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Comment by master-lincoln

1 day ago

How is the transport medium changing anything?

To me this is about having protocols that are suitable so not anybody can write to these labels without knowing a store secret or using replay attacks.

> How is the transport medium changing anything?

it's mostly about efficiency. IR based, an employee needs to physically walk around. RF based, place a transmitter or two in the building and the system now works fully automated.

  • Sorry about not being explicit. I meant how it changes anything security-wise.

    With the same vulnerable protocol the RF system is as easy to attack with bigger consequences then it seems....

    • The RF system doesn't use the same protocol, it's a new protocol (to potentially hack and reverse-engineer).

      The early shelf-label systems were IR-based, sold in bulk and were programmed manually using handheld devices held against them.

      Most shelf-label solutions of today are part of a service-model, where gateways are mounted in the store to wirelessly update any label on price-change, often orchestrated remotely so store-chains can update all shops simultaneously.