Adam Savage's RFID implant activates, orders him to change his story

It's no secret that RFID isn't the most secure thing in the world, so we mostly took Adam Savage's story about Discovery telling the Mythbusters to back off an episode exposing the tech's flaws after a conference call with various cred card company lawyers as a bit of laughable corporate insecurity, but it looks like Adam got himself in a bit of trouble by sharing -- Discovery's now sending out a release in which he basically retracts the whole thing. "There's been a lot of talk about this RFID thing, and I have to admit that I got some of my facts wrong... Texas Instruments' account of their call with Grant and our producer is factually correct [and] the decision not to continue on with the RFID story was made by our production company, Beyond Productions, and had nothing to do with Discovery, or their ad sales department." Sure, that doesn't explain why he said that Tory "still gets a little white" when he remembers the phone call, or why he said RFID was "on Discovery's radar," but we're guessing it has more to do with simple exaggeration than devious conspiracy. At least we hope so.

[rock99rock @ Sep 4th 2008 1:18PM]

I would retract as well if i had a gun to my head.

[Blackstar @ Sep 4th 2008 4:06PM]

So, I guess the flesh-eating-soul-stealing-corporate-lawyer myth has been CONFIRMED.

[OnlyShawn @ Sep 4th 2008 4:26PM]

yeah, you would, Gaius.

[Stompntom @ Sep 4th 2008 1:20PM]

Cmon "accidentally leak" the story to the torrents

[kjb434 @ Sep 4th 2008 1:41PM]

Don't worry, it will......

[Kris @ Sep 4th 2008 2:26PM]

It won't... the story was never done. They wanted to do it but didn't.

[h_2_o @ Sep 4th 2008 1:21PM]

translated: these guys are not smart enough tech wise to actually do anything with RFID. they might be good making stuff blow up and most things mechanical, but IMHO i think it is more to do with their inability to actually do anything with RFID themselves than a bunch of lawyers going after them.

[Christian Walters @ Sep 4th 2008 1:26PM]

Do a 2 minute google search for "RFID Hacking Instructions", and see what you find, clear and concise instructions on how to hack nearly any type of RFID device. I do not think that it is there inability at all. They are fairly tech savvy, what with all of their special effects knowledge, and not to mention all of the machines that they use in the shop on a daily basis. You think that YOU can just goto a digital CNC machine and program it on the fly? I don't think so my friend.

This is just big business keeping the truth about a product as concealed as they can.

[Tarnation @ Sep 4th 2008 1:32PM]

Your just jealous because no one gave you a TV show to talk about how you fondle your mouse.

[Rodney McKay @ Sep 4th 2008 1:33PM]

Wow. Did a Mythbuster come to your house and kick your dog one day, or are you THAT certain that the mystical powers of RFID are beyond the comprehension of mere mortals and/or special effects wizards with a TV show and a huge budget?

[8complex @ Sep 4th 2008 1:36PM]

@h_2_o:

I disagree that would be the reasoning. The Mythbusters have never backed down from admitting that they don't have the expertise to do something, and have always consulted proper authorities on whatever they're testing in order to get more accurate testing.

If it is something that Grant couldn't figure out, I am sure that they would bring in someone who is a true authority on the topic.

[Christian Walters @ Sep 4th 2008 1:39PM]

@8complex, man, I didnt even THINK about Grant, he most assuredly could figure something as simple as an RFID hack out. Though I dont know why he uses the AOL browser every time they show his computer:///(NOTE-I am a fan of the show if you couldnt already tell)

[h_2_o @ Sep 4th 2008 1:42PM]

well owning a couple mills and lathes all cnc controlled i can tell that you are not up with the latest, well 10 years ago technology. you do not have to know how to work a mill or a lathe or program g-code to work a mill or a lathe any more. all you need to know is where 0 is at and how to post files. you are probably lost by now but what this translates into is any monkey that can draw something can mill it out any more. technology has come a long way to make applications and design much easier. now i know you will probably go into servo driving robots, but that as well has come a long long way with products out there in the mainstream such as phidgets. I personally have my doubts about their software background as i have yet to see any real difficult tasks done by them. they are a hardware driven bunch that likes to brute force their way through things. Which is fine and they like to blow stuff up and we all like that. However the hacking behind rfid is on the other end of the spectrum from where they are at, and like i said IMHO i just do not think they could pull it off.

either that or it was soo boring that nobody really gives a poo about it on TV. come on people do we really want a 1 hr special on rfid there is not a lot of "action" to show there if you think about it.

[rock99rock @ Sep 4th 2008 2:02PM]

@h_2_o

Actually, i would PAY to see that episode. You are the weakest link goodbye.

