Its been discovered that the controversial RFID tags can be infected with a virus. Dutch researchers have discovered that that if certain vulnerabilities exist in RFID software a RFID tag can be infected with a virus. This could then lead to the backend database used by the RFID software also being infected. Malware could then spread to other RFID tags, and so forth.

One possible target could be airports. From May 2006, RFID tags at Las Vegas Airport will be attached to suitcases to speed up the baggage handling process. If someone attaches an infected RFID tag to these cases, the entire system could be disrupted, researchers warn.

They stress that developers must introduce measures to check their RFID systems and implement safety procedures to prevent widespread infection.