Our advanced identification technologies increase the security of RFID tags and smart cards, making it harder for criminals to steal identities or profit from the sale of counterfeit products.

Protecting national borders

In the coming years, many of the 750 million passports currently in use worldwide will be replaced by new ones that use electronics to increase the security of the document. Called ePassports, these new documents look similar to a regular passport but have contactless smart card technology, a secure microcontroller, and an antenna embedded in the cover or inside pages. Critical information is printed on the data page of the passport as usual and, at the same time, stored in the document's electronics. The secure chip controls access to the data and uses highly advanced counter-measures to prevent its forgery or manipulation. As a result, ePassports are a major advance in the prevention of identity theft and are helping make borders more secure. Also, because they can be read electronically, ePassports often reduce waiting times for people traveling across international borders. NXP's secure SmartMX microcontrollers were the first contactless ICs to meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements for ePassports, and have been designed into more than 85% of the ePassport projects worldwide.

Preventing identity fraud

Getting a fake ID card made is easier than ever these days, with websites offering inexpensive, overnight services that produce remarkably convincing cards, complete with holograms and magnetic strips. NXP's contactless Smart eID devices are making it harder for people to falsify basic identity documents like national ID cards, voting cards, driver's licenses, and government service cards. Smart eID devices are much harder to duplicate than magnetic strips, and offer security features that prevent tampering or unauthorized access. As a result, they make it easier to verify that people who get behind the wheel of a car, cast a vote, or receive government services are really authorized to do so.

Combating black-market goods

It's difficult to get an exact number on the impact that counterfeit, black-market products have on the global economy, but experts estimate that these products cost US businesses as much as USD 250 billion in annual revenue. Estimates also show that as many as 100,000 jobs in the EU and 750,000 in the US are lost to counterfeiting operations in other countries. NXP's radio frequency (RF) ID tags and SmartMX microcontrollers are important tools in the fight against counterfeit products. RFID tags help verify that items come from reliable, authorized sources. This makes it easier for governments to enforce customs regulations and guard against illegal imports, and helps companies protect brand names and retain consumer confidence. In consumer electronics, SmartMX microcontrollers are used to authenticate access to goods and services, so only authorized consumers download music, games, and other digital content.