This invention describes a magnetic marker comprising a signal producing magnetic element such as a magnetically bistable wire and a semi-hard magnetic layer with a predetermined magnetic pattern, a method for authentication and reading this marker, and a method for deactivating this marker. The semi-hard magnetic layer provides a local biasing to the signal producing element which generates a complex signal of a unique character. Changing the magnetic condition of the layer affects the unique signal signature, thus, allowing practically irreversible deactivation. The deactivation does not block the signal producing element, but modifies its signal, which can be further used as an additional security or recognition feature.
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