With the immediate rise in RFID theft or identity theft at an alarming rate, it has raised worrying about privacy concerns. Moreover, an increasing number of cards, including all types of credit cards, debit cards, identity, and even authorization cards, are being attached to RFID technology to help people avoid carrying cash or papers everywhere they go.
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What is RFID protection?
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is a technology through which the data is tracked via electromagnetic waves. A chip is inserted in objects, tags, cards carrying all the required data and are tracked using electromagnetic readers. The readers usually transmit a signal that activates the RFID chip attached to the device and starts sending data.
This data transfer is carried out in a limited area zone of around 10m. However, once RFID chips are activated, any receiver which can identify the data captures it. These devices can then be used to attempt identity theft or forgery through bank transactions via credit card duplicates without even touching your cards.
Why is RFID protection needed?
This transition from a society full of cash and papers into a digital one is seamless yet flawed in varied aspects. One of them being the rise in privacy concerns. As much as it has reduced pickpocketing and scamming thefts, it has introduced skimming thefts. Electronic theft has become a prominent part of a cashless society, with devices available to thieves for as low as $100, which can leave you bankrupt.
The access cards’ data can be utilized to enter the safe security spaces like offices containing tonnes of private data, or the bank’s chequer room; where frauds and theft are easy to commit but are usually protected by securing them in “Authorized entry only” restrictions. These barge-ins can lead to deletion, theft, or misconduct with essential data that can cause significant threats to the entire state or country.
The relevance of putting RFID protection in wallets:
Now that it has been established how data skimming occurs through RFID tracks, it is mandatory to consider the possibility of something that can restrict the signal transmission through the RFID chips. This fact establishes the relevance of adding RFID protection to wallets.
With approximately 72% of transactions being carried out online or through cards every day, it is essential to note that these are the most vulnerable areas for stealing. Where do you keep your cards safe? Wallets. Therefore, investing in a wallet with RFID protection can prove to be beneficial in the long run. Moreover, the use of RFID has engendered considerable controversy and even product boycotts by consumer privacy advocates.
Which things in your wallet are prone to data theft!
We carry so many essentials in our wallets that we often tend to forget how important data is contained in them. However, we are prone to keep our wallets in our pockets or within eye surveillance to ensure they don’t get stolen. However, we forget the skimming attacks done through these critical items, which are almost always present in our wallets.
5 Things Present In Your Wallet That RFID Protection Can Save:
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Passports
Passport is a vital identity proof which becomes of utmost importance while traveling abroad. These passports are equipped with RFID technologies to scan the airports’ data and verification process. Nevertheless, in a foreign country, these are most vulnerable to identity theft and can lead to impersonation crimes.
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Credit/Debit cards
As soon as the new transformation occurred to digitization, payment methods underwent a significant advancement in technology usage. These cards are timelessly being transformed into contactless payment methods that rely on RFID technology. This attachment to RFID makes them vulnerable to theft. These are the worst kinds of forgery, as they can lead to bankruptcy overnight without accurate information about the transactions made through the account.
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Identity cards
IDentity cards are scanned now and then; these are also being converted to contactless scannable cards to ensure easy identification and verification process. Again, with this RFID technology equipment, these are susceptible to identity theft, and impersonation and forgery are often associated with such cases.
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Access Cards
Access cards make high-encrypted data available in the wrong hands. Their duplication or even misusage may lead to unauthorized access into the office or confidential premises leading to mishappening with important data, leading to your and even client’s data.
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Gift Cards & loyalty cards
Yes, your gift cards also contain a chip, too. We must remember that our gift cards have no resort to get them settled once someone reclaims those funds. It’s like wasting a fortune of money.
How can the RFID mechanism help to save you?
Understanding this vulnerability brings us to how these RFID protection wallets function and what is their reliability ratio. Well, the top RFID wallets offer more than 90% protection from RFID thefts. Most of these wallets arrive with a lifetime warranty, ensuring the effectiveness of them.
These wallets are equipped with a layer of extraordinary aluminum and carbon fiber with minimum holes in its weaving hence resisting any signal passage through the wallet surface. Hence the usage of these wallets is highly recommended.
