Security Labels & Tamper-Evident Bar Code Labels

There are several features that can make barcode labels more secure and help prevent counterfeiting or tampering:

1. Serialization: Each barcode label can have a unique serialized number, making it very difficult to replicate.
2. Covert Features: Invisible inks, watermarks, or taggants can be embedded into the label material. These markings are only detectable when using specialized scanning equipment.
3. Tamper-Evident Materials: Labels can be constructed with materials that are designed to show irreversible signs of tampering, like Metalphoto®, void pantographs, or destructible facestocks.
4. Digital Signatures: 2D barcodes like QR codes allow encryption and digital signature technology to authenticate labels.
5. RFID Tags: Using RFID inlays in the label allows tracking and prevents tag cloning or swapping.
6. High Assurance Printing: Printing techniques such as high-resolution, micro-printing, or UV fluorescent inks make reproduction much more difficult.
7. Material Sourcing: Working with accredited label suppliers and monitoring material sources helps protect against infiltration of counterfeit label stock.

Having multiple layered overt and covert security features makes it much harder to accurately reproduce or replicate barcode labels without being detected, increasing supply chain and brand security.

Unique serial numbers are typically assigned to security barcode labels through a controlled serialization process to maintain integrity and traceability. Here are some of the most common methods used to assign unique serial numbers to barcode labels.

• Central Database: A central database generates and assigns a globally unique serial number to each label printed. The database prevents duplication and can track each serial number’s status and history.
• Encrypted Algorithms: Serialization algorithms use encryption keys to create secure, non-sequential serial numbers that cannot be predicted. Complex algorithms make it extremely difficult to counterfeit valid serial numbers.
• RFID Encoding: For RFID-enabled labels, the RFID inlay chip can be encoded during manufacture with a tamper-evident unique ID that gets associated with the printed barcode serial number.
• Human-Readable + Barcode: Labels display both a human-readable serialized number and an encoded barcode version, allowing verification against each other.
• Sequential Numbering: While this method is less secure, some labels may use sequential roll or batch numbering tracked to each label run to confirm authenticity.

The single most important factor for true security is ensuring the serial number generation process is secured, audited and cannot be replicated outside authorized facilities and systems. This helps prevent counterfeiting and allows traceability.

When selecting barcode label materials for security purposes, several factors are considered:

1. Tamper-Evidence Materials: like VOID pantograph facestocks, destructible vinyls, or materials that leave a permanent “scar” when removed help indicate tampering attempts. Metalphoto is a durable anodized aluminum material that is extremely tamper-evident.
2. Covert Security Features: Specialty security label materials can incorporate covert features like UV fibers, taggants, or watermarks that are only visible under specific lighting conditions or authentication devices.
3. Facestock Thinness: Ultra-thin facestocks make replication more difficult while ensuring proper barcode readability.
4. Adhesive Aggressiveness: Aggressive adhesives that are hard to remove cleanly from surfaces further deter tampering.
5. Facestock Tint: Colored/tinted materials are harder to copy accurately and can indicate counterfeits if the tint does not match approved materials.
6. Material Sourcing: Using security label materials only from accredited, audited suppliers and overt material authentication measures like UV seals ensures label integrity.
7. RFID Integration: Integrating RFID inlays into the security label construction provides additional authentication and traceability.

The primary objective should be to use label materials with multiple layered overt and covert security features to significantly increase the complexity of counterfeiting security labels while enabling reliable barcode scanning performance.

Standard warehouse barcode labels typically do not provide enough security features on their own. These basic labels are designed primarily for operational efficiency in inventory management rather than anti-counterfeiting.

However, there are some ways to enhance the security of standard barcode labels:

1. Use of Non-Generic Label Materials: Avoiding plain paper labels in favor of more specialized label stocks that are harder to reproduce.
2. Serialization: Assigning unique serial numbers to each label, tracked in a database, to validate authenticity.
3. Tamper-Evident Adhesives: Using aggressive adhesives that leave residue or show damage if removed.
4. Simple Overt Features: Adding basic overt security features like watermarks, UV inks, or specialized barcodes.
5. Integration with Other Systems: Linking barcode data to inventory control systems and authentication processes.

However, these measures only provide basic levels of security. For true robust label security, companies need to implement layered covert and forensic security features built into specialized label materials and constructions.

This approach will significantly increase label complexity to deter counterfeiting. Standard warehouse labels simply do not have these advanced capabilities built in without customization specifically for security purposes.