Abstract: An integrated magnetic stripe reader (MSR) head apparatus for preventing the theft of data stored on a magnetic stripe of a magnetic stripe card in magnetic card reader system is provided. The apparatus comprises an MSR head and a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB). The FPCB integrates all necessary components on its front side, including an MSR integrated circuit (IC), circuit lines, and a cable connector for enabling communication between the MSR IC and an external host processor. The apparatus connects the MSR head and the FPCB using pin-terminal connectors or socket connectors tightly. An attempt to tap a signal on a signal path between the MSR head and the MSR IC disconnects the MSR head from the FPCB, causing the apparatus to break operation so that the signal path for tapping cannot be created in the first place.