What is RFID?
RFID stands for radio frequency identification. If you have a credit or debit card that allows you to complete transactions by simply waving your card over a scanner, you’re making use of RFID technology.
RFID scanning has made transactions more convenient for many who make use of the RFID chips embedded in their passports, smartphones, and credit and debit cards. Contactless payment makes life move faster, and in our ever-evolving world, speed and efficiency are the name of the game.
An important distinction to bear in mind is that an RFID chip is different from the rectangular silver EMV chip found on many credit and debit cards. RFID chips allow payments to be completed on your card without making direct contact with a card reader.
In an RFID-equipped card, the RFID chip itself is embedded in the card and not externally visible. If you’re not sure whether your card is RFID-enabled, the best way to tell is to look for the RFID icon on the front or back of the card.
This symbol is five concentric angled lines arranged from smallest to largest from left to right. If you see this symbol on your card, it means it’s equipped with an RFID chip and is capable of making contactless payments.
Potential Risks of RFID Scanning
Sadly, there are opportunistic people out there who look for ways to exploit any new technology for personal gain.
With the advent of RFID technology, identity thieves have found ways to access your information passively via an RFID scanner. An identity thief can use an RFID scanner to access your card information as you pass by, albeit only from a short distance. However, this is a risk to consider when carrying around a card with an RFID chip embedded in it.
RFID Blocking: How and Why
The best way to protect your information when using RFID-equipped cards is to carry an RFID-blocking wallet. These wallets are made with a layer of metal lining that will block identity thieves with RFID scanners from stealing your information.
Using a wallet with RFID blocking keeps your information safe and lets you work, travel, and make day-to-day purchases with ease of use and peace of mind.
The identity thieves that seek to steal your personal information via the RFID chips in your cards are known as “skimmers.” Skimmers use RFID scanners to pick up data by scanning RFID chips in close proximity.
Using a scanner, a skimmer can take and then copy your credit or debit card information for their own use. The tools needed to complete this process are available online and cost only a few hundred dollars.
Because of the relatively easy access to RFID scanners and the other tools skimmers use via the internet, it is best to protect your RFID-equipped cards and assume that a skimmer could be anywhere.
How to Choose an RFID-Blocking Wallet
Every person needs a good wallet. It’s an essential component in your daily carry. A high-quality wallet should be aesthetically pleasing, made from good materials, and able to effectively store your cards and cash. This is where Ekster comes in.
When durability, quality, and minimalism are your priorities, you can’t settle for a mediocre wallet. Wallets that are bulky, cheaply made, and easily damaged end up being more of a burden than a help.
Ekster offers modern, slim alternatives to the wallets you’re used to seeing, improving on classic designs for optimal use in a fast-paced world.
If you don’t already carry a smart wallet, now is the time to start. A good wallet is an essential component to implement into your daily carry. Making the investment in a high-quality wallet means convenient access to your cards and cash in a compact and easy-to-use format.
Introducing the Modular Bifold: A New Spin on an Old Classic
If you’ve been toting around the same beaten and battered wallet for the last decade or longer, it’s high time for a new one. Many people still carry old-school bifold wallets, designed with cash in mind, and rarely equipped with RFID protection.
With the Modular Bifold by Ekster, it’s another story. The Modular model takes the classic bifold format and reinvents and improves upon it to include RFID-protected card slots and still leave plenty of room for cash.
Its modular design allows for the magnetic cardholder to be easily removed and used on its own, or in tandem with the whole wallet The Modular Bifold is slim, compact, and fashionable. It’s an innovative take on the classic bifold design that would make your father and your grandfather proud.
Introducing the Ekster Wallet: Innovative, Simple and Convenient Man
If you’re looking for another sleek, modern wallet design option, Ekster’s Parliament wallet is a perfect pick. The Ekster wallet is also equipped with RFID-blocking capabilities but updates the classic wallet design to prioritize convenience, minimalism, and accessibility.
To avoid unsightly pocket bulge, the leather Ekster model is extremely thin and discrete. This means you’ll have all the carrying space you need without negatively affecting your look.
Because many of you rarely use cash on a daily basis, the Ekster wallet is designed with easy access to cards as a priority. Instead of going through the old routine of fishing through your wallet for your ID or credit card, the Ekster Walelt's card ejection system gives you quick access to each card by fanning them out in a staggered arrangement. This means no more time wasted fumbling around looking for the card you need.
In addition, if you’re prone to losing your wallet or want to reduce the impact if it’s stolen, you can add a solar-powered tracker card to your Ekster Wallet (or Modular Bifold), giving you extra peace of mind.
Equipping your wallet with a tracker card gives you the ability to hone in on it and ping it if it’s missing nearby, or show you its location if you suspect it’s been lost while out and about.
The Senate Cardholder: For the Minimalist on the Move
When your goal is to minimize the bulk of your daily carry and bring only the essentials with you each day, Ekster’s Senate Cardholder is your new best friend.
The Senate Cardholder gives you quick, easy, and stylish access to your cards and cash while taking up the minimum possible pocket space. Even in such a small package, Ekster has still made sure to outfit the Senate model with RFID-blocking capabilities to protect your data from skimmers.
Carrying Lots of Cash? Get a Clip
If you tend to mainly carry cash and you have no RFID-equipped credit or debit cards, a cash clip is a great option for you.
A cash clip is the most compact and effective means of carrying bills in your pocket throughout the day. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s essential to have a surefire way to keep track of the elements in your daily carry, including cash.
If you’re constantly misplacing your tips from work, finding loose bills in the dryer on laundry day, or constantly forgetting to bring cash when you need it, a money clip can make things much simpler.
There’s a RFID-Blocking Wallet for Every Man
Your choice of money-carrying mechanism will depend on your lifestyle, whether you regularly carry cash, and your aesthetic preferences.
Luckily, Ekster has something for everyone, from the on-the-move professional with a handful of cards to carry on a daily basis to the most minimalistic of you, the ones with a single credit or debit card, an ID, and a few bills in their wallets.
There’s RFID-blocking options for everybody, and protecting your information using an RFID-blocking wallet is a great move no matter what.
FAQs
What is RFID and how does it work?
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is a technology that allows for contactless transactions using a chip embedded in cards, passports, and smartphones. When you wave a card over a scanner, the RFID chip sends a signal that completes the transaction, making purchases faster and more convenient.
Why is RFID protection important for my wallet?
RFID protection is essential to prevent identity theft and fraud. Skimmers can use RFID scanners to steal card information passively without needing physical contact. An RFID-blocking wallet uses specialized materials to block these scanners, keeping your personal data secure.
How does an RFID-blocking wallet protect me?
An RFID-blocking wallet is designed with a metal lining that prevents RFID scanners from reading your card information. By blocking the signal, these wallets stop thieves from accessing your sensitive data, protecting your financial security wherever you go.
What types of RFID-blocking wallets are available?
RFID-blocking wallets come in various styles to suit different preferences. From the sleek, minimalist design of Ekster’s Senate Cardholder to the modern and modular functionality of the Ekster Wallet, there’s an RFID-blocking wallet for every lifestyle, offering both security and style.
Do RFID-blocking wallets affect my ability to use contactless payment?
No, RFID-blocking wallets do not interfere with your ability to make contactless payments. The RFID chip in your card will still work when held near a compatible reader. The wallet's blocking features are only activated when a skimmer attempts to access your card's information.
Sources:
>https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/15/more-americans-say-they-dont-carry-cash.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/15-signs-you-have-adult-adhd/9/
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/5-reasons-a-man-should-still-carry-cash/
