S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-11-2010; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algorithms; Business and Management; Classification; Communication; Computer science; Control; Counterfeiting; Electrostatic discharges; Information systems; IT in Business; Management of Computing and Information Systems; Operations Research/Decision Theory; Privacy; Radio frequency; Radio frequency identification; RFID attacks; RFID security; Security; Studies; Systems Theory; RFID security; RFID attacks; Classification
• ISSN: 1387-3326; 1572-9419; 1572-9419
• DOI: 10.1007/s10796-009-9210-z

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) systems are one of the most pervasive computing technologies with technical potential and profitable opportunities in a diverse area of applications. Among their advantages is included their low cost and their broad applicability. However, they also present a number of inherent vulnerabilities. This paper develops a structural methodology for risks that RFID networks face by developing a classification of RFID attacks, presenting their important features, and discussing possible countermeasures. The goal of the paper is to categorize the existing weaknesses of RFID communication so that a better understanding of RFID attacks can be achieved and subsequently more efficient and effective algorithms, techniques and procedures to combat these attacks may be developed.