Tagzapper, RFID washer RFID deactivators
By Barb Dybwad 
posted March 16th 2005 4:38AM
posted March 16th 2005 4:38AM
Wary of RFID tags giving your location away?
Trick those trackers with one of these two devices: the TagZapper (photo, at left) from West End Laboratories is a
lightweight, handheld device for deactivating RFID tags, preventing RFID scanners from working their magic. Likewise,
the RFIDwasher (photo, at right) also detects and destroys RFID in its tracks. Look for both devices to be in
production by the end of this year.
[Via Near Near Future]
Wouldn't this mean that you could walk into Wal-Mart with one of these, disable the RFID device on a dvd, slip it into your jacket, and walk right out of the store without the alarm sounding?
Yelohbird, that was exactly what came to my mind when I read this... although I think/hope it will not be that easy...
How long before someone reverse engineers one of these devices and then increases the power 10 or 20 fold? Walk into Walmart and set off you own little RFID/EMP...
I think I've been watching too much Star Trek... :)
seems to me that they already make devices to deactivate the security tags on the DVDs at the Wal-Mart currently... i don't see them in widespread use.
sort of like my house/car/office are filled with all sorts of potentially dangerous toxic or poisonous substances... doesn't mean i feed them to people i don't like.
i think it boils down to being a character issue. if you really want to steal a DVD from Wal-Mart i'm sure you can find a way... RFID tag remover or not.
The page this tracks back to (http://www.tagzapper.com/)doesn't look especially convincing. Not some hoax?
The anti-theft devices in items such as DVDs are *NOT* RFID tags.
Check one out on any DVD case in your collection. They are usually a self adhesive black plastic strip stuck to the DVD case interior. Inside the plastic outer shell is a metal strip. The sensors at the door can sense the metal strip that has not been magnetized at the checkout.
Open up the little plastic case. There are NO electronics whatsoever. They work on physical properties alone, not data.
macbot3000, I think they're talking about these...
http://raible.org/uploads/saturn-rfid.jpg
The worry about RFID is that the tags would still be active after you leave the store, tags are small enough to be inside products not just on the label.
Nokia are even producing an RFID reader for their phones
Scott - yeah, they're in books all the time.
Bonus - management@tagzapper.com is a dead email
I know that you must be invited to get a tagzapper for there are so many people who want one. I am on the list")))))))))
I see that the tagzapper is world wide now. Its about time those people from Japan share!!!!!!!!
I see that the tagzapper is world wide now. Its about time those people from Japan share!!!!!!!!