Are RFID Wallets Necessary?
There is a lot of sensation and hype surrounding RFID wallets. Many people question whether or not it is truly necessary to carry one, let alone whether or not they work at all.
They may do their job to some extent under some purely theoretical circumstances, but that does not mean that you have to have one. Let's have a look at the answer to are RFID wallets necessary.
RFID: The Basics
Understanding RFID technology is key to understanding the threats that it can protect you from. The need for RFID-blocking wallets comes from the existence of RFID technology in the first place.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) uses an electromagnetic field to track and identify objects that contain RFID technology. These objects can range anywhere from phones, to tags, to credit and debit cards.
RFID technology is basically the successor to the barcode technology that is often used in stores and warehouses. RFID was first created during WW2 as a way to identify the British aircraft that were returning to base after completing a mission.
Today, we use RFID technology to boost efficiency in a wide variety of industries, from shipping to banking to retail.
RFID is also commonly used in the workplace as a security measure by tracking the movements of a company’s employees during the workday. It is still a topic for debate whether or not this constitutes a professional invasion of privacy and an infringement on worker’s rights.
These RFID chips also make the order fulfillment process of warehouses much quicker by tracking products that move in and out of warehouses. This technology not only has implications in the workplace but can make our personal lives simpler, as well.
RFID chips aid in speeding up the process of getting a passport checked when traveling. It also speeds up paying for tolls automatically and allows for contactless credit card payment.
The downside is that criminals are also capable of using this technology to find new ways of siphoning money and information.
How Bank Card Information is Stolen
The biggest risk to those with RFID technology embedded in their credit or debit cards are criminals known as 'skimmers.' Skimmers use gadgets known as RFID scanners to detect credit card numbers, CVV codes, and expiration dates from bystanders.
These scanners use conventional RFID technology to further their abilities and make use of technological advancements for theft. Since skimmers use electromagnetic fields, there does not need to be any physical contact between the RFID scanner and your wallet.
When a skimmer is in possession of your card data, putting it to use turns out to be rather simple. Skimmers use card magnetizing apparatuses to move your information onto a counterfeit card.
This permits them to make withdrawals and transactions as though they were using the original.
Shockingly, these machines are not hard to get ahold of. Any individual who has enough cash to afford the cost of a card reader can buy one regardless of what they intend to use it for.
What are RFID Wallets?
RFID-blocking wallets are your best chance to avoid being skimmed. They were created with the explicit purpose of preventing skimmers from siphoning your card information.
RFID blocking wallets contain a layer made from a metal or carbon fiber material that blocks the electromagnetic fields produced by RFID scanners. This prevents said electromagnetic fields from detecting your cards that are embedded with RFID chips.
This carbon fiber material is considered to be conductive. It blocks incoming electromagnetic fields from RFID scanners and distributes them throughout the wallet without allowing them to bypass the shield.
It is crucial to realize that, for cards that are embedded with RFID chips to be considered protected, they need to be inside the wallet. Simply having them within close proximity to the wallet will not keep their information safe.
Do You Need an RFID Wallet?
In all honesty, there have been far fewer reports of RFID-related crimes than it would seem. The technology is much more popular amongst security researchers than it is amongst actual criminals.
Skimmers that are installed on ATMs allow thieves to pick up much more useful information from a much larger number of cards. Unlike RFID skimming, skimming at an ATM is a more widespread problem around the world, and no wallet can protect you from it.
Major credit card companies are adamant that RFID payment systems no longer transmit unencrypted, sensitive data. Modern RFID chips now send a unique one-time code for every single transaction.
This significantly decreases the likelihood that a thief will be able to get ahold of your card information.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, RFID skimming is more a theoretical threat than a real-world phenomenon, so you do not truly need an RFID wallet. However, if you’re the cautious type, you’ll know that there’s no such thing as being too careful.
