#aqueerjedi

What is an RFID-blocking wallet and will I need it when I go to NYC?

Basically, RFID-enabled credit cards transmit information wirelessly when they’re held a few inches from the right kind of sensor -- that’s how we get “contactless” credit cards. With the right equipment, a person can “skim” that information off a card as long as the card is relatively nearby. RFID-blocking gear prevents that skim from happening. 

There’s a lot of talk about whether or not this actually ever happens -- second generation RFID-enabled cards have better security, and there’s not a lot of strong evidence that banks are noticing their cards getting skimmed in greater percentages in certain areas, which you’d expect if someone was sitting on a streetcorner with a skimmer. So it may just be a marketing ploy to sell RFID-Protective Stuff, because you can get RFID-protective bags, pants, sleeves, wallets, etc. and some of it is quite costly. 

But I can’t otherwise explain how my card number got stolen -- I watched it get run everywhere I used it, I haven’t used it wirelessly anywhere or at any payment machines, and it’s not stored as a card on any payment websites. So unless someone stole it a while ago and just happened to try it out while I was in NYC, I don’t know how else it got nicked. 

Anyway, I think an RFID-protective wallet is a good precaution while traveling -- they’re not expensive, and I quite like mine just as a wallet, RFID-protective or not, I use it as my regular default wallet. Mine looks like this only snazzier (it’s got a nice pattern on it). 

cacklebarnacle replied to your post “Almost got my ass kicked on an airplane”

the big question is though: will you put that sentence in one of your fics?