Contactless cards (radio frequency identification cards) use radio frequency identification technology (RFID) to transmit personal information to card readers. Some people are nervous about fraudsters grabbing their data and so opt for card holders that block RFID signals. Others argue this risk has been exaggerated. That no special card RFID protector and other tech are needed to protect the cards.

Here are three considerations for those who are still undecided about whether to invest in an RFID blocking wallet, a purse with RFID protection or RFID blocking card sleeve.

Your personal risk profile

Banking and financial trade association UK Finance notes there have been no verified reports of fraudsters taking money from somebody’s contactless card in the UK by bumping in to them using an RFID bank card reader – a technique known as ‘skimming’. Moreover, most cards have security measures that ensure payments are fully-traceable and legal safeguards. These measures help victims recoup stolen money. Even so, skimming of RFID credit cards is technically possible and the press has reported alleged cases. Albeit often related to travel abroad. So taking precautions and buying RFID blocking card wallet tech may be prudent – but it really depends on what risk you perceive.

Sharpen up your look. How to protect your data

A common recommendation to those who are nervous about skimmers is to simply encase their contactless cards in tinfoil or kitchen foil rather than buy RFID protection. While this may work, most people will agree tinfoil is not a stylish addition to a wallet. Indeed, one of the customised RFID blocking card sleeves on the market will certainly give you a better-looking wallet. While ensuring you do not have to unwrap your cards like leftovers in the fridge. So, it may be better to invest in proper RFID blocking technology that looks good and allays your worries about data theft. Rather than just making do with a substitute.

RFID blocking wallet: making modern living easier

The first generation of RFID blocking wallets often forced people to remove their cards from the holders. Separate them from metal objects or other contactless cards before paying. All of this made other aspects of life, such as swiping in and out of the London underground tube stations, more inconvenient. The new generation of RFID card holder wallets however, has been designed with solving the inconvenience of contactless in mind. The best designs allow users to keep cards in an anti scan wallet while paying, making RFID contactless payment much easier.

Do you decide to buy RFID blocking technology? We recommend using wallets and contactless blocking cards from RFID Cloaked company with RFIDSecur technology.

You can place RFID blocking cards alongside your contactless bank card, in your wallet, purse or ID holder, guaranteeing protection against theft of your information or unauthorised payments while still allowing you – and only you – full use of your cards. They also come in a range of stylish designs.

‘If you are interested in any of the RFID blocking card protectors, take a look at our online-shop.

Updated in June 2020

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Consumer adoption rates for contactless methods are consistent across the continent with a 97% upswing in contactless transactions so far this year, MasterCard reports.

While consumer faith in the security of contactless may be increasing overall, reports in the UK press of the risks of paying for your daily coffee, train journey or sandwich with a quick point-of-sales card tap suggest growing public concern.

In late August for example, an Aberdeen couple told The Guardian newspaper of how £600 was spent on their contactless cards at home despite having taken the cards with them on holiday to Poland.

Evidence has also been mounting that it is possible to grab information using card reading technology that can then be used to steal a cardholder’s identity.

Consumers are countering this with innovative ways of protecting their cards against data theft, ranging from covering their cards in tinfoil to specially-designed wallets employing radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology.

While the specialist wallets do block radio waves, they also have the side-effect of preventing the cards from being used without first taking them out of the casing.

This can be particularly frustrating to commuters who rely on moving quickly through ticket barriers with a quick tap in or out.

However, Exeter-based start-up RFID Cloaked is aiming to correct this with their new RFID wallet.

As well as offering security for your data, these wallets allow users to pay on the move, giving data protection without sacrificing convenience. What is more, the new wallet prioritises style, allowing users to choose from a range of looks.

“We are different by design,” says co-founder Julian Ghail. “I really think our product is design-led, not for design’s sake, but to be intuitive to use.”

Due to launch their second Kickstarter campaign in October, the team is offering its first backers a fifty percent discount on the wallet. To be one of the first to sign up, check out their page here at https://rfidcloaked.com/pro/.

*this is a paid promo*

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Biometric and passcode logins should protect the user from unintentionally making any sort of payments. Safe from criminals and those trying to access your accounts. Therefore your bank details and cash should be secure.

Unfortunately this doesn’t seem to be the case, smartphones are only as good as the programmers and developers who code the systems for the phone and bank companies. Any holes in these system can lead hackers and criminals to take control of these systems and in essence have full access to your data and information stored in the modern devices.

Is pay by phone safe? Google Pay and Apple Pay: is your data safe?

Day to day we are hearing stories in the news about international companies and even national security agencies being hacked. Criminals having access to databases, passwords emails and login details. Smartphones are no different in many respects. The weakest links are always the humans that build the operating systems and applications.

Keeping up with the latest security implementations and best practises seems to be too much for many companies. A badly coded authorised login is implemented on almost all internet connected devices, from a universally used websites. It allows access to information stored within the app. If that app is hotel books with stored card information, in theory criminals could book rooms in your name. What if via the app they get access to all your card details? The risks are all still there. Even once the loophole has been closed as criminals are always looking for ways to gain people’s confidence. They can gain access to accounts or use in email phishing attacks to further attack computers or users devices.

