Choosing the right wallet is for some an easy task, but for some, it can be a nightmare. So many things to consider, and the vast choice on the market doesn’t make the choice easy.
Well, what if we tell you there’s a criteria that will narrow the choice for you, but make a huge safety difference?
If you are used to carrying credit cards, debit cards, driver’s license, or passport in your wallet, your primary criteria based on which you choose the right wallet for you should definitely be safe.
Did you know that most cards today contain a built-in RFID chip that wirelessly transmits information to compatible readers in order to e.g. verify someone’s identity or make payments for a purchase? Based on this technology it is possible to just lean the card on the device, for the payment to be complete, which is what you have surely done so many times. So, there’s a technology that can add some more security to your belongings inside your wallet.
What is this technology?
It is called RFID technology, and it enables contactless data transfer from a data carrier to a computer. The transfer takes place via a special device called a data reader, and one of the most common examples of its usage is the contactless bank card.
In this case, it is a data carrier, while a POS device is a reader that transmits data to a computer in a store. It is connected to the Internet in the bank where the cardholder’s information is kept, including the amount of money in his account from which the amount spent in the store is deducted.
But do you really need a wallet containing such technology?
If you’re having second thoughts about whether or not you do, read all the reasons stating that you really do need it, below.
1. Your financial assets and sensitive info will stay safe
Since this technology uses radio waves to read information, your confidential information can be intercepted, from just a few feet away, and thus read e.g. your name or country of origin from the passport. Much more worrying is that research has shown that RFID removers that were in the pockets of researchers were able to read entire credit card numbers of passers-by quite imperceptibly.
If this inconvenience happens to you once, it can have serious consequences and can cause great stress and discomfort. And it takes at least a few hours or even days to get everything back in order.
2. Transactions will remain your private matter
Anyone who has an RFID reader can potentially activate the chip built into your card and thus allow that person to access your personal data as well as make a transaction without your authorization or, even more worryingly – you won’t even know you’ve been a victim of such fraud. As the world becomes more technically oriented and more and more things contain chips, the danger of these frauds is increasing.
One of the best-known ways to protect yourself from RFID removers is to use a wallet with protection, which can be found here https://www.alpineswiss.com/mens/wallets/ .
Two additional reasons why you really need one of these wallets are:
- You’ll be safe knowing thieves cannot harm you. New generations of cards use encryption to protect the data on them. This means that criminals would get a meaningless bunch of characters when reading data, instead of first and last name, card number, etc.
- Your information can be sold to a third party. There are much simpler, cheaper and less risky ways to steal data. Instead of standing at a traffic intersection and exposing themselves to surveillance cameras, criminals can buy data from stolen cards from hackers on the dark web for a few dollars. And that is just one of the possible ways, there are many others like phishing.
How does protection like this work?
This protection works by creating an invisible shield that repels electromagnetic energy sent by RFID readers.
Final word
The development of technology has also brought a greater possibility of data theft from your cards, so it is worth considering better protection of credit cards and ID cards. Skimming is a technique used to illegally copy cards, even from a greater distance. RFID technology, built into certain wallet models, will protect the contents of your wallet from unauthorized data download by placing blocking material between the outer layer of the wallet and the inner lining. Thus, making the protection of your wallet invisible.
If you haven’t thought about the possibility of becoming a victim of these readers, think again. Equipment for reading RFID tags is relatively easy to reach, and there are readers who can read tags from a distance of more than a meter. High-tech thieves use these readers and use them to read the data of passers-by cards that are in range. What they do with this data later – you can guess, but if they are not sufficiently protected (and often are not), the victim can have big problems. This can happen to anyone, literally anywhere. Even while you are commuting to work by public transportation.
We strongly advise you to think about them the next time you buy a wallet for yourself or as a gift. These wallets have an extremely lightweight aluminum card protector that protects up to six of your most important cards from breaking and bending, besides from unwanted readings.
In the past, the color and model of the wallet were a priority when buying, and these features are certainly still important, only now it is a priority on RFID protection when buying. You get extra protection, peace of mind, and a reliable way to keep your money and account information secure.
