CenturionStrategies's video: RFID Keys Leave California Capitol a Phantom Key Target

HID Global Acknowledges Electronic Pickpocketing Risk Credit Card Companies Continue to Deny Security expert Walt Augustinowicz Clones a California State Assemblyman's RFID Access Badge and Phantom Keys the Capitol Identity Stronghold issues RFID survival guide TAMPA, Fla., November 25, 2013 — Major credit card companies continue to downplay the risk of Electronic Pickpocketing, even as a leading entry control point system manufacturer has recognized that the risk posed by RFID-enabled cards extends well past the potential for monetary theft and includes serious security concerns for facilities using contactless card readers at their doors, Identity Stronghold announced today. In a recent white paper called "Best Practices in Access Control," industry-leading security technology company HID described the emerging need to "protect the cards" that grant access to doors armed with an RFID reader. In the same way high-tech thieves can use commercially obtained card readers to electronically pickpocket credit card information by passing a reader near a victim's wallet, this same technology can be used to surreptitiously steal the information on an access card. Once stolen via a 'bump and clone technique' as referenced by HID, this information can be cloned to create a generic 'phantom key' that will allow the thief access to normally secure locations. In a recent TV news report, Identity Stronghold's founder and president Walt Augustinowicz cloned a California state assemblyman's RFID-enabled access badge to the horror of Fox reporters in Sacramento, and accessed doors in the Capitol building with ease (view story). He also recently opened a police evidence locker during a training session with police officials. "The top government agencies are using Secure Badgeholder(R) Classic(tm) and Duolite(tm) shields for their proximity cards because of the security risk, but in visiting with many federal state and local agencies, as well as private corporate buildings and complexes, to include airports, most are walking around completely vulnerable to the threat of phantom keys," said Augustinowicz. "We've demonstrated how easy it is, and will continue to do so." HID's white paper takes care to point out the need to for access control point security systems to include the use of RFID-shielding sleeves or cases that make cards impervious to cloning. Without this simple, inexpensive and low-tech solution, even the most high-tech, multi-million-dollar security system can usually be thwarted. And although HID is leading its industry by acknowledging the threat of electronic pickpocketing and phantom keys, the credit card industry at large still downplays that its plan to issue one billion RFID-enabled contactless credit cards over the next few years will put cardholders' credit card information at the same risk of surreptitious theft that the security industry is already taking steps to safeguard against. "I felt compelled to provide information on shielding RFID technology because the major credit card companies are not forthcoming with card holders and not all of the methods being dubbed as 'protection' are effective in shielding," said Augustinowicz, whose company Identity Stronghold provides federal agencies such as the Department of Defense, Energy, State and The White House protective shields for RFID-enabled I.D. and access cards. "Dispelling Myths. Straight Talk on RFID" security can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/06jKsbOiruc Augustinowicz continues to address the growing threat of electronic pickpocketing made possible by the issuance of RFID-enabled credit cards. Nearly 100 radio and television outlets throughout the U.S., Canada, Germany, England, Japan, Australia, Kuwait and the UAE have reported on the threat and ease of electronic pickpocketing. Their stories have collectively garnered more than 25 million views online alone. He has presented to state and federal law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, Financial Surveillance Unit, and anti-fraud task forces via a mixture of private briefings and public trade shows.