Posted on 07/25/2018 12:18:11 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
The Adidas soccer ball Russian President Vladimir Putin gave to President Trump at their summit in Finland appears to contain a chip that can transmit information to nearby cell phones, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.
The publication noted that photos of the ball show a logo for a near-field communication (NFC) tag, a chip that is included in the Adidas 2018 FIFA World Cup ball. Russia hosted this year's World Cup.
Adidas AG soccer balls, similar to the one Putin presented to Trump during a joint press conference last week, contain a small chip that can send content to mobile devices. Users can hold their phones close to the ball to access videos and competitions, according to Bloomberg.
Adidas declined to comment to Bloomberg on whether the device could be used in a Russian cyberattack. The brand’s website states that the chip can’t be modified.
The publication reported that such a chip has been used at least one to breach a phone, though a cybersecurity expert told Bloomberg that it’s unlikely that a cyberattack could be launched using the device.
The soccer ball underwent a security screening as part of the routine procedure for all gifts given to the president, the U.S. Secret Service said last week.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) had said on Twitter that the ball should be inspected for "listening devices" and that he would "never allow it in the White House."
It’s unknown if the chip — if it was in the ball at all — was removed before or after it was given to Trump.
stick it into a microwave then give it to Baron
Why would Russia need to spy on Trump if he’s already in bed with them?
Good Grief......................
FIFA began chipping balls a couple of years ago as part of an electronic goal judging system. It’s to confirm whether the ball in fact crossed the plane of the goal mouth.
Is the chip installed so you can’t steal it from a store or just a complex upc code? Of course the media will spin it as Putin is bugging Trump.
It’s a NFC chip; it doesn’t even transmit, it reflects and wouldn’t transmit anything to nearby cell phones, but a properly equipped cell phone could read the NFC code.
Useful for officials keeping track of official balls during world cup games. That’s about it.
Tell me again why reporters are unable to do even the most mundane research?
Oops, just saw Buckeye’s response (#5).
Note Pakistan is the world's largest MFG of soccer balls.
I liked it when the NHL had a chip in the puck and displayed the path on screen.
These people are dangerously insane.
This Trump - Adidas Collusion must be investigated immediately! Somebody call Mueller!
“Tell me again why reporters are unable to do even the most mundane research?”
Because narrative.
But you knew that.
Mueller and Adidas are both German, perhaps they are Merkel puppets?
If you’ll pardon the semi-pun; the media are the ones who are REALLY “bugging” Trump.
Wait a minute..........why would Russia need a chip if as the media tells us 24/7 Trump is pals with Putin?
Sheesh, what hand wringing over nothing.
It is nice to see an attractive well mannered first lady for a change. Instead of the angry and ugly on the inside bitter female who used to infest our White House.
That guy in the front row is totally checking out her legs.
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