CARD READER TAMPERING DETECTOR

A card reader tampering detector includes a substrate, a detector circuit, and at least one sensor disposed on the substrate and configured for communication with the detector circuit. The substrate is dimensioned to facilitate at least partial insertion of the tampering detector in a smartcard reader. The sensor is positioned on the substrate such that, when the tampering detector is at least partially inserted in the smartcard reader, the sensor aligns with a region of the reader normally occupied by a smartcard when the smartcard is inserted in the reader. The detector circuit is configured to receive a sensor output from the at least one sensor, from the sensor output detect a presence of an unauthorized device within the smartcard reader when the tampering detector is at least partially inserted in the reader, and provide an output signal indicative of the presence of the unauthorized device within the smartcard reader.