What can you do to protect your data?

It is quite simple to ensure data protection security. Data protection and data security are provided by the following steps:

• You have to use unique passwords for all websites and logins.
• You have to keep device and computer security and operating system up-to-date.

Where possible

• Use encrypted data sites.
• Two factor authentication (another layer of protection like Google authenticator. Even if your password is stolen, your data is safe and encrypted without this second key).
• Only login to websites using HTTPS.

Never

• Use email links to login to websites, unless you are completely sure it is from the right website.

‘Do you want to learn more about the risks of using contactless payments? For more information, see the article.

Updated in June 2020

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Almost £7m was taken in 2016, compared to £2.8m in 2015, according to Financial Fraud Action UK.

In the same period, contactless spending rose from £7.75bn to £25.2bn.

The figures translate as a loss of 2.7p for every £100 spent, which is actually a fall from 3.6p in every £100 spent in 2015.

A judge recently slammed the technology, which does not require a PIN, for making life “too easy” for criminals during the sentencing of a fraudster in Devon.

Contactless cards can be used for transactions of up to £30.

Graph showing the increase in contactless fraud in the UK increasing rapidly

Gareth Shaw, money expert with consumer group Which?, said there are “still questions around the security of these cards”.

“Card companies must be responsible for striking a better balance between convenience and security,” he said.

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Gattopardo Tactical protective jacket incorporating the latest RFID protection materials supplied by RFID Cloaked.

Gattopardo design specialised ready to wear unique military clothing for the security and covert industry. For those who seek protection and security in their professional and non professional world. Gattopardo’s clothing and accessories are designed to protect both the individual wearing the garments and their privacy by securing personal identity and data under any circumstances.

The clothing includes jackets and suits which are utilising ultra protective materials combined with features for those that need the highest level of security.

“We needed the highest level of identity, data and geolocation’s privacy protection. It’s essential for us, it’s vital for our clients, RFID Cloaked’s team can do it, great communication skills, great technical support and great strategic partners.”

These clothes will protect your body and data from many types of extreme attacks.
From fragmentation to fire, chemicals to knives, from taser guns and stun guns all the way upto to microwave pulse attacks, Gattopardo can cover your back. Features include a hidden ultra secure RFID blocking pocket to secure data from being accessed remotely.

The secure pocket utilises the latest technology for RFID blocking. Radio frequency signals are used in many new wireless technologies protecting anything from contactless payment cards, access cards, RFID keys, proximity car keys to passports all using RFID microchips storing personal data. This material also blocks bluetooth, mobile phone cellular data and GPS signals. Once a wireless device or RFID document is place inside this blackout pocket it cannot be remotely accessed, hacked, scanned or cloned from any distance. Totally secure from remote attacks.

Gattopardo based in USA Design and manufacture defence clothing

RFID Cloaked has been working with Gattopardo since our Kickstarter project for over a year, CEO Diego Pipoli researched companies for secure data materials and reached out to us for help with their problem. We were able to help and supplied a material to work with their designs and within the strict specifications required. The materials had to block all external wireless signals and radio frequencies, be stitched and withstand the day to day use of tactical specialists. Using the highest grade materials to meet the military standards for Gattopardo has created the ultimate clothing needed for the most extreme working environments.
Diego said “We needed the highest level of identity, data and geolocation’s privacy protection. It’s essential for us, it’s vital for our clients, RFID Cloaked’s team can do it, great communication skills, great technical support and great strategic partners.”

Gattopardo’s jacket features:
Protection

• Abrasion
• Cut
• Fragmentation
• Melting metal
• Stun-gun and taser gun
• Microwave pulse
• RFID – Radio Frequency Identification
• EMI – Electromagnetic interference
• Geolocation
• Electronic wireless theft/hacking or cloning
• Cold (internal heating system)

The jackets internal construction is designed to hold weaponry whilst dissipating the weight across the whole jacket.

The covert and security industry need the best protection against any attack and that includes the latest technology, personal data and information. Our material provides that protection for Gattopardo who chose us as a specialist material supplier.

Their motto “in us we trust” couldn’t be more true, their clothing is designed to withstand the most severe physical and technological attacks that could happen to a human body. The ultimate body protection needed the ultimate RFID protection. Thats why we are proud to be a supplier to the most sophisticated protection clothing available.

For more information contact:

Gattopardo USA Corporation
gattopardo.nyc

Or follow them on
Facebook: GattopardoNyc
Twitter: GattopardoUSA
instagram: Gattopardo.nyc

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RFID Cloaked first production run of RFIDsecur contactless protection cards. Ready for delivery for our Kickstarter backers.

Thanks to our amazing backers on Kickstarter, we have finally produced and are now dispatching the first ever production RFIDsecur contactless protection cards. They are even better than we had expected after completing some manufacturing changes at the last minute. This has meant RFID Cloaked have managed to produce even thinner cards than originally achieved in our prototypes. At around 270 microns these are the thinnest and best contactless protection cards currently available.
Another change to the manufacturing process has produced smoother edges, far superior than our prototypes meaning less likely to catch on other cards when being slide next in a wallet or purse.

