When I mention the words “wallet” and “theft” you might think of pickpockets, and rightly so, but today - or at least in the last few years - a new form of theft has become possible, and it is electronic.
A thief needn’t physically steal your American Express card, instead he can read its contents by just walking past you. This is because many credit cards, and also Passports now include an hidden RFID chip. This contains the traditional data that already appears on the object, but it is readable from afar.
This has advantages to be sure, for example once enabled you’ll be able to use your American Express just by placing it near a merchants RFID reader, but alas a rogue could also manoeuvre his reader near to your wallet. While most RFID readers require proximity of 2 inches or less, a high powered model can work from up to 23 metres feet away, indeed that’s how the motorway EZ-Pass works. So how can you protect yourself?
There are two solutions
- Destroy the RFID chip (the hole punch and microwave are aparently popular)
- Use a faraday cage to control when the chip is readable (think of the tin-foil hat)
The latter option is the best.
RFID Blocking Wallets ensure that cards with RFID tags within the wallet can NOT be read while the wallet is closed. This gives you the ability to control when, how and by whom your cards are accessed. To allow the RFID tag in the card to be read, you simply open the wallet and direct it towards the reader.
There are two legitimate looking companies manufacturing protective wallets
DifrWear
Emvelope
Like everyone else I have settled on an ideal wallet design. To use the keywords I really like bi-fold webbing a velcro closing and zipped coin section.
Unfortunately neither company offers such a wallet. But Emvelope offer a nice bill section insert which makes a fine aftermarket upgrade for a third party wallet.
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