How Magnetic Strip Card Works? Types of Cards.

Everyone must have used this cards at least once in their life. These have a black magnetic strip behind the card which can be read and write.

All the information is stored in that magnetic strip. For example, in an ATM card the account no. is stored in that magnetic strip in terms of digital signals (0 and 1).

0 or 1 is decided by alignment of domains or segments which is done through magnetic field.

The writer consist of a solenoid which produces a strong magnetic field which change the alignment and used to write the data in the card.

In Readers there are electric pulse generator which is capable reading the data when we swipe the card.

That is why making a replica of an ATM card is not tough, it can be done easily using a card reader.

To avoid such kind of fraud nowadays, we are using cards with a chip on it.

Types of cards differ by type of magnetic material used in that card.

Low quality materials are affected by small magnetic fields and their coercivity changes easily.

These are used in cards in hotels, restaurants, office, etc. as this cards are for short term use and are cheap to replace.

High quality materials are not affected by small magnetic fields therefore difficult to change the stored data by small magnetic fields, also they have coercivity. These are used in ATM cards which are meant to made for long term use. Even this cards need specialized tools to be made.