Anti-Hack Access Card Shields Tested

By Brian Rhodes, Published on May 26, 2017

Keeping your access control card information secure is becoming a big priority, especially since cheaper copiers can hack details easily. Multiple products claim they can keep those RFID details hidden, so we bought several examples to put them to the test, including:

  • RFID Blocking 'Security Wallet'
  • Paper and Foil Card Sleeves
  • FIPS 201 Metal Shield Card Holder
  • Standard-duty Aluminum Foil

We tested four common RFID shielding products to see which one performed the best, with a surprising result. Catch our test and demo video inside.

Key **** ********

*** ******* ******* *** following ******** ***** **** shields:

  • *** *****/**** **** ******* were *** **** ********* shields ** *** ******** we ******.
  • ********* *** ****** **** is *********. **** ********* obscuring *** **** *** still ***** *** **** to ** ********* *** transmit ****.
  • *** *** ***** *** more ********* ** ****** than **.** ***.  *** higher ********* ****** *** a ****** **** ******* through ****-**-***** ************, *** that **** ******** **** makes ********* **** *********.
  • *** **** ****** ********, they *** ************** ** even ********* ***** *****, but ********** ***** *** still ** ************ ********.
  • **** ***** ** *** copier/reader ******* ****** ************* strength. ****** ****** *****/****** range ******* *** ****** and ****-******* ********* ******* that *** ** ********* for ******* *******.

** *** ***** *** sections *****, ** ******* these ******** ** ******.

RFID ********* **** *****

** *** ***** *****, we **** ******* *** four ***** ** ******* we ******, **** *** surprising **** ********* ******** being *** *****/**** *******:

FIPS-201 ***** **** ****** ****** - ~$** ****

** ***** ** ******* claims, *** ****** ******** the **** ************* *********** was ********-*** ********* **** ********** ****** *** ******* "******** your **** **** ************ scanning."

*** **** ***** **** claim ** **** ********* true.  ***** *** *** happen **** *** **** of *** ****** ******* by *** ******** ***** shield *** ********* ** the ******, *** ** the '****' *********** **** of *** **** ***** the ******, ***** ******** normally, ** *** ********* a ****** ************ ********, the ******** ** *** time.  *** ****** ******* only **% ** *** reads ** **** *************, versus ***% **** ********.

******* ****** ***** *** commonly **** ** ******* ID ******, **** **** commonly **** ** **** with *** *******, ********** side ****** ***.  **** makes *** **** ***** of **** ****** ** an ****** ********** ****** dubious.

Paper/Foil ******* - ~$* ****

*** **** ****** * surprising ****** - *** of *** ***** ********* and '******' ******** ********* the ****.***** ~$* ****-***** ***** sleeves**** **** ********* ** stopping ***** ****.

** ***** ** ***********, the ******* ******* ***** from ******* *** ******* **** *********% ** ******** *** both *** *** *** 13.56 *** *****. ** general, *** ******* ********** covered ******** ** *** card, ***** ***** * rouge ****** *** ****** penetration **** ** ******** the **** *********.

** ****, *** **** used * ***, *********, unripped ******, *** *** lightweight ***** ************ ** not ****** ** **** up **** ***** **** days ** ******* ***.

Anti ******* ****** - ~$**

*** '******* **********' ****** of * ******* ********* '******** ******' *** *** **** performance ****** ******.  ***** the ******* ****** "**** your ****** ** ****** built ** ****-******** ********** prevents ****** ****** ******* from ***********", *** ******* shows **** ******** *** kHz ***** **** *** wallet ****** *** ******* when *** ******* **** faced *** ******.

*********, *** ****** ******* scans **** *** *******/**** bulky **** ***** *** reader *** ******, *** intermittent ***** ***** ********.

*** ********* **** - 13.56 *** ******** ** any **** ** *** wallet ************* *** *******, and *** ****** *** successful.

Aluminum **** - ~$* *** ****

**** *** ****** *** the **** ** *** shielding *********, **** ****** household ********* *** ** used **** *******?  ** tested ****** ********-***** ******** duty ******** ****, **** a ***** ********* ** about *.* **** *****.  In *** ****, ******** less **** * **** (folded ******) ** **** was *** ** ********* shield. ** **** * full * **** ****** shielding *** ********** ****** to ***** ***% ** attempted *****.

** ***** ** **********, raw **** *** *** worst ****** *** **** easily, ****** *** ******** use * ********* ****** at ****.

Migration **** **** *** *** ***** *******

** ***** ** *** ******** ****** ****** ******* Migration *****, *** **** ** copying *********** ** ***** in ***********, **** *** 125 *** *****.  ** noted:

"*** **** *****, *** **** *** ********* as *** ***** ** warrant ******** *****, *******, the ********* ** ***** easy ******* *** ******* and ********* *** *****. Security ******** ****** *** consider *** ********** ** getting ************ ********** *** 'high ****' *** *** cards ** **** ** getting '*** ****' ********* mechanical **** *** ** any ******** ** *** box ****** *****."

*** ***** ***********, **** shielding *** **** ** important **** ** ****** copying *********, ********** ***** the '********' ****** ** moving ** **.** *** cards ** ******. ** our ****** *******, *** most ********* ******* **** among *** ********, *** far **** ** ****** than ******** ***** *** readers.

*******, *** ********** ** sleeves ** * ********* fix ** *******. ***** using * ***** ****** to ****** ***** ** inexpensive, **** **** *** likely **** ** ***** constant ***, *** ******** replacement ****** ** ********. 

Comments (5)

Jim Elder

05/29/17 01:54am

Unfortunately, it still takes some action on the part of the cardholder to shield his/her card. Unless there is a personal motive, my experience tells me that any of the solutions would be successful in a full deployment . One of the big benefits of a non-contact technology is that you don't have to take the card out of your wallet or purse. Using any of these would eliminate this benefit.  

