An alarming electronic article surveillance ("EAS") tag for securing an item of merchandise, the alarming EAS tag comprising: an EAS sensor; a tampering sensor; a radio frequency identification ("RFID") logic block including: a transceiver operable to receive a first interrogation signal; a memory including a first identifier associated with the alarming EAS tag and a second identifier associated with the item of merchandise; and a processor operable to send a first trigger signal responsive to the transceiver receiving the first interrogation signal; an alarming tag processor bi-directionally electrically coupled to the RFID logic block and the EAS sensor, the alarming tag processor being adapted to receive said first trigger signal; and an alarm transducer operable to produce at least one of a visual indicator and an audible indicator based on the EAS sensor and the alarming tag processor, wherein the alarming tag is unarmed prior to receiving said first trigger signal; wherein the alarming tag processor is operable to: receive the first trigger signal; and responsive to receiving said first trigger signal, change status of the alarming EAS tag to an armed state in which the alarming tag processor is activated and in which the alarming EAS tag is periodically woken so that alarming tag processor can monitor said sensors (30, 31) to ensure an item the alarming EAS tag is attached to is not being stolen or tampered with. an EAS sensor; a tampering sensor; a radio frequency identification ("RFID") logic block including: a transceiver operable to receive a first interrogation signal; a memory including a first identifier associated with the alarming EAS tag and a second identifier associated with the item of merchandise; and a processor operable to send a first trigger signal responsive to the transceiver receiving the first interrogation signal; a transceiver operable to receive a first interrogation signal; a memory including a first identifier associated with the alarming EAS tag and a second identifier associated with the item of merchandise; and a processor operable to send a first trigger signal responsive to the transceiver receiving the first interrogation signal; an alarming tag processor bi-directionally electrically coupled to the RFID logic block and the EAS sensor, the alarming tag processor being adapted to receive said first trigger signal; and an alarm transducer operable to produce at least one of a visual indicator and an audible indicator based on the EAS sensor and the alarming tag processor, wherein the alarming tag is unarmed prior to receiving said first trigger signal; wherein the alarming tag processor is operable to: receive the first trigger signal; and responsive to receiving said first trigger signal, change status of the alarming EAS tag to an armed state in which the alarming tag processor is activated and in which the alarming EAS tag is periodically woken so that alarming tag processor can monitor said sensors (30, 31) to ensure an item the alarming EAS tag is attached to is not being stolen or tampered with. receive the first trigger signal; and responsive to receiving said first trigger signal, change status of the alarming EAS tag to an armed state in which the alarming tag processor is activated and in which the alarming EAS tag is periodically woken so that alarming tag processor can monitor said sensors (30, 31) to ensure an item the alarming EAS tag is attached to is not being stolen or tampered with.