RFID & SECURITY
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is a technology that uses communication via electromagnetic waves to exchange data between a terminal and an object such as a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification and tracking. Some tags can be read from several meters away and beyond the line of sight of the reader.
Radio-frequency identification involves Interrogators (also known as readers), and Tags (also known as labels).
Most RFID tags contain at least 2 parts: one is an IC for storing and processing information, modulating and demodulating a radio-frequency (RF) signal, and other specialized functions. The second is an antenna for receiving and transmitting the signal.
There are 3 types of RFID tags:
- Passive RFID tags, which have no power source and require an external electromagnetic field to initiate a signal transmission.
- Active RFID tags, which contain a battery and can transmit signals once an external source ('Interrogator') has been successfully identified.
- Battery Assisted Passive (BAP) RFID tags, which require an external source to wake up but have significant higher forward link capability providing greater range.
Some notes on Cryptography Types used in RFID:
- Symmetric Key aka Block Cipher
- Used to bulk encrypt Data
- n:nsize ratio
- Same key used to encrypt & decrypt Data
- Asymmetric Key aka Public Key
- Best used to encryptsecret keys for transmission
- > n:nratio
- Asymmetric key pairs used to encrypt/decrypt
- Digital Signature
- Used to verify an individual is who they say they are.
- Message Digest.
- Used to verify that data is not corrupted or tampered with.
Mifare, ICODE and HITAG
- Mifare
- ICode
- HItag
MIFARE is the NXP Semiconductors (a spin-off company formed out of Philips Semiconductors) - owned trademark of the reputedly most widely installed contactless smart card, or proximity card. The MIFARE name covers proprietary 
technologies based upon various level of the ISO/IEC 14443 Type A 13.56 MHz contactless smart card standard.
The technology is embodied in both cards and readers (also referred to as a Proximity Coupling Device which is suitable to use). Picture on the right shown a sample Mifare RFID contactless smartcard.
Application >> Access Control
Contactless smart cards are offering a convenient and secure way to give access buildings. Compared to traditional technologies such as mechanical keys or magnetics stripe cards, it offers more flexibility and ease of use. You just hold 
your card next to the reader and the door opens, provided the card contains the necessary authorization.
In addition the same cards can be easily used for work time tracking or canteen payment schemes. Access Management is a growing global segment where several hundreds of million cards are used every year.
In addition to the physical access to buildings, a secure smart card can also protect the logical access to PCs. Smart cards are used to grant access to computer networks, software, and data files. With traditional identification measures such as login ID and password considered no longer safe.
Mifare RFID Basic 
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ICODE label is designed for high volume logistics involving millions of items per year, ICODE offers a low-cost, re-programmable and disposable solution for source tagging, automatic data capture, theft protection and data storage on a product or its packaging.
Hitag is the name of one of the universal and powerful product of 125-kHz RFID family from NXP Semiconductors.
The contactless read/write system that works with passive transponders is suitable for various applications.
Inductive coupling helps you to achieve big reading ranges and the use of cryptography
guarantees highest data security.
The HITAG product is used both in the proximity area (operating range up to about 200 mm) and in the long range area (operating range up to about 1000 mm).
Data are transmitted bidirectionally, in half duplex mode, between read/write device and transponder. To achieve a high level of security, data may be transmitted enciphered.
