What is RFID blocking in wallets and how can it help you prevent theft?

Are you looking for a new wallet? Then you've probably heard of wallets that have integrated RFID blocking technology. RFID technology is a relatively new concept in the market, and this article will help you understand what it is and how you can avoid falling victim to one of the favorite crimes of today's digital underworld.

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What is RFID Technology?

First, let's introduce RFID and the type of credit cards that use it. Radio-Frequency Identification or RFID is a new technology that tracks and identifies objects with tags using electromagnetic fields. An RFID system basically has two components: a tag and a reader. A tag can be passive or battery-powered. Information is encoded in the tag, which is read by a reader that is a two-way radio transmitter-receiver. The passive tag uses the radio waves from the reader to transmit information to the reader, while battery-powered tags use the battery source for the same. After the reader decodes/reads the information from the tag, it is sent to an RFID computer system.

How RFID Chips Work

RFID chips are designed to be small and stored in the dark, as they don't need any power source. However, they require an RFID tag to function, and this RFID tag consists of an antenna and a chip. This tag must come into contact with its respective RFID reader to work. In the case of an RFID-enabled credit card, the card details like name, card number, etc., can be accessed if it comes into contact with an RFID reader. However, the tag must be at a specific distance from the RFID reader. This distance depends on factors such as power, frequency, antenna size, etc.

This technology finds its application in many areas, including the military, commercial aircraft, keyless entry for cars, electronic tags, passports, laptops, mobile phones, and credit cards. Nowadays, it is widely used in credit cards to enable contactless payments; all you have to do is bring the card close to a scanner, without the need to insert or swipe the card in a terminal.

Since this makes the card vulnerable to misuse, credit card companies take several measures to ensure it is safe from hackers and criminals. Additionally, covering the RFID-enabled card with a foil is a secure way to block the wireless signal, or you can simply remove the chip yourself.

However, when it comes to everyday use, these methods may not seem practical.

Today, there is another way to ensure your RFID credit card is secure. Wallets capable of blocking these RFID signals exist, and at Qiwa, we are at the forefront of such innovations that protect the well-being of our users.

What is RFID Signal Blocking in Wallets and What are Its Benefits?

Even though RFID credit cards provide the advantage of saving time during the payment process, making transactions easy and hassle-free, they come with a disadvantage. Hackers use RFID skimmers to access the information present on your credit cards. They simply use an illegitimate RFID reader from a distance that scans and downloads all the card information. This form of digital theft is known as RFID skimming. Using this information, hackers duplicate your card, leaving you with a zero balance in your bank account.

Since RFID is nothing more than electromagnetic waves, blocking it is quite easy. Choosing a wallet with RFID blocking is the best option you have. RFID technology is widely implemented in banking and commerce, and it's challenging to evade, so wallets with this system can securely protect your information from cybercriminals. 

The way these wallets block the signal is like a Faraday cage, which is nothing more than an enclosure that blocks the electromagnetic signal formed around the wallet. To achieve this, typical leather wallets or cardholders use a metal piece on both sides of the card. Some cards are entirely made of metal, which itself acts as a Faraday cage.

While some DIY solutions offer the tedious and unaesthetic solution of wrapping your cards or even the entire wallet in aluminum foil, wallets and cardholders with RFID blocking seamlessly incorporate protective layers into the wallet's design, keeping all your cards safe and well-protected. Keeping all your cards in an RFID blocking wallet not only protects you from such scams but also has the added benefit of blocking signals from card readers to other cards when at the checkout line or tapping for touchless payments. touchless.

Although these wallets provide security against scanned cards, you can always use additional precautionary measures. Being very cautious with online transactions by ensuring payments are made through a secure gateway or putting your wallet in the front pocket instead of the back pocket are small steps that can be taken to avoid such mishaps.

Why do you need an RFID wallet?

At Qiwa, we understand that security and convenience are as important as style. We have combined our meticulously crafted designs with RFID protection to offer you a range of RFID blocking wallets you can trust. The timeless design and enduring longevity ensure that, regardless of changes in wireless technology, our wallets remain as luxurious as they are protective.

Our range of RFID blocking wallets is made from genuine, elegant, and flexible leather that will age distinctively with use. RFID protection doesn't mean you have to implement thick, bulky layers of signal-blocking materials, nor does it mean you have to choose functionality over the style and quality of a product as frequently used and necessary as a wallet.

Learn more about our history here and our product catalog here. We also invite you to contact us directly here.