Who Needs RFID Badge Accessories?

You might not consider how nefarious individuals’ scheme to steal your personal information, but it happens with the popular RFID cards that transmit information anytime they come in range of a reader designed to access the information. Today's credit cards and employee ID cards (particularly for governmental entities) used RFID technology to transmit information and allow access to sensitive data and/or security clearance information restricted by the government.

Smart cards embedded with RFID technology have an internal chip that interacts when it comes in contact with an RFID reader. An optimal solution for highly secure facilities, an RFID badge can restrict access to labs and other high security locations where either information or physical assets must be protected. Even if you're not a governmental entity, enterprises with proprietary information, data, or patents need to protect against nefarious individuals looking to steal their intellectual property.

A standard RFID reader has an antenna that constantly looks for RFID chips. When a chip comes within range, the scanner reads the data and sends it back to the reader for action. A legitimate reader grants access or another action based on what you've programmed into the chip. "Smart" chips include MIFARE, iCLASS, and a plethora of US government credentials like PIV, CACs, TWICs and FRACs.

While these cards are highly secure thanks to the embedded technology in the chips, nefarious individuals devised a way to "read" these cards and steal the information programmed there. From payment cards like credit or debit cards to US passports with RFID chips with personal information, "shielding" your personal information saves you from identity theft and more.

For employers using RFID in their employee ID cards, shielding your employee badges from potential theft is key. The best way is to provide every employee, contractor, and anyone else you offer access to your facilities with a shielded badge holder that protects the RFID chip from being read by anyone you don't approve.

What is an RFID badge accessory?

An RFID badge accessory "shields" your ID cards from interception by nefarious individuals. If you don't want your enterprise's proprietary information or a highly secure governmental facility's access levels compromised by outside perpetrators, an RFID card holder uses a thin layer of metal to thwart someone trying to skim cardholders' personal information.

It's called an RFID shield because it "shields" or interrupts the information on the chip from access by those you want to exclude. The RFID chip inside your employee/contractor/other's badge won't activate when it comes in range of an RFID reader if it's "shielded" in a secure RFID badge holder. The only way to read the information is for the cardholder to remove the ID card or badge from its secure holder and present it to the reader. It's an intentional act by the cardholder when he or she trusts the reader.

Why would you want to shield an RFID enabled ID card/badge?

While the point of an RFID chip in an employee ID or badge is to make it easy for them to access your facility or use your payment system, etc., it also makes it easy for a skimmer to capture that information and use it against your company. If your RFID chip contains sensitive data or information, it makes sense you would want to protect it in any way possible. If the data on the chip contains access information, you obviously don't want anyone to access your secure facilities. Or if the information contains personal employee information, you don't want your employees exposed to identify theft.

These are only two of the myriad possibilities someone would want to skim your RFID badges and steal the information.

Who needs RFID badge accessories?

Governmental entities with high security status or enterprises with detailed intellectual property—all of which needs secured from all scammers—should use RFID badge accessories for individuals with high security access. It's easy to keep your data and information safe with a simple RFID badge accessory that shields against skimmers.

Americans traveling internationally need RFID accessories to shield their debit/credit cards from skimmers and their passports from those who would capture that information and sell it on the black market. The news media seems to report on an almost daily basis about skimmers who pick up information off a smart card or RFID enabled card. While card issuers are taking drastic steps to negate this from happening, your best line of defense is an RFID badge accessory that blocks any and all skimmers.

Choosing an RFID badge accessory keeps your employee ID, your credit/debit card, and your passport safe from those with the technology to steal your personal information. Using one of these accessories puts you in the driver's seat. You decide where, when, and how your information is transmitted by simply removing your card from the accessory and presenting it to the reader.

Final thoughts

A shielded badge accessory is a simple, inexpensive way to protect employee/contractor/personal information and data from being skimmed and scammed. If there is any concern that nefarious individuals may try to skim information from employees' cards or badges, an RFID badge accessory will stop that in its tracks.

These amazing badges look just like any other employee ID holders, but they have a slim layer of metal that prevents skimmers from accessing information on the cards. The badges are available in a variety of styles and materials, so check out Idesco's catalog of badge accessories to find the one that works best for you.

If you can't decide on the best RFID badge accessory or are unsure of exactly what you need, contact an Idesco ID Expert at (212) 889-2530. We'll listen carefully to your security and business needs and help you find the right RFID badge accessory that protects your business and your propriety information—at the guaranteed lowest prices.