Counterfeit RFID Tags - Should We Worry?

Filed in archive Tags and Readers on July 5, 2005

Just how real is the threat of counterfeit RFID tags? Not very, according to one expert. He says that it would take a large-scale, well-funded operation -- possibly government sponsored -- to counterfeit RFID tags in any significant way. And the chances of that happening are not likely.

Michael R. Guillory answers questions about counterfeit tags over at the AIMGlobal online publication, RFID Insights. Here is part of his analysis:

"The next likely source for counterfeit TID RFID chips would be via an actual chip source (i.e., foundry). As you might appreciate, this is an expensive proposition. Most individuals and/or organizations desiring to do this would not have the resources to take such an approach.

It is possible to have RFID chips manufactured by third-party foundries. This approach could produce chips that are not programmed and thus are available as the 'blank' media for counterfeiting. However, this would require a chip 'design.'

It would take considerable resources to either develop a chip design which would be interoperable with the authentic source or 'obtain' such a design which could then be used by a contracted third-party foundry."

For the full analysis, visit the AIMGlobal website.