Usability of display-equipped RFID tags for security purposes

Details

Leuven, Belgium. Date of Talk: 9/13/2011

Speakers

Ersin Uzun
Event

Usability of display-equipped RFID tags for security purposes

Recent emergence of high-end RFID tags capable of performing public key operations enables some new applications in commerce (e.g., RFID-enabled credit cards) and security (e.g., ePassports and access control badges). While the use of public key cryptography mitigates many difficult security issues, certain important usability-related issues remain, particularly, when RFID tags are used for financial transactions or bearer identification. In this paper, we focus on user-involved techniques for user-to-tag authentication, transaction verification, reader expiration & revocation checking, as well as pairing of RFID tags with other personal devices. Our approach is based on two factors: (1) recent advances in hardware and manufacturing have made it possible to mass-produce inexpensive passive display-equipped RFID tags, and (2) high-end RFID tags used in financial transactions or identification are usually attended by users (their owners). Our techniques rely on user involvement coupled with on-tag displays to achieve better security and privacy. Since user acceptance is a crucial factor in this context, we thoroughly evaluate usability of all proposed methods via comprehensive user studies and report on our findings.

Additional information

Focus Areas

Our work is centered around a series of Focus Areas that we believe are the future of science and technology.

FIND OUT MORE
Licensing & Commercialization Opportunities

We’re continually developing new technologies, many of which are available for Commercialization.

FIND OUT MORE
News

PARC scientists and staffers are active members and contributors to the science and technology communities.

FIND OUT MORE