[Necoras @ Sep 4th 2008 3:05PM]

Um, they've used magnetic card readers (read/write), hacked fingerprint scanners, cellphones on a plane, and various other things involving computer interaction. Grant built remote control robots before he was on the show. That alone proves that they've dealt with radio communication and at least some computer code, the two technologies involved here. You're underestimating them.

[Ian @ Sep 4th 2008 2:35PM]

did u not even READ the posts responding to you? if they cant figure it out they bring in someone who can do it. Off the top of my head the episode where they are testing cell phones and airplanes, they get all the components from a scrap yard but Grant doesn't know how to put it together so guess what they did? they brought someone in and admitted that they didn't understand how to put airplane cockpit components together.

[Ian @ Sep 4th 2008 2:37PM]

o yea and not to spam your inbox or anything but i'd love to watch that episode too..

and engadget MAKE THE RETURN POSTER WORK!!!!! im tired of entering in my e-mail address every time i want to comment!

[james @ Sep 4th 2008 4:13PM]

h-2-o,
do you REALLY think they do everything themselves? You can bet if they did and RFID episode they'd have no problem calling in some help.

[Anthony @ Sep 4th 2008 4:39PM]

@ h20

hahaha ... reguardless if they could do it or not. ... im pretty sure they can LEARN how to if they didnt know how to ..

but from there little bitch crew .. im sure the asian kidd knows how to hahahah


the point of the show is to exlpoit the insecurities of RFID .. simple

BIG COMPANY + INSECURITIES = NO MONEY // BIG COMPANY + LIES = MONEY

enjoy !

[Blenjar @ Sep 4th 2008 1:22PM]

haha that sux

[unGa @ Sep 4th 2008 1:22PM]

I don't care what the story is! Better to get the truth out now and show how vulnerable cc rfid is.

[Christian Walters @ Sep 4th 2008 1:23PM]

Meh, its just another instance of a big company pushing a smaller one around. Would the average person have the skills, knowledge, or care to hack or otherwise compromise an RFID tag or device? Probably not. But would somebody? Of course. What these companies either don't realize or don't care is that this information has been on the internet for years. Its very common knowledge among technophiles that RFID devices are immensly hack-able. But whatever, I guess if it where my ass on the line, I would fold too...

[strider_mt2k @ Sep 4th 2008 1:24PM]

So much for that show.

Spay and neuter your pets folks.

[JAmerican @ Sep 4th 2008 2:07PM]

Sup strider lol...

I was just waiting for the day that show would be busted for lies. Most shows that start out trying to find the truth become less truthful as the seasons progress.

[Eddie W @ Sep 4th 2008 1:34PM]

We're quickly becoming a place where 'scientific' findings are dictated by corporations and government. Granted, I'm not comparing mythbusters to solid scientific research, but this mentality now seems to permeate everything. They should stand behind him and let the chips fall where they may - the damage is already done anyway, at this point they're just proving how easy it is to be bought.

[meist3r @ Sep 4th 2008 1:51PM]

And why is this happening? Because governments and executives come from the same place ... business elitist thinking. They believe that some people are entitled to rule over others and that ultimately only power is important. And once you are in power, you don't have to live up to your mistakes anymore, you just keep pretending it never happened and force anyone to play along. Prove me wrong. While they might be right on a pragmatic level there is nothing that could be more mislead or stupid. Eventually all the tech is developed by people and it's people that are concerned. I've lost my illusions about this world a while ago but it's a shame to see that while we are clearly making progress in uncovering all that hypocrisy and the crimes against the spirit of "society" of faceless irresponsible governments and businesses that nobody seems to really care or at least not do anything about it. How can something that is made by humans for humans become mechanical, faceless and untouchable by a slip of paper?

Damn I hate to be that disillusioned at 25. People, let your kids grow up dumb, that's what the government wants and life is a LOT easier that way.

[Eric @ Sep 4th 2008 1:56PM]

"at this point they're just proving how easy it is to be bought."

Myth: Confirmed!

[david @ Sep 9th 2008 2:04PM]

Well said Eddie.

While we see it every day, the solution to this is pretty dang simple.

Inform people. Make your own 'mythbusting' video and stick it on youtube. Send an email out and if it's done right, it'll spread like fire. Or spread the information some other way.

The beauty of the society we live in today is that the government, businesses, et al can only control us if we LET them. The free market in the US allows me to watch different shows from a different company that perhaps doesn't cave into things such as this, or use a bank that doesn't utilize RFID chips.

Sure people can be bought out, it happens all the time, and will always continue to happen. If it bothers someone that much, then don't watch the show and don't use their credit cards. Businesses are created to make money, and they do that by having customers. They'll find ways to attract more customers, and if presented with a problem about any aspect of their business, they can go to extremes to cover it up. If they are exposed, they can do two things, fight it (and loose business, if not close down) or change their ways and hopefully hang on.

