What is RFID?
RF recognition or saying that RFID is a new technique that tracks and identifies an object having a label using an electromagnetic field.
The RFID system basically has two components, namely labels, and readers. The label can be either passive or a battery powered. The information is encoded on the label, and the label is read with two radio transmitters - receivers readers. The passive tag uses the wireless wave energy of the reader to pass the information to the reader, and the battery is powered by the battery source. When the information from the label is decoded / read by the reader, the same information is fed to the RFID computer system.
RFID system
This technology has been applied in many fields, including military, commercial aircraft, keyless car entrances, electronic labels, passports, laptops, personal pod, mobile phones and credit cards.
However, it is now widely used in credit cards, allowing them to make non-contact payments; what you have to do is to touch the card on the scanner without inserting the card into or swiping to the terminal.
You can easily identify if your new credit card has enabled RFID.
Enable RFID card will have the following features:
WiFi type symbol, side
A small and highly prominent rectangular chip in front of the card.
You may get a card with a rectangular chip, but this does not necessarily mean that it has enabled RFID. Also looking for that symbol.
The chip here adds an additional security layer to the EMV (EuropayMasterCardvisa) chip.
How does the RFID chip work?
The RFID chip is small because they don't need any power. It requires an RFID tag to work. The RFID tag includes antenna and a chip. This label needs to be in contact with the RFID reader to work.
In the case of the RFID enabled credit card, if you contact the RFID reader, you can access the card details, such as name, card number, etc. However, the label must be in a specified distance with the RFID reader. This distance depends on factors such as power, frequency, and antenna.
Since this makes the credit card easily abuse, the credit card company has taken various measures to ensure that it is from attacks of hackers and criminals. However, if you have a skeptical attitude towards security, you can always give your bank a card with no RF identification card. In addition, the RFID activation card with foil paper is a positive method that blocks the wireless signal, or you can take a chip yourself.
However, these methods do not seem practical when they are involved in daily use.
Now, there is another way to ensure that your RFID credit card is safe. The wallet capable of blocking these RFID signals can be used in the market.
Although the RFID credit card gives you the advantage of saving time during the checkout process, it makes the payment simple and free, but it does have a shortcoming.
The RFID is used by hackers and criminals to access your credit card. What they do is to use illegal RFID readers, scan and download all information on the card. This form of digital theft is called RFID. Use this information, these hackers / thieves copy your card, let your account zero.
Because RFID is just electromagnetic waves, it is easy to block it. Choosing RFID blocking wallet is your best choice.
What is RFID blocking wallet?
These wallets look like ordinary wallets, but have built-in RFID protection. A Faraday cage is formed around the wallet, which is just a housing that shields the electromagnetic signal. To this end, the usual leather bag uses a metal on both sides of the card. Some cards are made entirely in metal, which itself is like a Farah's cage.
You can buy a new wallet RFID blocking function, or you can do one for yourself.
Here is a guide to make your own RFID wallet!
DIY: Homemade RFID wallet
As already discussed, the best way to prevent RFID signals is to use metal. A simple aluminum foil having a thickness of about 0.024 mm is sufficient to complete this work. So, you only need to be a RFID wallet:
Pipe tape
Aluminum foil
A pair of scissors
Now you can go.
Take a piece of aluminum foil having a thickness of a minimum of 0.024 mm.
Placed on the table or on any plane.
Take out the tape and cut out a different tape. Make sure the length is slightly higher than the length of the wallet you want to do.
Put the first tape on the aluminum foil. The next one should overlap with the first one, but it is not fully overlap. It should be placed in a place near the bottom of the first.
Similarly, for the remaining paper strips, until the size of the tape paper is twice the wallet.
Decorating the edges, fold the bed with two halves (contact the bottom).
Tied the two heads of the wallet with a tape so you can get a pocket of a paper.
Remove the wallet for more than two halves so that you can come into the left.
There, you have your own custom RFID mask wallet.
Although these wallets do provide a secure card to be scanned, you can always use additional precautions. By ensuring that payment is through a secure gateway, or put your wallet in your front pocket instead of the back pocket, you should be careful about your online transaction, which is a measures you can take.
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