RFID stands for Radio-Frequency Identification. It uses a tag and a reader to identify an item, badge, card, or device wirelessly, usually over a short distance. The tag may be passive, drawing power from the reader, or active, with its own battery. Because RFID can work without direct contact, it is useful for check-in, inventory, asset tracking, and access badges.
In cyber security, RFID matters because it links physical objects to digital identity and access decisions. If tags are cloned, skimmed, or read without authorization, an attacker may impersonate a credential, track a person or asset, or bypass weak check-in controls. Defenders reduce risk with encrypted or challenge-based tags, restricted reader access, logging, shielding, and careful separation between RFID data and higher-trust systems. RFID is convenient, but it must be treated like any other credential: protected, monitored, and validated before it is trusted.