A memory card reader body has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and a slot for inserting a memory card. The reader body furthermore includes a housing for receiving a memory card connector, and at least one protection circuit. The body includes an upper lid and a lower lid, where the protection circuit is positioned on an internal face of the upper lid.

A payment terminal evaluator includes a contact structure and a card structure. The contact structure intersects a rectangular space such that part of the contact structure is within the rectangular space and part of the contact structure is outside of the rectangular space. The card structure extends from the contact structure and is positioned entirely within the rectangular space. The card structure includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface between the top surface and the bottom surface, a second side surface between the top surface and the bottom surface, a first tab defined in part by the top surface, the bottom surface and the first side surface, a second tab defined in part by the top surface, the bottom surface and the second side surface, and an opening between the first tab and the second tab.

A payment reader includes a tamper detection system for monitoring and protecting against attempts to tamper with the payment reader. The tamper detection system includes tamper detection devices such as tamper switches or tamper meshes, and tamper detection circuitry to control and interface with the tamper detection devices. Pulses are selectively provided from each of a plurality of tamper signal pins of the tamper detection circuitry to an associated tamper detection device, the outputs of the tamper detection devices are multiplexed, the multiplexed signal is received at a tamper detection pin, and a tamper attempt is identified if a pulse was not received within the multiplexed signal. While not transmitting, each of the tamper signal pins is switched to an input state, and a tamper attempt is also identified if any aberrant signal is received at the tamper signal pins while in the input state.

A smartcard-enabled BPID Security Device integrates a smartcard reader with a biometric authentication component to provide secured access to electronic systems. The device allows for an individual to insert a smartcard into an aperture in the physical enclosure of the BPID Security Device, allowing the smartcard and the BPID Security Device to electronically communicate with each other. The BPID Security Device is based on a custom application specific integrated circuit that incorporates smartcard terminals, such that the BPID Security Device can communicate directly with an inserted smartcard. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the BPID Security Device is based on a commercial off-the-shelf microprocessor, and may communicate with a commercial off-the-shelf microprocessor smartcard receiver using a serial, USB, or other type of communication protocol. The device allows for enrolling a user's credentials onto the BPID Security Device and for authenticating an individual using the BPID Security Device.

Example embodiments of the systems and methods of card reader protection disclosed herein combine motorization technology with payment card industry (PCI) protection technology. In an example embodiment, access to the card is protected by a mesh grid inside a printed circuit board (PCB). In one embodiment, there are five mesh grid walls in total. A secure signal is used to transmit data. The data is transmitted along traces embedded within the circuit boards. When a signal trace extends from one layer of the PCB to a second layer, the traces on the separate layers are connected with a via hole that extends between the layers and electrically connects traces on different layers. In an example embodiment, one or more of the boards fit together with slot joints. The vias are positioned in the board such that they are hidden due to the slot joint configuration.

A removable card-enabled BPID Security Device integrates a removable card reader with a biometric authentication component to provide secured access to electronic systems. The device allows for an individual to insert a removable card into an aperture in the physical enclosure of the BPID Security Device, allowing the removable card and the BPID Security Device to electronically communicate with each other. The BPID Security Device is based on a custom application specific integrated circuit that incorporates removable card terminals, such that the BPID Security Device can communicate directly with an inserted removable card. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the BPID Security Device is based on a commercial off-the-shelf microprocessor, and may communicate with a commercial off-the-shelf microprocessor removable card receiver using a serial, USB, or other type of communication protocol. The device allows for enrolling a user's credentials onto the BPID Security Device and for authenticating an individual using the BPID Security Device.

An electronic reader may operate in a normal mode. The reader may evaluate criteria to determine whether to continue operating in the normal mode or operate in a secure mode. The secure mode may include deactivating functionality in the reader. Deactivating functionality may include at least one of disabling a credential reading functionality, disabling a credential processing functionality, and disabling a credential communicating functionality.

A system includes a device including one or more sensors that generate one or more signals used to detect whether an unauthorized activity has occurred at the device. The device is configured to transmit the one or more signals generated by the one or more sensors. The central monitoring device is configured to receive the one or more signals and compare the one or more signals with a baseline signal for the device. The baseline signal includes an expected signal for each of the one or more sensors when the unauthorized activity has not occurred. The monitoring device determines whether the unauthorized activity has occurred based on a result of the comparison.

To provide a card reader that encrypts information acquired via an IC contact block. A card reader includes: an IC contact block including a contact spring capable of being in contact with an external connection terminal of an IC chip of a card; a flexible printed board to which a spring end of the contact spring is coupled; an encryption circuit mounted on the flexible printed board and electrically connected to the contact spring to encrypt information acquired from the IC chip via the IC contact block; and a resin sealing member that integrally covers the spring end and the encryption circuit.

Various aspects of the disclosure generally relate to security for a credit card processing reader. Part of security for a reader is a secure cover having a trace mesh to discourage drilling through the cover. The mesh may be connected to one or more landing areas on the cover. The landing area has electrical pads with trace routing that provides tamper protection for the landing area.