A related question. Have you tried two cards back to back? With the same card number? Different numbers? Different formats?

Jim Elder

In reply to Jim Elder | 05/30/17 02:14am

I'm sorry, I meant any of the solutions would would NOT be successful.  Also, as a designer, I can  no longer recommend prox. I think mobile credentials are the way of the future.

I can envision a time when physical card readers will be a thing of the past. 

Avatar

Blake Murphy

05/30/17 01:55am

Thanks, there is much food for thought in this article as cheap scanners become more available & our expensive "shielded" wallets become less suitable

Thrax Cui

06/01/17 03:59pm

Shouldn't higher frequency gives you shorter wavelength? And longer wavelength harder to block?

Is the following statement wrong oder?

"The higher wavelength signal has a harder time passing through line-of-sight obstructions, but that same property also makes shielding more effective."

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Thrax Cui | 06/01/17 04:02pm

Actually, I misused 'wavelength' there, it should be 'frequency', as you point out. Thanks for catching that, changed!

Read this IPVM report for free.

This article is part of IPVM's 6,604 reports, 890 tests and is only available to members. To get a one-time preview of our work, enter your work email to access the full article.

Already a member? Login here | Join now

Related Reports

Beware Rigged China Fever Cameras on Sep 08, 2020
Many China fever camera manufacturers have rigged algorithms dynamically...
Favorite Access Control Credentials 2020 on Sep 15, 2020
Credential choice is more debated than ever, with hacking risk for 125kHz and...
Face Masks Increase Face Recognition Errors Says NIST on Aug 04, 2020
COVID-19 has led to widespread facemask use, which as IPVM testing has shown...
FLIR A Series Temperature Screening Cameras Tested on Jun 04, 2020
FLIR is one of the biggest names in thermal and one of the most conservative....
Ubiquiti Access Control Tested on Oct 21, 2020
Ubiquiti has become one of the most widely used wireless and switch providers...
Remote Network Access for Video Surveillance Guide on Jul 27, 2020
Remotely accessing surveillance systems is key in 2020, with more and more...
Dahua, Hikvision, ZKTeco Face Mask Detection Shootout on Jun 19, 2020
Temperature tablets with face mask detection are one of the hottest trends in...
Verkada Access Control Tested on Sep 09, 2020
Verkada raised $80 million earlier in 2020, expanding from video into access...
Directory of 211 "Fever" Camera Suppliers on Oct 14, 2020
This directory provides a list of "Fever" scanning thermal camera providers...
FLIR Screen-EST Screening Software Tested on Jun 30, 2020
In our FLIR A Series Test, the cameras' biggest drawback was their lack of...
Face Shields Impact On Temperature Measurement And Mask Detection on Jul 27, 2020
First, the use of face masks, and now, plastic face shields are rising...
Keypads For Access Control Tutorial on Jul 28, 2020
Keypad readers present huge risks to even the best access systems. If...
Free Online NFPA, IBC, and ADA Codes and Standards 2020 on Sep 03, 2020
Finding applicable codes for security work can be a costly task, with printed...
AHJ / Authority Having Jurisdiction Tutorial on Aug 06, 2020
One of the most powerful yet often underappreciated characters in all...
FLIR Markets Windows Temperature Screening, Violates IEC And Causes Performance Problems on Jul 17, 2020
FLIR, one of the largest thermal screening manufacturers, is marketing...

Recent Reports

Motorola Solutions Total Revenue Down, Video Revenue Up on Oct 30, 2020
Motorola Solutions' total revenue is down, but video (both fixed and...
Recruiters Show 2020 On-Demand Recordings on Oct 30, 2020
Recordings from the 12 recruiter presentations are now available...
Consultants Show 2020 On-Demand Recording on Oct 29, 2020
Recordings from the consultant show are available on-demand at the end of...
Hikvision AcuSense G2 Camera Test on Oct 29, 2020
Hikvision has released their next generation of AcuSense analytic cameras...
Biggest Problems Selling Access Control 2020 on Oct 29, 2020
Access control can cause integrators big headaches. What practical issues do...
Taiwan Geovision AI Analytics and NDAA Examined on Oct 29, 2020
Taiwan manufacturer Geovision's revenue has been falling for years. However,...
Bedside Cough and Sneeze Detector (Sound Intelligence and CLB) on Oct 28, 2020
Coronavirus has increased interest in detecting symptoms such as fever and...
Fever Tablet Thermal Sensors Examined (Melexis) on Oct 28, 2020
Fever tablet suppliers heavily rely on the accuracy and specs of...
Verkada Fires 3 on Oct 28, 2020
Verkada has fired three employees over an incident where female colleagues...
Eagle Eye Networks Raises $40 Million on Oct 27, 2020
Eagle Eye has raised $40 million aiming to "reinvent video...
Hikvision Q3 2020 Global Revenue Rises, US Revenue Falls on Oct 27, 2020
While Hikvision's global revenue rises driven by domestic recovery, its US...
VICE Investigates Verkada's Harassing "RawVerkadawgz" on Oct 26, 2020
This month, IPVM investigated Verkada's sexism, discrimination, and cultural...
Six Flags' FDA Violating Outdoor Dahua Fever Cameras on Oct 26, 2020
As Six Flags scrambled to reopen parks amid plummeting revenues caused by the...
ISC Brasil Digital Experience 2020 Report on Oct 23, 2020
ISC Brasil 2020 rebranded itself to ISC Digital Experience and, like its...
Top Video Surveillance Service Call Problems 2020 on Oct 23, 2020
3 primary and 4 secondary issues stood out as causing the most problems when...