RFID Card Security Features Make Paying Easier, Faster and More Secure

RFID Card Security Features Make Paying Easier, Faster and More Secure

Generally, RFID cards contain chips with a sensor and antenna for communication via radio signals. This type of technology can be found in credit cards and access control cards.

These cards allow you to pay by tapping your card instead of inserting or swiping. Special RFID-blocking wallets and sleeves are popular, but aren’t necessarily necessary to protect your cards from thieves.

Security

Whether you use contactless credit cards or you’ve seen a video of an electronic pickpocket in action, the idea of someone being able to scan your RFID chip to steal data is scary. But the good news is that there are built-in security features that make RFID theft much less likely.

The first is proximity — the chip needs to be quite close to an RFID reader for it to transmit information. That’s why special RFID-blocking wallets and sleeves are popular. They keep your card inside a shield that prevents it from sending out radio signals, but only if you’re wearing the sleeve. That’s not very convenient.

Another concern is eavesdropping, which occurs when unauthorized readers listen to conversations between a tag and reader. This can be avoided by choosing a reader that gathers tag information one at a time rather than all at once. There’s also a risk of replay attacks, in which one part of the communication is recorded and then sent again to the reader at a later point in time.

Fortunately, these risks are minimized by the fact that most RFID chips have encryption built in. This allows the tag to send a line of code that can only be deciphered by the reader with a unique key that’s known only to both entities.

Convenience

Unlike traditional credit cards, which require swiping through a scanner, RFID card allows you to make payments by simply waving your contactless card. Look for the small, round “contactless” symbol (similar to a Wi-Fi logo) on your card to determine whether it supports contactless payment.

A special chip inside the RFID card transmits information using radio waves. This technology is used in a variety of applications like access control, healthcare RFID Card management, public transport payments and even parking and cashless vending. The technology is also very useful in warehouse and inventory management, as it doesn’t need a line of sight between the scanner and the tag.

Passive RFID tags have no internal power source and operate based on the electromagnetic energy released & transmitted from the RFID reader. They typically have a shorter read range and can only be read in one direction.

Criminals with minimal technical skills can use cheap supplies to create their own RFID readers and steal your private financial information quickly & silently. Special RFID-blocking wallets and sleeves are available to help protect your data, but these can often be defeated by a determined attacker. This is why it’s important to choose an RFID solution with the highest security standards and a strong encryption mechanism. For instance, opting for an encrypted ISO 7816 RFID chip can provide more security and help prevent data theft.

Mobile Access

Credit cards with RFID technology make paying for items easier, faster and more secure. You simply wave your card in front of the scanner to complete a transaction. Criminals with minimal technical skills can build their own RFID readers with a few simple supplies, making it possible to steal your private financial information in a split second.

The same technology that powers contactless payment cards can be used to manage access control at commercial buildings, hotels, apartments and more. Installing a mobile reader near an entrance gate allows residents, guests and staff to open doors with their smartphones without needing a key card or fob. A mobile reader is a network-connected device that transmits a signal to an RFID transponder or card. When the card is within range, the signal is received by the antenna in the reader and translated into a unique access code to unlock the door.

The best access systems also work with mobile devices to create a cohesive environment that reduces operational costs and provides a better resident experience. A mobile access system eliminates the need for a physical front desk check-in or card, and reduces administrative costs associated with generating, printing, and managing cards. In addition, mobile access is more sustainable than traditional card systems by reducing the number of plastic cards and eliminating the need to produce a new card when one is lost or stolen.

EV Charging

Most consumers and fleets considering EVs will need to charge mifare desfire their vehicles at least some of the time. In addition to charging at home and work, this might mean finding convenient EV charging stations in public places like shopping centers, government facilities, hotels and restaurants.

An EV charger plugs into the socket outlet on an EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment). EVs require DC power to recharge their batteries, so the EVSE converts AC from the electrical grid into DC for the car. Some chargers are free to use, while others require a key FOB or smartphone app to activate, similar to the differences between gas pumps and how they operate.

Some EV owners get Level 2 chargers installed in their garages, and public Level 2 chargers are common in commercial parking lots and some residential areas. However, the fastest EV charging is at public Level 3 stations, which allow drivers to recharge their batteries in 15 to 45 minutes, so they can return to their cars and hit the road again.

If you’re interested in adding EV charging to your commercial property, EvoCharge’s iEVSE and iEVSE Plus have 4G LTE and RFID card reader capabilities so that users can track their usage of the station with ease. This can help generate additional income and encourage more people to make the switch to EVs, protecting the environment and saving on fuel costs along the way!