As counterfeit-enabling technology continues to advance and become more accessible, the threat of document forgery has grown in direct proportion. Similarly, new distribution models driven by the Internet economy are allowing for the proliferation of counterfeit goods, damaging manufacturing companies’ brands and profits. A major problem in both cases is that businesses and consumers lack the ability to verify the authenticity of these items. Accordingly, without a pervasive way to positively identify and verify that something is exactly what it claims to be, counterfeiting will continue to grow.
What You Can Do
Counterfeiting, whether pertaining to important documents or of high-value goods, can be addressed in a variety of ways. Surface print technologies, like special inks and papers, offer a first layer of protection to documents, but can be easily obtained by the determined criminal. For manufactured goods, RFID provides a solid means of tracking and verifying items within the normal distribution channels but does little to prevent counterfeit documents and goods from flowing through alternate channels. To truly prevent counterfeiting, a combination of these and other methods should be utilized.
Visual Deterrents
The highly unique look of a document or item can be enough to deter many would-be counterfeiters. Often, the more complex the visual deterrent, the more effective and convincing it is.
Special Materials
The use of embedded taggants, specialized papers or inks to ensure authenticity of documents or items. Typically these techniques serve higher members of the value chain, as they are generally expensive to generate and verify.
Embedded Security
Watermarks in documents and tags or stickers on high-value goods meant to distinguish an original item from a counterfeit. Often easily approximated, these techniques are designed to serve law enforcement or other higher members of the value chain.
Serialization & Tracking
Providing each product or document with a unique identity; particularly when used in concert with a unique key-code, greatly enhances security and invites more members of the value chain into the verification process.
Certificates of Authenticity
Already used for certain collectibles, certificates of authenticity provide an additional verification layer to combat counterfeiting. Authentication is achieved by comparing certain traits of the item (e.g. serial numbers) with the certificate or another verification point, such as a web-based database.
Print Encryption
Whether in confidential documents, product packaging or certificates of authentication, encrypting information through print adds a significant layer to security. Unable to be reproduced or decoded without a special authenticator, encrypted print brings the protection from the electronic world out to the physical.
How We Help
Shutting down counterfeiting is a matter of layered security, and AuthentiGuard On-Demand can provide the foundational layer. By securing documents and encrypting their contents at the point of print, AuthentiGuard makes the counterfeiting of printed materials nearly impossible. In concert with RFID and serialization technologies, AuthentiGuard can also help empower the entire value chain to verify the authenticity of any high-value product.