Keychains don't hold their value as well as other collections. The previous record holder was Brent Dixon of Georgia, United States with the largest collection of keychains, at 41,418 non-duplicated ones. Due to the tremendous size of his collection he now stores his keychains in his garage and a rented warehouse. Īccording to Guinness World Records, the largest collection of keychains consists of 62,257 items, achieved by Angel Alvarez Cornejo in Sevilla, Spain, as verified on 25 June 2016. Some collections are large enough that entire rooms are dedicated to the keychain collection. Some larger collections can be stored and displayed on dowels, cork boards, tool racks, on large link chains, in display cases, hung on walls, displayed on Christmas trees. Some collections are small enough that the collector can place all of their keychains on their standard key ring. Ĭollectors display and store their keychains in several different ways. The most popular focused keychain collections are advertising, souvenir, monument, popular characters and nostalgia-related items. RFID key fobs can be easily cloned with tools like the Proxmark3, and there are several companies in America that offer this service. (A well-known example is the RSA SecurID token.) This kind of key fob may have a keypad on which the user must enter a PIN to retrieve an access code, or it could be a display-only device.
Remote workers may also use a security token – an electronic device often referred to as a fob – that provides one part of a three-way match to log in over an unsecure computer network connection to a secure network. The fob operates in much the same manner as a proximity card to communicate (via a reader pad) with a central server for the building, which can be programmed to allow access only to those areas in which the tenant or owner is permitted to access, or only within certain time frames.
These usually contain a passive RFID tag. Key fobs are used in apartment buildings and condominium buildings for controlling access to common areas (for example, lobby doors, storage areas, fitness room, pool). Programming these remotes sometimes requires the automotive dealership to connect a diagnostic tool, but many of them can be self-programmed by following a sequence of steps in the vehicle and usually requires at least one working key. More recent models use challenge–response authentication over radio frequency, so these are harder to copy and do not need line-of-sight to operate. These could be copied using a programmable remote control. Early electric key fobs operated using infrared and required a clear line-of-sight to function. They are used for activating such things as remote keyless entry systems on motor vehicles. Security tokens from RSA Security designed as key fobs.Īccess control key fobs are electronic key fobs that are used for controlling access to buildings or vehicles. Key fobs offering added functionalities connected to online services may require additional subscription payment to access them. In such cases, the keychain has a very large fob to make it difficult for customers to walk off with the key. Some retail establishments such as gasoline stations keep their bathrooms locked and customers must ask for the key from the attendant.
Tamagotchi) or other gadgets such as breathalyzers. As electronic technology continues to become smaller and cheaper, miniature key-fob versions of (previously) larger devices are becoming common, such as digital photo frames, remote control units for garage door openers, barcode scanners and simple video games (e.g. Many fobs are small flashlights, compasses, calculators, penknives, discount cards, bottle openers, security tokens, and USB flash drives. A fob may be symbolic or strictly aesthetic, but it can also be a small tool. Most commonly they are simple discs of smooth metal or plastic, typically with a message or symbol such as that of a logo (as with conference trinkets) or a sign of an important group affiliation. įobs vary considerably in size, style and functionality. A short "fob chain" was used to attach to items, like a pocket watch, placed in these pockets. Fob pockets (meaning 'sneak proof' from the German word foppen) were pockets meant to deter thieves. The word fob may be linked to the low German dialect for the word Fuppe, meaning "pocket" however, the real origin of the word is uncertain. A key fob is a generally decorative and at times useful item many people often carry with their keys, on a ring or a chain, for ease of tactile identification, to provide a better grip, or to make a personal statement.