Turn Your RFID Train Pass or Travel Card Into a Keychain6/11/14 6:30am Most train and transit systems these days accept refillable, RFID travel cards that you buy once and refill electronically anytime they run low. If you're more likely to lose a card than a keyfob, this Instructable shows you how to pull out the chip and mold it into a more travel-friendly accessory.Challenge Winner: Lock Your Drawer With an Arduino and RFID6/11/13 12:00pmIn last week's Hacker Challenge, we asked you to share your best DIY parenting hack. We received some great entries, but the winning hack shows us how to secure your drawer full of goodies using an Arduino and RFID. Tweeting Cat Door Keeps Unauthorized Animals Out of Your Home1/13/13 12:00pmIf you've ever had a stray cat come in your pet door at night, you know that event usually leads to shenanigans. If you have the time and funds you can construct a secure pet door that only lets your cat or dog in after scanning the RFID tag on a pet collar, taking a webcam photo of your pet entering or exiting, and…

Going Paperless for Tax Season, the Best Time to Buy Anything in 2013, and Foiling RFID Thieves1/10/13 5:00pmThis week on the podcast we're talking about the best times to buy anything in 2013, negotiating when you're a nervous mess, and Craigslist's new maps view. We're also answering your questions about going paperless for tax season, managing a shared budget on Android and iOS devices, and literally foiling RFID thieves. What Is NFC and How Can I Use It?9/13/12 10:00amDear Lifehacker, I keep seeing NFC mentioned a lot in my newsfeeds, but I don't really know what it is or what it's good for. Can you give me the lowdown on it and why I should care? Use an Altoid Tin as an RFID-Blocking Wallet8/14/12 9:30amCredit and debit cards with embedded RFID chips offer quick "swipe to pay" convenience, but they're also vulnerable to identity theft. One solution is to use an Altoids tin to carry those cards and protect yourself from RFID hijacks. Embed an RFID Chip Inside Your Phone7/18/12 7:30amIf you use an RFID card for your transit pass or ID card at work you can embed that card right into your phone so you don't have to carry it around.

Electronics DIY web site Adafruit shows you how to do it. Hack a Door to Open Via RFID3/31/12 1:00pm If your home or office has unique security challenges or you just want the geek cred you assemble a system to open a door via an RFID signal. At around $100 the parts aren't expensive, but in addition to basic electronics skills you'll need familiarity with Arduino Uno boards and access to a laser cutter. Foil Electronic Pickpockets with Aluminum Foil or Multiple Credit Cards3/27/12 9:00amA new kind of thievery or, at least, potential for fraud is on the rise: Criminals who can steal your credit card data by walking by you with electronic scanners, maybe even with their mobile phones. It's easy, however, to protect yourself. The HuMn Wallet Is an RFID-Blocking Wallet That Won't Look Like a Lump in Your Pocket3/02/12 1:00pmRFIDs are showing up in everything from your cards to your passports, offering easy identification but also a greater chance of identity theft. Although plenty of RFID-blocking wallets exist, none are quite as thin and pocketable as the HuMn.

Make Your Own RFID Shielded Wallet To Foil ID Thieves9/22/11 7:30amWith more forms of identifications and credit cards getting RFID tags embedded in them, you might be in the market for a wallet that protects your data. If you're not interested in spending the cash, blogger Serge outlines a DIY method over at Embedded Edge.Make a Delicious-Smelling Wallet Out of an Empty Coffee Bag5/19/11 6:00amWe've talked about duct tape wallets in the past because they're free and, despite being hideously ugly, pretty awesome. garage door parts flint miOn the flip side, a wallet made out of a coffee bag fits in the same DIY happy place, while actually looking nicer than something you might find sold in stores. garage door repair deer park waOh, and it smells really nice.garage door parts san bernardino

How to make an RFID-blocking duct tape wallet12/29/05 10:00am Interaction designer Dustin Kirk keeps his id info from getting swiped by RFID-reading devices with a duct tape wallet he designed:It could mean the end of panicking when you've forgotten your keys.A US firm has launched a 'smart lock' that can let you into your home using a mobile phone - and you don't even need to take the phone out of your pocket to open the door.upvc door handles high securityThe August lock costs £130 ($199) and can even be set to automatically let in friends or workmen.andersen gliding door lock parts The August lock is a keyless entry system that works using Bluetooth. automatic garage door closer motion sensor

When a registered device gets near to the lock the homeowner or visitor can open the door by pressing the relevant address entry on the August app. The lock takes a few seconds to confirm the visitor's identity and, once confirmed, the red LED lights turn green and the lick twists to open the door The August lock runs on AA batteries and can be fitted to existing door locks in 10 minutes. french door refrigerator 34 widthThe lock sits on the inside of the door, which means homeowners can still use regular keys if they forget their phone, for example. When the batteries get low an email is automatically sent to the homeowner to replace them The August lock is made of durable anodized aluminum and is fitted to the existing door look in about 10 minutes. It runs on two AA batteries and a reminder is sent to the owner when the battery levels get low. Once installed the homeowner activates their device.

