
Get a quick overview of Arduino, an open source single board microcontroller. Learn how to connect RFID modules like RC522 and explore boards such as Uno and Nano.
Gather Arduino Uno, rc five five to module, four-pin led, jumper wires, buzzer, and Mifare classic cards to extract the uuid and build a simple valid uid program.
Implement a valid UID program with a buzzer on pin seven, reading hardcoded UIDs, displaying the UID on an LCD, and signaling valid or invalid cards.
Explore how magic RFID cards can alter UIDs, demonstrating read and write operations that transfer a valid card's UID to an invalid card, thereby breaking security.
Explore the 1024-byte memory layout of Mifare classic cards: 16 sectors with four 16-byte blocks; the sector trailer holds key A, key B, and access bits, with authentication required.
Program mifare classic cards by reading and writing data blocks, authenticating blocks, and inspecting sector trailers, using the 1 to 2 sdk and related tools.
Update sector trailer keys on mifare classic cards using the easy key tool, login with key A or B, and re-authenticate after changing keys to access data blocks.
Connect the mf rc522 module to a usb-to-ttl adapter using 5 volt and ground, cross rx and tx, and test with the rc522 manager software to update blocks and keys.
Learn to update sector trailer keys A and B on Mifare classic cards by authenticating with the correct keys, entering decimal sector trailer addresses, and writing data blocks.
Explore vulnerabilities in mifare classic cards with proxmark3, update firmware, crack cards using manufacturer or default keys, and clone RFID cards through hands-on testing.
Modifying all manufacturer keys on a mifare classic 1k secures the card, while leaving any key unmodified leaves it vulnerable, and video demonstrates checking keys and nested and slow attacks.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is widely used in modern systems such as access control cards, contactless payments, inventory tracking, transportation systems, and many other industrial applications. Despite being used everywhere, many people do not fully understand how RFID systems actually work or how their security can be evaluated.
In this course, you will learn the fundamentals of RFID technology and how RFID communication operates at a technical level. We begin by exploring the basic principles of radio frequency communication and how RFID tags, readers, and protocols interact with each other.
You will then move into hands-on practical demonstrations where you will learn how to program MIFARE Classic RFID cards using the ACR122U reader. During this process, you will understand important card structures such as data blocks, value blocks, and sector trailers, and how data is stored and managed within RFID cards.
Next, we will explore how RFID cards can also be programmed using a STM8 microcontroller, giving you a deeper understanding of embedded RFID development and how custom RFID-based systems can be created.
After learning RFID programming, we will move into the security analysis phase of the course. Using the Proxmark3 research tool, you will learn how security researchers analyze RFID protocols, identify weaknesses in certain card implementations, and study how duplication or emulation techniques may work in controlled laboratory environments.
Finally, the course also covers security concepts, explaining how organizations can design more secure RFID systems and how common vulnerabilities can be mitigated using proper security practices and modern standards.
By the end of this course, you will have a strong understanding of RFID programming, RFID security testing, and practical RFID project development, enabling you to better understand both the capabilities and security considerations of modern RFID systems.
Disclaimer:
This course is intended strictly for educational and research purposes. All demonstrations are performed in controlled laboratory environments using hardware owned by the instructor. The techniques shown in this course are designed to help students understand RFID technology, evaluate system security, and improve defensive protections. Students should only perform these activities on systems and devices they own or have explicit permission to test.