[vidnev @ Sep 4th 2008 1:40PM]

welcome to the new world order, where the truth is always censored by corporate reporters.

[jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj @ Sep 4th 2008 1:51PM]

Maybe you could fund their show with your money and put it on your own network. Then they'd be able to do it. I'm sure your Tre-Fitty would be plenty to get them started.

[thatrotierkid @ Sep 4th 2008 3:46PM]

Well, it was about that time that I notice that jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj was about eight stories tall and was a crustacean from the protozoic era

[unicode787plus @ Sep 4th 2008 5:52PM]

No, jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj is a member of the crab people. Kenny was sure of that.

[meist3r @ Sep 4th 2008 1:43PM]

Discovery Channel is a business, Beyond Productions is a business, M5 Inc is a business. Lawsuits cost tons of money. Businesses want to keep money. No further explanation necessary. How would the (credit card) companies sell RFID tech to people if anybody was shown on TV that the technology has severe flaws. Not to mention the security and human rights implications. He was made to retract that statement he proudly presented to a room full of fellow tech enthusiasts with a "glad I can finally talk to someone about this" smile on his face. Business as usual.

[waterwagen @ Sep 4th 2008 2:17PM]

And business stinks.

[BigD145 @ Sep 4th 2008 2:22PM]

You forgot about the companies that actually make the RFID tech that are not only in bed with the credit card companies, but also with state and federal government. Slamming RFID is not just slamming credit cards.

[meist3r @ Sep 4th 2008 4:13PM]

@BigD145: That's why I made my fifth sentence read: "How would the (credit card) companies sell RFID tech to people if anybody was shown on TV that the technology has severe flaws". Where I'm from the parenthesis means "optional information goes here" and without the words "credit card". The sentence does include all companies marketing RFID. But (since you will probably not understand this) nevermind.

[StalematE @ Sep 4th 2008 2:13PM]

where does jamie weigh in on this whole thing?

[NHAnimator @ Sep 4th 2008 2:25PM]

About 195 lbs.

210 with the mustache.

[blarvh @ Sep 4th 2008 2:18PM]

About as subtle as a dictatorial election.

[soloman02 @ Sep 4th 2008 2:24PM]

H20, you Idiot. Grant is a EE (Electrical Engineer for the dense out there). As a EE he knows a thing or two about RFID. And what he doesn't know, he can research and understand what is going on (signalwise) since his education and experience provided the tools to do so.

[giovanni almonte @ Sep 4th 2008 2:25PM]

i don't understand how the blogger and many of the people who posted the comments can dismiss this story as an exaggeration or an excuse to not have gone through with the episode. the reply he gave at the conference was impromptu, there was no time for it to be contrived. it's obvious he was telling the truth, whether or not they are technically capable of testing the vulnerabilities of RFID it doesn't take away from the fact that the events he said happened actually happened. his retraction, in comparison to his original statement, is obviously something he has to say to keep his job, feed his family, etc. this is the world we live in.

[Wwhat @ Sep 5th 2008 2:25PM]

You know he COULD stand up to them and refuse to make statements, there's only a risk that he gets into such trouble, it's not a certainty, and what good is living in bondage and being disappointed with yourself forever.
And even if fired he can get another job (and pay with cash if it goes really sour).
Imagining bad things and then complying with anything that anybody that threatens with them suggests is no way to live, and ultimately destroys your entire society, as we see/seen.

[Jeremy @ Sep 4th 2008 2:27PM]

Thats not being bought that being blackmailed

[aggiejaa @ Sep 4th 2008 2:35PM]

Great headline!

[joeyboy @ Sep 4th 2008 2:40PM]

Land of the free... as long as you don't mess with the big companies... or the government... or the church... oh well, sorry if I forgot someone...

[Leroy Jenkins @ Sep 4th 2008 3:10PM]

...or LEEEROY JENKINS!!!!!!!!

[William @ Sep 4th 2008 3:43PM]

If it were a South Park episode, it would go on air!

[gervy @ Sep 4th 2008 3:55PM]

Hmmm.... according to the movie Zeitgeist, isn't the highly secretive and powerful forces behind the New World Order supposed to tag every living person with a RFID tag? Hmmm.... maybe why so much pressure was put upon Discovery.

[Alareth @ Sep 4th 2008 7:00PM]

Your theroy holds weight if you ignore the fact Zeitgeist is CT lunacy lunacy aimed at people with no critical thinking skills who buy that kind of inane nonsense without question.

[ishism @ Sep 5th 2008 2:09AM]

We've got another one. I'm gonna have to turn off your chip. DIE!!!!!HAHAHAHA.