Kena Kai Datasafe® RFID-Blocking Wallet
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is an emerging location and identification technology that has many upsides, but some significant downsides as well. Though not quite in the mainstream at present, government and industry are working on numerous RFID projects that will likely come to fruition somewhere between the years 2013-2020. In this article, we'll take a look at how you can prevent high-tech identity thieves with laptops and RFID scanners from capturing your private information.
Instructions
1. RFID Defined. RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology is based on tiny silicon RFID chips that in small numbers are already being inserted into product packaging, uniforms, and smart cards. The chips are passive, meaning they do not transmit data but rather must be scanned to retrieve data stored on the RFID chip. This wireless scanning makes location of products easy, and paying via these RFID chips is as easy as a wave of the hand.
2. RFID Vulnerability: Security. The downside to RFID technology comes in the form of personal security issues. With the right tools, it is easy for identity thieves to scan smart cards in briefcases, purses, and wallets. This is why so many privacy advocates are alarmed at the prospect of industry- and government-wide implementation of RFID technology. So if you have a smart card, passport, or other identifying information on your person, how do you protect yourself?
3. Protecting Your Personal Information. It may sound conspiratorial or paranoid, but protecting your personal information from identity thieves is very important. Just a person sitting on a park bench with a laptop watching passers-by can electronically scan and capture data from RFID devices. Beyond that, it's not difficult for the perpetrator to completely assume your identity and make charges on your RFID smart card. Because of this immediate need for increased security, some companies now sell RFID-blocking wallets that protect against unwanted electronic surveillance intrusions.
4. RFID-Blocking Wallets. Two substances block RFID signals: metal and water. Of course, metal is the more sensible choice and is often used in the form of aluminum foil to impede RFID signals. Some have made their own wallets out of duct tape and aluminum foil to block RFID signals; but most prefer the look and feel of a real (leather) wallet. Companies including Kena Kai, Travelon, and Mobile Edge all offer RFID-blocking wallets in a variety of traditional styles including some that will also shield your RFID passport.
Tags: identity thieves, RFID signals, aluminum foil, block RFID, block RFID signals