Funded with Kickstarter

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It is always a pleasure to get feedback. After successfully being funded on Kickstarter we have started to deliver our first RFIDsecur card orders. Kickstarter backers are beginning to receive the first batch of these contactless protection cards.

Our RFIDsecur Contactless blocking cards was backed by 213 back all around the world

We’ve been receiving some great feedback from many of our RFIDsecur card Kickstarter backers we thought we’d share some with you.

If any of our Kickstarter backers are reading this, please feel free to share your thoughts and posts with us and we’ll do our best to update our page with your comments.

Kickstarter Comments

Winfried Mayr – Superbacker
Got mine, they look great – thank you!

Robert Warwick – Backer
My cards arrived the other day and they’re brilliant past some on to my family. Many thanks.

Ben Pasquali – Backer
Received today! Tested and passed thank you!

Ronan – Superbacker
Received! Thanks !!! Backer #20 – delivery to France

Licensecart – Backer
Got my cards today and they look so amazing Thank you for your hard work guys, will buy more soon.

Twitter posts

@RFIDCloaked I was lucky enough to be one of your kickstart backers. Great product many thanks.

— Robert Warwick (@RobertCWarwick) February 12, 2017

Hi @RFIDCloaked found out this morning that your card works! Couldn’t enter the bus because I put your card wrongfully in my wallet. Great!

— Jeroen Bartelse (@JeroenBartelse) February 9, 2017

@RFIDCloaked I put your card on the wrong side of the bus card. I was good to experience that it does work! Changing the order fixed it

— Jeroen Bartelse (@JeroenBartelse) February 9, 2017

Got my @RFIDCloaked delivered off @Kickstarter. Thanks guys! ? #fintech pic.twitter.com/TfZLNTSOy4

— Chris Gledhill (@cgledhill) February 8, 2017

Good to see a @kickstarter campaign actually come to life! Contactless payment cards are now protected thanks to @RFIDCloaked #RFIDsecur pic.twitter.com/Oq4Q7N7QDc

— Jeroen Bartelse (@JeroenBartelse) February 8, 2017

Yeah! Won some nice @RFIDCloaked shielding passes, helps to keep my rfid on my banking pass safe! Find them on #kickstarter!

— Marco Leeuwerink (@M_Leeuwerink) February 8, 2017

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We can now say, funded with Kickstarter.

Funding

Our aim was to raise £4,775 pounds through our first Kickstarter campaign, so we could go through the Hewlett Packard Indigo Media Certification Program. Allowing us enough money to cover the cost of the trial, manufacture enough RFIDsecur material to produce the rewards for our backers and for the testing process used in the HP trial. We also need to allow for taxes and fees associated with raising the funds.

We are now over the shock and awe of finishing our first Kickstarter project. Lots of late nights and long days, we put our hearts into this project and we are so glad to say we’ve come out of the other side.

Screenshot of our finished Kickstarter project for RFIDsecur blocking cards

What can I say, we smashed it and raised £6,831 and we are overwhelmed by the support and the pledges made, we are still getting people asking for RFIDsecur blocking cards after the deadline. Backers from all over the world,  have pledged and put their trust in us.

Kickstarter rewards consist of RFIDsecur RFID and NFC Blocking cards, we have 5 designs to choose from

What next

The Kickstarter project may have finished, but the work is far from over. We have to contact all our backers confirm designs and numbers. Finalising the details, organising the manufacturing of the RFIDsecur material and printing of the RFID, NFC blocking cards designs. And then, there are all our new followers on our social media channels, without who, I’m sure this campaign wouldn’t have been successful.

Kickstarter

Having completed our first campaign on Kickstarter, lessons have been learned and we now feel we are better prepared for future projects.  Already talking about a new project, with new rewards as well as some old ones, watch this space.

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Kickstarter

Kickstarter project One of the reward designs for the RIFD NFC blocking cards

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Security researchers demonstrated that a Wrong OAuth 2.0 implementation allows a remote simple hack that exposes more than 1 Billion Android App Accounts.

OAuth2.0 hack – information that can be accessed by criminals in hacked applications

A remote simple hack devised by a group of security researchers threatens an amazing number of Android and iOS apps. An attacker can use the technique to sign into any victim’s mobile app account without any knowledge of the legitimate user.

The research team from the Chinese University of Hong Kong is composed of Ronghai Yang, Wing Cheong Lau, and Tianyu Liu. The experts discovered that the vast majority of popular mobile apps that use the single sign-on (SSO) service doesn’t properly implement the OAuth 2.0 protocol.

The OAuth 2.0 authentication protocol is widely used on social networking sites, every day billion of users access their profiles on Facebook and Google+ using it.

Using the OAuth 2.0, users can sign in for third-party services by verifying existing identity through their accounts on popular web services such as Google, Facebook, or Sina.

Once authenticated, the users haven’t to provide their credentials to access other services implementing the OAuth 2.0 protocol.

Orginally posted on securityaffairs.co

read more…

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