Do I Need an RFID Wallet?
With technological advancements being made every day, it has become easier than ever to commit card theft and fraud.
Credit card skimming is the most common form of fraud and is an utterly blindsiding crime. Victims notice that fraudulent charges are being made to their account, or money is being withdrawn, while their credit card remains in their possession.
But the main question here is do I need an RFID wallet or not? Let's take a look.
Everything You Need to Know About RFID
To understand the threats you face, it is necessary to comprehend RFID technology itself. The need for RFID wallets comes from the very existence of RFID technology in the first place. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology uses electromagnetic fields to track and identify objects that are integrated within the system.
In essence, RFID is the next level from conventional barcode technology that is most often seen on items in stores, or when managing inventory. In addition to including necessary product information, RFID also has access to ranged tracking abilities and sensitive data.
RFID technology was first invented during WW2 as a means to identify British aircraft as they returned from a mission. Nowadays, we use this technology to boost the efficiency of numerous industries like transportation, retail, and banking.
RFID chips make it simpler for warehouses to track their products, which in turn increases the speed of the order fulfillment process. Many companies also use them to improve security by tracking employee whereabouts during the workday.
RFID also improves our personal lives by speeding up the passport checking process when traveling, allowing for credit card payment without contact, and for automatic paying for tolls. Unfortunately, this also means that it has become much easier for criminals to steal crucial card information.
How Credit Card Information is Stolen
The greatest threat to those with RFID chips in their credit or debit cards are thieves known as ‘skimmers.’ Skimmers use devices known as RFID scanners to detect credit card numbers, CVV codes, and expiration dates from passersby.
These scanners use traditional RFID technology to their advantage and use digital advancement for theft. Because skimmers use electromagnetic fields, there does not need to be any physical contact between the RFID scanner and your wallet to obtain your card information.
Once a skimmer is in possession of your card information, making use of it becomes relatively simple. Skimmers use card magnetizing tools to transfer your data onto a counterfeit card, which allows them to make transactions and withdrawals as if they were using the original.
Unfortunately, these machines are not difficult to come by, and anyone who has enough money to afford a card reader can purchase one regardless of their intent.
RFID-Blocking Wallets
RFID-blocking wallets are the best chance of avoiding being skimmed. They were created with the specific purpose of preventing skimmers from detecting your card information.
RFID-blocking wallets possess a layer made from a carbon fiber material that blocks the electromagnetic fields produced by RFID scanners. This prevents these electromagnetic fields from reaching your cards that are embedded with RFID chips.
This carbon fiber material is considered to be conductive. It blocks incoming electromagnetic waves from RFID scanners and distributes them throughout the wallet without allowing them to bypass the shield.
It is essential to realize that in order 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.
RFID Tags and Smart Labels
RFID tags comprise an integrated circuit and an antenna, as well as a protective material that is used to hold the pieces together and safeguard them from environmental damage. The material used depends on what function the tag will serve.
To give an example, employee ID badges that contain RFID tags will generally be made from durable plastic. One of the most significant advantages of RFID tags is that they are inexpensive to implement and are disposable.
RFID tags and transponders are available in three main ‘classes,’ namely passive, semi-passive, and active.
Passive Tags
Passive RFID is the most widely used type of tag. They do not contain any power and need to be ‘charged’ by an RFID reader. These readers are capable of powering any device within the RFID tag and reply with the necessary data.
Semi-Passive Tags
Similar to passive tags, semi-passive tags use batteries to power the internal operation of the tag, but rely on RFID readers to supply enough power to transmit a signal to an RFID reader.
Active Tags
Active RFID tags are unique in that they use battery power to supply power to their electronics. This means that active tags are useful from greater distances, as they do not depend on received power to provide a reflected signal, and their circuitry can be more sophisticated than their passive and semi-passive counterparts.
Final Thoughts
To put it simply, you should invest in an RFID blocking wallet if you frequently walk in high-density areas, where skimmers can walk around unnoticed. Even if you do not, there is no reason not to purchase an RFID blocking wallet. You can never be too careful.
