Of course but if I lose sight of my cards/keys then no tinfoil wrapper is going to protect them, similarly if the window of opportunity is as small as the time taken to pay for something or open my car then there's no protection. I can see thyat it would be possible to clone a card while walking around in public, hence the RFID blocker in my wallet. @Jim, yes, but a lot of keys operate the immobiliser in the car with a small RFID chip (not the transmitter which is only used to operate the door locks) which is energised and read by a coil in close proximity to the ignition switch so copying that chip could net you a nice new car. On 9 July 2018 at 13:41, John Gardner wrote: > Off the top of my (tinfoil-covered) head - Sooner or later, you'll use > > the key/card, no? Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain... > > ... > > > On 7/9/18, Clint Jay wrote: > > I've a card holster that does a good job of stopping my RFID bank cards > > (tested and proven by a complete failure to pay for things with NFC) so > I'm > > curious as to the mechanism and reasoning behind the recommendation to > wrap > > them in tin foil? > > > > On 9 July 2018 at 12:50, AB Pearce - UKRI STFC > > > wrote: > > > >> Living in the land where this problem seems to be highly prevalent I > have > >> often considered this. > >> > >> I'm wondering if a standard antistatic bag is enough of a faraday > shield, > >> the IR reflective film on my office windows are enough to stop a GPS > >> receiver working, so I suspect an antistatic bag will be enough. Has t= he > >> added advantage you can still identify the correct button to push to t= ry > >> and unlock the car to prove it is a good enough shield. > >> > >> > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu On Behalf Of > >> RussellMc > >> Sent: 09 July 2018 12:21 > >> To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. > >> Subject: [EE]:: Wrapping key-FOBs in tinfoil > >> > >> Comments on this article are invited. > >> I have already written a response on this article to a friend but will > >> withhold posting it for a while to see what others say. > >> > >> In this article a number of senior security experts are reported to > >> recommend wrapping car electronic key fobs* with tinfoil when carried > >> daily > >> and maybe storing in a metal can at home. > >> The aim is to create a Faraday cage to foil (groan) "cyber-thieves' " > >> attempts to copy the unlock codes. > >> (* ie 'keys' with wireless unlocking capabilities ) > >> > >> https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/105333168/why-you- > >> might-want-to-wrap-your-car-key-in-foil > >> > >> > >> Russell > >> > >> ________________________ > >> > >> Cited experts include: > >> > >> > Holly Hubert, who retired in 2017 from the FBI in Buffalo, New York. > >> Now, CEO of GlobalSecurityIQ, > >> > >> > Moshe Shlisel, CEO of GuardKnox Cyber Technologies and a veteran of > >> > the > >> Israeli Air Force who helped develop cyber protection for fighter jets > >> and > >> missile defense systems. > >> ... "The credit card holders don't work because they're essentially a > >> net > >> rather than a wall." ... > >> He visited Detroit recently to meet with carmakers. He's already worki= ng > >> with Daimler on Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the Volkswagen Group on > >> Porsche, > >> Audi and Volkswagen products to protect them from hackers. Other clien= ts > >> and potential clients have asked to remain confidential. > >> > >> Shlisel says: "The best thing you can do is keep your key in a small t= in > >> can wrapped with aluminum foil. But in a purse or pocket, just aluminu= m > >> foil will do the job." > >> > >> > Unspecified: Cybersecurity experts say privately that anyone who kno= ws > >> anything about the ease of auto and personal data hacking practices sa= fe > >> fob storage. > >> > >> > Clifford Neuman, director of the USC Center for Computer Systems > >> > Security > >> in Los Angeles, points to the millions of consumers who now carry thei= r > >> credit cards in a protective pocket designed to work as a Faraday cage= .. > >> > >> > Unspecified: People who store their fobs in Faraday cages aren't > >> paranoid, experts say. > >> > >> > Faye Francy, executive director of the nonprofit Automotive > >> > Information > >> Sharing and Analysis Center, which specialises in cybersecurity > >> strategies. > >> "Automakers are starting to implement security features in every stage > of > >> design and manufacturing. This includes the key fob." > >> -- > >> http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > >> View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/ > >> mailman/listinfo/piclist > >> > >> -- > >> http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > >> View/change your membership options at > >> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > >> > > > > > > > > -- > > Clint. M0UAW IO83 > > > > *No trees were harmed in the sending of this mail. However, a large > number > > of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.* > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > > View/change your membership options at > > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > > > -- > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 Clint. M0UAW IO83 *No trees were harmed in the sending of this mail. However, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.* --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .