--- description: Discover the history of PROX card technology, how it became popular for access control, and why tools like Flipper Zero make upgrades essential. title: "History of PROX: How We Got Here, and Why It’s Time to Move Forward" image: https://info.jobrien.com/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Aug%2013%2c%202025%2c%2011_40_59%20AM.png --- 🚚 Free Standard Shipping on All Orders [![JOB Logo and Tag JPG HIGH RES](https://info.jobrien.com/hs-fs/hubfs/JOB%20Logo%20and%20Tag%20JPG%20HIGH%20RES.jpg?width=267&height=57&name=JOB%20Logo%20and%20Tag%20JPG%20HIGH%20RES.jpg "JOB Logo and Tag JPG HIGH RES")](https://www.jobrien.com/) - [ID Card Printers](https://www.jobrien.com/id-card-printers) - [ID Card Printer Supplies](https://www.jobrien.com/id-card-printer-supplies) - [ID Badge Accessories](https://www.jobrien.com/id-badge-accessories) - [Software](https://www.jobrien.com/software) - [Access Control](https://www.jobrien.com/access-control) - [Visitor Management](https://www.jobrien.com/visitor-management) - [Capture Devices](https://www.jobrien.com/capture-devices) - [Workspace Solutions](https://www.jobrien.com/workspace-solutions) - [Learn](https://landing.jobrien.com/learning-center) Go [![jobrien-security-logo-2017](https://info.jobrien.com/hs-fs/hubfs/May%202019/jobrien-security-logo-2017.png?width=267&name=jobrien-security-logo-2017.png "jobrien-security-logo-2017")](https://prod.jobrien.com/) - [ID Card Printers](https://www.jobrien.com/id-card-printers) - [ID Card Printer Supplies](https://www.jobrien.com/id-card-printer-supplies) - [ID Badge Accessories](https://www.jobrien.com/id-badge-accessories) - [Software](https://www.jobrien.com/software) - [Access Control](https://www.jobrien.com/access-control) - [Visitor Management](https://www.jobrien.com/visitor-management) - [Capture Devices](https://www.jobrien.com/capture-devices) - [Workspace Solutions](https://www.jobrien.com/workspace-solutions) - [Learn](https://landing.jobrien.com/learning-center) - [Blog](https://info.jobrien.com/) - [Solutions](https://landing.jobrien.com/services) - [Videos](https://landing.jobrien.com/videos) - [Guides](https://landing.jobrien.com/buying-guides) ### Top Categories - [Case Study (2)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/case-study) - [Document Scanners (3)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/document-scanners) - [ID Badge Accessories (12)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/id-badge-accessories) - [ID Card Printer (29)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/id-card-printer) - [Label Printers (1)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/label-printers) - [Mobile Access (12)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/mobile-access) - [News (8)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/news) - [Physical Access Control (27)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/physical-access-control) - [Technical Support (4)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/technical-support) - [Visitor Management (15)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/visitor-management) See all ### Top Categories - [Case Study (2)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/case-study) - [Document Scanners (3)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/document-scanners) - [ID Badge Accessories (12)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/id-badge-accessories) - [ID Card Printer (29)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/id-card-printer) - [Label Printers (1)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/label-printers) - [Mobile Access (12)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/mobile-access) - [News (8)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/news) - [Physical Access Control (27)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/physical-access-control) - [Technical Support (4)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/technical-support) - [Visitor Management (15)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/visitor-management) See all ## Popular Posts ### [Beginners Guide to Access Card Formatting](https://info.jobrien.com/beginners-guide-to-access-card-formatting) [Physical Access Control](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/physical-access-control) 3 MIN READ ### [4 Ways to Display Your ID Card in Your Facility](https://info.jobrien.com/4-ways-to-attach-an-id-card-to-yourself) [ID Badge Accessories](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/id-badge-accessories) 4 MIN READ ### [How Fake ID Scanners Work: Thales Scanners Explained](https://info.jobrien.com/how-fake-id-scanners-work-thales-scanners-explained) [Document Scanners](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/document-scanners) 3 MIN READ ## SECURITY TIPS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX ### We’ll never share your info, EVER. ### Subscribe Here! ### Top Categories - [Case Study (2)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/case-study) - [Document Scanners (3)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/document-scanners) - [ID Badge Accessories (12)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/id-badge-accessories) - [ID Card Printer (29)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/id-card-printer) - [Label Printers (1)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/label-printers) - [Mobile Access (12)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/mobile-access) - [News (8)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/news) - [Physical Access Control (27)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/physical-access-control) - [Technical Support (4)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/technical-support) - [Visitor Management (15)](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/visitor-management) See all # History of PROX: How We Got Here, and Why It’s Time to Move Forward [Physical Access Control](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/physical-access-control) By [Tony Mowatt](https://info.jobrien.com/author/tony-mowatt) August 13, 2025 ![](https://info.jobrien.com/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Aug%2013%2c%202025%2c%2011_40_59%20AM.png) If you’ve ever tapped a plastic **PROX card** against a wall-mounted reader to enter an office, campus, or secure facility, you’ve used **proximity card technology**. For decades, PROX (short for “proximity”) cards have been a go-to choice in **RFID access control**. They were simple, reliable, and, at the time, a leap forward from metal keys. But technology doesn’t stand still. What was once cutting-edge is now an open target for cloning devices like the **Flipper Zero,** making it vital to understand how PROX came to dominate and why it’s now time to move on. ## The Beginning: From Keys to Contactless Access In the late 1970s and early 1980s, access control systems moved beyond mechanical locks. Companies like HID Global introduced **low-frequency (125 kHz) proximity cards**, which allowed a cardholder to simply hold or tap a badge near a reader to gain entry. The magic was in the **passive RFID chip** inside the card. These chips drew power from the electromagnetic field of the reader and sent back a unique sequence number. When that number matched the system database, the door unlocked. No batteries, no swiping—just present the card. ## The Rise of the PROX Card: 1990s to 2000s By the 1990s and early 2000s, **HID ProxCard** and similar credentials were everywhere. Schools, hospitals, corporate offices, and government buildings adopted them for: - **Convenience** — quick, tap-and-go access. - **Scalability** — easy to add or remove users. - **Durability** — long-lasting physical cards. The **ProxCard II** became an industry standard, cementing PROX technology as the go-to in access control. ## The Hidden Flaw: No Encryption The same simplicity that fueled PROX adoption became its biggest weakness. Each card’s **facility code and card number** are transmitted in **plain, unencrypted form**. That means: - Any RFID reader can capture the signal. - The data can be cloned to a new card. - The system can’t tell the real card from the duplicate. For years, exploiting this vulnerability required expensive, specialized equipment, but that’s no longer the case. ## The Game-Changer: Flipper Zero and Cheap Cloning Tools Starting in the 2010s, handheld RFID cloners became widely available online. Devices that once cost thousands now sell for under $50. The most famous example? The **Flipper Zero**, a pocket-sized, open-source hacking tool that can **read, store, and emulate PROX cards** in seconds. What used to require advanced skills is now possible for hobbyists, or criminals, with minimal effort. ## PROX in 2025: Still Common, Still Vulnerable Today, PROX cards remain in use at millions of facilities. They still work as intended, but that’s the problem. They rely on outdated technology that modern tools can bypass with ease. Sticking with PROX in 2025 is like locking your front door but leaving the key under the welcome mat. ## Beyond PROX: Secure Credential Upgrades Modern replacements for PROX technology like **HID iCLASS SE**, **MIFARE DESFire EV3**, and **Seos** use encryption, mutual authentication, and advanced security protocols. They make cloning exponentially harder. If you’re still using PROX cards, upgrading to a **secure RFID access control system** is no longer optional—it’s essential. **Pro tip:** Not sure what type of cards your facility uses? Schedule a [free access control audit](https://info.jobrien.com/meetings/mpiana/prox-card-eval) with our experts. We’ll identify your credentials, assess the risk, and recommend secure upgrade paths.   For more information, navigate to our landing page: [Your PROX Card is Already Compromised](https://landing.jobrien.com/your-prox-card-is-already-compromised) ### About Author ![Tony Mowatt](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/fc67a5a278d10cccea8c21e0ae200c2c) Tony Mowatt - - - - [Previous Post](https://info.jobrien.com/idp-and-j.-obrien-join-forces-introducing-the-solid-ux-line) [Next Post](https://info.jobrien.com/dont-get-flipped) ### Related Posts [![](https://info.jobrien.com/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Aug%2013%2c%202025%2c%2011_40_59%20AM.png)](https://info.jobrien.com/history-of-prox) ## [DCID Explained: Free HID Signo Customization That Future-Proofs Access](https://info.jobrien.com/dcid-explained-hid-signo) [Physical Access Control](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/physical-access-control) 3 MIN READ ## DCID Explained: Free HID Signo Customization That Future-Proofs Access If you’ve ever tapped a plastic **PROX card** against a wall-mounted reader to enter an office, campus, or secure facility, you’ve... [Read Article](https://info.jobrien.com/history-of-prox) [![](https://info.jobrien.com/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Aug%2013%2c%202025%2c%2011_40_59%20AM.png)](https://info.jobrien.com/history-of-prox) ## [Don’t Get Flipped! How the Flipper Zero Cracked PROX](https://info.jobrien.com/dont-get-flipped) [Physical Access Control](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/physical-access-control) 3 MIN READ ## Don’t Get Flipped! How the Flipper Zero Cracked PROX If you’ve ever tapped a plastic **PROX card** against a wall-mounted reader to enter an office, campus, or secure facility, you’ve... [Read Article](https://info.jobrien.com/history-of-prox) [![](https://info.jobrien.com/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Aug%2013%2c%202025%2c%2011_40_59%20AM.png)](https://info.jobrien.com/history-of-prox) ## [The Pros and Cons of Cloud-Based Access Control Systems](https://info.jobrien.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-cloud-based-access-control-systems) [Physical Access Control](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/physical-access-control) 3 MIN READ ## The Pros and Cons of Cloud-Based Access Control Systems If you’ve ever tapped a plastic **PROX card** against a wall-mounted reader to enter an office, campus, or secure facility, you’ve... [Read Article](https://info.jobrien.com/history-of-prox) ### Related posts [![](https://info.jobrien.com/hubfs/DCID%20Signo%20Blog%20Pic.jpg)](https://info.jobrien.com/dcid-explained-hid-signo) ## DCID Explained: Free HID Signo Customization That Future-Proofs Access [Physical Access Control](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/physical-access-control) 3 MIN READ ## [DCID Explained: Free HID Signo Customization That Future-Proofs Access](https://info.jobrien.com/dcid-explained-hid-signo) ## DCID Explained: Free HID Signo Customization That Future-Proofs Access If you are investing in HID Signo readers, there is a... [Read Article](https://info.jobrien.com/dcid-explained-hid-signo) [![](https://info.jobrien.com/hubfs/flipper%20zero%20blog%20post.jpg)](https://info.jobrien.com/dont-get-flipped) ## Don’t Get Flipped! How the Flipper Zero Cracked PROX [Physical Access Control](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/physical-access-control) 3 MIN READ ## [Don’t Get Flipped! How the Flipper Zero Cracked PROX](https://info.jobrien.com/dont-get-flipped) If your facility still uses 125 kHz PROX cards, there is a pocket device you should know about. It is called **Flipper Zero**.... [Read Article](https://info.jobrien.com/dont-get-flipped) [![Flat-style digital illustration showing a secure cloud server connected to a building access control system, representing cloud-based access control technology.](https://info.jobrien.com/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20May%2013%2c%202025%2c%2001_58_33%20PM.png)](https://info.jobrien.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-cloud-based-access-control-systems) ## The Pros and Cons of Cloud-Based Access Control Systems [Physical Access Control](https://info.jobrien.com/topic/physical-access-control) 3 MIN READ ## [The Pros and Cons of Cloud-Based Access Control Systems](https://info.jobrien.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-cloud-based-access-control-systems) ## The Pros and Cons of Cloud-Based Access Control If you’ve been researching access control systems lately, chances are you’ve come... 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