The August lock can then be managed using a mobile app and online. August works with any Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, although the apps will only launch on iOS and Android to being with. The encrypted locking technology issues registered devices, or invited devices, with unique codes that can't be copied. To open the lock, anyone with a code can approach the door, enable their phone's Bluetooth and press the relevant address from the app. The lock takes a few seconds to scan for a paired Bluetooth device. It then confirms the visitor's identity. A circle of red dots on the front of the device will turn green and the August lock will twist to release the lock and open the door. To grant keyless access to friends the homeowner must send them an invite using Facebook contacts or their phone's address book. When someone enters or leaves the house a notification is sent to the owner. The lock automatically closes after 10 seconds to secure the door.

August was created by technology entrepreneur Jason Johnson and industrial designer Yves Behar. The pair spent a year working on the device and it is due to go on sale later this year. The August lock is made of 'durable anodized aluminum' and can be activated and managed using a mobile app and online. It is connected to the existing door lock and is battery-operated. The makers claim that it takes just 10 minutes to install. The designers claim that the August lock package includes deadbolt adapters and faceplates that work with around 90 per cent of locks on the market in the US - where it will go on sale.Once on sale, customers will be able to check if they're lock is compatible during the checkout process. August works with any Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, although the apps will only launch on iOS and Android to being with. The encrypted locking technology issues registered devices, or invited devices, with unique codes that can't be copied. The August lock is made of anodized aluminum and will cost £130 ($199) when it goes on sale later this year.

Future versions of the lock will be customisable to blend in more effectively with the colour of the doors they're attached to relevant address from the app. lock takes a few seconds to scan and confirm the visitor's identity. Once the identity is confirmed the circle of red dots on the front of the device turns green and the August lock twists to release the door. A doorbell chime will also ring to let homeowners know when someone enters the house while they're in another room. To grant keyless access to friends and family an invitation must be sent using either the owner's Facebook contacts, or their phone's address book. The contact must have an August app to receive the unique invitation code. A time-limit can be set that ranges from an hour to 'Always'. Invitations can be revoked at any time Homeowners can also use their key if they forget their phone or they want to save batteries, although August will email reminders to warn homeowners when their batteries are getting low on power and remind them to replace them. 

To grant keyless access to friends, family and other visitors the homeowner must send them an invite. This can be done using existing contacts from the homeowner's phone's address book, or using Facebook contacts, but the other person must have the app to receive the unique access code. When someone enters the house, the homeowner is sent a push notification. Another notification is sent when the person leaves. This means homeowners can keep track of how long cleaners or builders spend in the house and every visitor's details and visit information is stored on a Log. When a homeowner or visitor approaches the August lock they must enable Bluetooth on their device and click the relevant address entry on the app. When the app turns green the lock will open. Homeowners can also enable Auto-Lock that means the door will automatically open when they approach the door, without having to get the phone out of their pockets The lock can also be used to let people into a party, for example, without having to open the door each time.

A Guestbook function additionally lets visitors leave comments and photos, or thank you notes, for their guests or hosts.Invitations can also be sent with time limits of one hour up to 'always' and homeowners can revoke access at any time. The lock automatically closes after 10 seconds to secure the door.Behar told TechCrunch: 'There are emotional barriers [with the door lock].'People don’t want their homes to be susceptible to burglary or unwanted guests, but at the same time, do often want to welcome people into their houses for various occasions. When a visitor enters or leaves the house using the August lock, a message is sent to the homeowner detailing who had entered the house. The details are also added to a log. A Guestbook function lets guests or the host leave notes, instructions and photos via the app too 'There’s a balance between these two feelings, and it hasn’t been met by the centuries-old key lock system, or by other recent locking mechanisms.'Until recent technologies came into the mainstream, such as Bluetooth-LE, it was a lot harder to do'There are biometric systems for door entry on the market now, such as iris scanners and thumbprint readers, but they are very expensive and very complex.