DIFRWear's RFID wallet-wear
By Ryan Block 
posted March 15th 2006 9:35AM
posted March 15th 2006 9:35AM
[Via The Red Ferret]
posted March 15th 2006 9:35AM
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I've been ragging on RFID for some time now on Bar Code Nerds. Now some of you might pay more attention, ehhh?
Maybe those guys in the black van across the street will stop watching me now. Either that or I let my cat roam the aisles of Walmart.
Make that: barcodenerds.blogspot.com
I've been in the market for one of these wallets ever since I got my Amex Blue card, which comes with RFID now whether you want it or not. You don't think identity thieves aren't going to be all over these cards once they figure out that all they need is an RFID reader? I hate Amex for foisting this useless technology on me - I don't need to give up my security just for the convenience of waving my card around, especially when no stores anywhere support that technology anyway.
I'd prefer to just totally disable that RFID chip rather than shielding it, but AFAIK all the methods for disabling the chip that I've heard of would also either destroy or damage the card itself and/or the magnetic strip at the same time. So basically, my only option is a wallet like this.
This one's too small, though - I need more card slots. The wallet I have now has an inner card flap so I can carry six more cards; I need that. (No, they're not all credit cards; I'm talking stuff like my mileage club cards, my insurance cards, etc.)
Can't I solve all this RFID madness by microwaving anything that I suspect contains an RFID tag?
If you're paranoid about the RFID in your American Express card, you can call them and have the ExpressPay functionality disabled. It makes the RFID useless - no need to ruin your microwave or wrap your head in tin foil.
Or just drill a small hole through the chip. It's not under the mag stripe. Problem solved.
The card cannot be scanned more than a couple inches away, so I'm not sure the risk is great. Many stores in my area support the RFID scan. It's not quicker, but no one can use the number that comes from the chip to buy stuff on the Internet, which means I maintain my privacy with the store.
Or just not have a Amex Blue card. It's not exactly the most convenient card to carry. Plus you get to tell them exactly why you're canceling the account: that is satisfying. :)
"The card cannot be scanned more than a couple inches away, so I'm not sure the risk is great. "
Sorry, Jeff. But an RFID tag can be read from dozens of feet away -- if you jack up the power of the radio sugnal from the scanner. This isn't just a notion. Experiments with signal boosting show it can be done.
Guaranteed that our new lords in HS will have super-duper remote RFID readers on tap when they need them. ID thieves will not be found wanting in the race, either.
If any of my CC companies try to insist I use an RFID tag enabled card, I will close my account.
to the AMEX Blue user, have some balls and give them an ultimatum. There are other CC companies out there. They're all the same.
10$ says it really contains an RFID amplifier.
"to the AMEX Blue user, have some balls and give them an ultimatum. There are other CC companies out there. They're all the same."
Think so? Call me when I can get ANA mileage points on my Citibank Mastercard that never expire, so I can fly business class to Japan for free while the rest of you schmucks rot in steerage class.
Some people apparently don't realize why other people use American Express. It's not about the convenience of the card. It's about the rewards and the partner companies. That's the entire point of carrying Amex.
Besides, you're apparently assuming we all carry one card. I mean what are you, 16 and on your first student credit card? We adults have cards of all the major types, and use whichever one provides us the most benefit at any given time.
"Think so? Call me when I can get ANA mileage points on my Citibank Mastercard that never expire, so I can fly business class to Japan for free while the rest of you schmucks rot in steerage class."
I'm sorry you can't afford to fly first class.
If you're all uptight about getting some "freebies" then I guess you'll do whatever some company says to get your "freebies."
You might want to practice on your reading skills. "If any of my CC
companies ..." Notice the plural tense.
And I love the way you refer to the general public as "schmucks." It's so... endearing.
This wallet might be useful, but its nothing more than a very cheap China-made leather wallet with metal material wedged in it.
For a super stylish RFID shielded wallet you should try the Flipside Wallet, www.FlipsideWallet.com. It looks like the "I-phone of wallets," made from durable plastic and aluminum, clear slots, and the reason why it one-ups the DIFRwear wallets is because it locks itself shut so nothing falls out, and also so the shielding effect is not breached--it only takes a small gap in the shielding to scan a persons smartcard/credit card. I got a Flipside Wallet off thier website in black a while ago, and its the best wallet i have ever used-- its the face of RFID shielded wallets to come!
Their is another HUGE reason to carry a non-blue AMEX card: no credit limit! Yes, that's right folks, in an emergency the little green card can buy 50 airline tickets--enough to airlift the entire marching band, church youth group or whomever you care for out of harm's way on one signature!
actually lance, the green card has no pre-set spending limit. of course there is a limit, they just don't tell you what it is.... if you make 50k and never charged more then 2k a month go ahead and try to charge 50 plane tickets. i say good luck to you....
Don't buy from these guys, they take payment, but don't acknowledge, and 6 weeks later despite many emails to all their published addresses, have still not received product
I've found quite a few other choices out there. http://rfidprotection.blogspot.com/ has a list.
The US house of representatives has passed a bill called the "Real ID Act of 2005" which calls, among many other things, for all US ID cards (even those issued by state governments) to have "A common machine-readable technology, with defined minimum data elements."
While will probably end up being pretty innocent (like a magnetic strip), they may end up using RFID, enabling anyone with an RFID scanner (government or otherwise) to identify you whenever you walk by their scanner. If that happens, "Faraday Caged Apparel" might start to be a little more important.