A code reading system comprising: a code reader (102, 204, 404, 502, 802, 902, 1010, 1500, 2200, 2400) including: a light source (210, 602) configured to illuminate a machine-readable indicia (302, 1506, 1602, 2600) representative of a standard code associated with an item; an image sensor (420, 518, 816, 910, 1014, 1510) configured to receive an image of the machine readable indicia (302, 1506, 1602, 2600); an anti-counterfeiting key (304, 406, 810, 906, 1022, 1202, 1310, 1508, 1604, 2100, 2406, 2602) that, when illuminated, reflects illumination to be incident on said image sensor; and a processing unit in electrical communication with said image sensor, said processing unit being configured to decode the standard code of the machine-readable indicia and check validity of the reflected illumination from the anti-counterfeiting key; said code reading system being characterized by further comprising: an illumination source (206, 806, 904, 1004, 1304, 1406, 1502) configured to illuminate the anti-counterfeiting key (304, 406, 810, 906, 1022, 1202, 1310, 1508, 1604, 2100, 2406, 2602); and an anti-counterfeiting module for use with the code reader (102, 204, 404, 502, 802, 902, 1010, 1500, 2200, 2400) the anti-counterfeiting module comprising a member (214, 506, 106) configured to detachably couple with the code reader; wherein the illumination source (206, 806, 904, 1004, 1304, 1406, 1502) is configured to be supported by the member (214, 506, 106). a light source (210, 602) configured to illuminate a machine-readable indicia (302, 1506, 1602, 2600) representative of a standard code associated with an item; an image sensor (420, 518, 816, 910, 1014, 1510) configured to receive an image of the machine readable indicia (302, 1506, 1602, 2600); an anti-counterfeiting key (304, 406, 810, 906, 1022, 1202, 1310, 1508, 1604, 2100, 2406, 2602) that, when illuminated, reflects illumination to be incident on said image sensor; and a processing unit in electrical communication with said image sensor, said processing unit being configured to decode the standard code of the machine-readable indicia and check validity of the reflected illumination from the anti-counterfeiting key; said code reading system being characterized by further comprising: an illumination source (206, 806, 904, 1004, 1304, 1406, 1502) configured to illuminate the anti-counterfeiting key (304, 406, 810, 906, 1022, 1202, 1310, 1508, 1604, 2100, 2406, 2602); and an anti-counterfeiting module for use with the code reader (102, 204, 404, 502, 802, 902, 1010, 1500, 2200, 2400) the anti-counterfeiting module comprising a member (214, 506, 106) configured to detachably couple with the code reader; wherein the illumination source (206, 806, 904, 1004, 1304, 1406, 1502) is configured to be supported by the member (214, 506, 106). an illumination source (206, 806, 904, 1004, 1304, 1406, 1502) configured to illuminate the anti-counterfeiting key (304, 406, 810, 906, 1022, 1202, 1310, 1508, 1604, 2100, 2406, 2602); and an anti-counterfeiting module for use with the code reader (102, 204, 404, 502, 802, 902, 1010, 1500, 2200, 2400) the anti-counterfeiting module comprising a member (214, 506, 106) configured to detachably couple with the code reader; wherein the illumination source (206, 806, 904, 1004, 1304, 1406, 1502) is configured to be supported by the member (214, 506, 106).