What can help steal your credit card info?

Contactless payment cards have radio frequency identification tags in them which can be read from a distance by using a scanner. The same RFID technology ensures the operation of building access cards and transport cards. Therefore, data on all types of contactless cards are not secure.

A number of publications, such as NBC New York and The Sun, have conducted experiments showing that contactless card information can be stolen at close range. To do this, experts simply held a reader disguised as an iPad to the victim’s pocket, wallet, or bag. Now, scammers don’t even need to buy any devices to do this. Google Play has apps that can be used for the same purpose.

If you are in a public place where a lot of people have gathered, the risk of such fraud increases significantly.

What information can be stolen?

As a result of using RFID readers, fraudsters can get access to different types of data, for example, credit card numbers, information about the expiration date of the card. This data is sufficient for resale on the darknet, and after this information is supplemented with other personal information, it could be used for making transactions on a number of sites or opening an account in your name. If a fraudster has received part of your personal data, the chance that they will receive all the information necessary for making a transaction or opening an account increases significantly. At the same time, security experts say that 80% of credit cards are compromised in some way.  Their data was stolen as a result of phishing, skimming, malicious software on websites, fraudulent phone calls, and data violations.

How to protect your cards from skimming and other types of fraud

Of course, credit card companies are trying to improve the technology with encryption, but thieves are also using increasingly advanced technologies that allow them to steal personal information.

Therefore, we recommend that you follow the simplest preventive security measures against RFID skimming:

• Do not store your cards in your pockets or money clip wallets. Only in your wallet, and your wallet is in a zippered bag. The wallet must have a separate slot for each card so that you can see each card in its place.
• Use a special blocking wallet, holder, or blocking card to protect your contactless card from skimming. Do not wrap the cards in foil, it is not intended for shielding.
• If you see someone holding a mobile phone next to your wallet or bag, or acting strangely in the checkout line, step back and ask the store’s staff for help.
• Before using the card anywhere, check for card skimmers.
• Use one card for autopay accounts and the other for everyday purchases. The autopay and everyday strategy helps you save your money and personal data.
• Do not store photos of your cards on your phone, or write their data to your phone.
• Keep cards that you don’t use at home in a safe place. You can also keep a list of all your card numbers, expiration dates, and security codes, as well as contact information in case your cards, are ever stolen.
• Destroy any documents containing your credit card information, including documents containing the last 4 digits.
• Keep track of your account statements. If you see a suspicious purchase, immediately notify the card Issuer.
• Periodically check the personal accounts of the online stores that you use most often (Amazon, Target, etc.). if you find any transactions that were not made by you, contact the seller immediately.
• If someone asks you to provide your card details over the phone on behalf of the card Issuer, do not agree. Call the customer support number on the back of your card and ask the Issuer’s representative what to do in this case.
• Use a credit card instead of a debit card whenever possible. In General, the losses will be less if the thief drains your credit limit, rather than having access to funds from your debit card. If your debit card is compromised, you may lose access to all the money in your current account until the Bank deals with the fraud. This could take several days.
• Periodically change your passwords and update your card pin codes.

Keep your data and funds safe at all times.

‘If you are worried about someone reading your cards, there are several RFID blocking products that can prevent skimming.

The post Can someone steal your credit card info from your pocket? appeared first on RFID Cloaked - Protecting your RFID personal data.

To prevent the theft of data or money, you need to create a shield that protects your contactless cards from being read by RFID scanners.  A shield works by blocking the propagation of electromagnetic waves, which prevents the interaction of an RFID reader with your cards. The RFID reader will not be able to read your cards while they are inside the case with RFID blocking.

What you need to make an RFID blocker

To make an effective RFID blocker, you will need the following materials:

• textile for the front part;
• fabric for lining;
• office supplies (glue, scissors, awl, pen, ruler);
• a thin sheet of RFID blocking material, for example, this material.

To prevent RFID reading, you will need a layer of special material.  We do not recommend using foil, it is not intended for shielding and will not be totally effective, we wrote about this in detail in this article.  As a basis, you can use a cloth that does not crumble and has a margin of safety.  For the outer cover, it is advisable to use a robust material like leatherette. A plastic cover from an office folder would also do.

Stages of manufacturing the cover

1. You need to cut two identical rectangles of leather, plastic or other material 9.5 cm by 7 cm each;
2. Prepare another pair of similar parts from the inner material and RFID blocking material;
3. Put the three layers together and glue them.  Allow the glue to dry;
4. Sew the three layers together at a distance of 1-1,5 mm from the edge on three of the four sides.

As a result, you should get a reliable case.  By the way, scammers can scan the credit card style keys for cars as well. This case works great with those too!

‘If you do not have enough time to make your own RFID blocking card holder, you can simply buy an RFID card blocking wallet or RFID blocking card to protect your important information from NFC technologies. After all, it is better to prevent unauthorised card scanning than to regret not protecting yourself.

Products from the article

RFID blocking wallet

RFID blocking card

The post How do you make an RFID blocker? appeared first on RFID Cloaked - Protecting your RFID personal data.

"The designer knows that he has reached perfection, not when there is nothing to add, but when there is nothing to be taken away" said famous French writer Antoine de Saint Exupéry. He was right and, despite being way ahead of its time – this quote perfectly defines the current trend for minimalism.

Minimalism An Understated Elegance

Minimalism in fashion is characterised by an understated, low key, elegance. A reduced colour palette with a definite preference for monochrome. Simple accessories, high quality materials, sleek silhouettes and precision tailoring are the key elements.

Functional Fashion

As well as clothing, the trend for minimalism continues to influence the design of fashion accessories which we use daily like wallets and bags. Whilst being primarily functional objects, accessories like bags and wallets are still sought after fashion accessories in their own right. As well as reflecting the individual style of the owner, they also have to be robust enough to stand up to daily use.

A new breed of high tech, minimalist wallets offer this blend of style, form and function, so in keeping with the minimalist aesthetic.

Slim and Stylish

Minimalist wallets tend to have a more urban, modernist look and come in a range of materials from traditional leather to carbon fibre. Lightweight and slim, they are popular with those who want to have quick access to their wallet. Small enough for a front pocket or suit pocket which keeps them accessible.

Take what you need

Designed for your everyday carry – minimalism is more than just an aesthetic movement – it is a way of life. Products which are designed to carry what you need, and only what you need are becoming increasingly popular as we ditch our bulky, old fashioned wallets in favour of a more modern alternative, designed for modern life.

RFIDSecur Wallet

We have designed our new secure wallet to deliver a perfect balance between form and function. The sleek, minimalist design is understated with an urban edge. Made from robust materials with our RFID blocking fabric at its core, it protects your cards from being read without your knowledge. It has an innovative and unique retractable tray on either side. You need only slide your card out to be read before it automatically retracts, securing your cards once more. It is designed for singlehanded use and is therefore perfectly suited to travelling, commuting and sports.

We believe it is the perfect, design led, minimalist wallet!

On Kickstarter…

For more information on our wallet and to find our about our Kickstarter campaign and keep up to date with our progress, click here.

The post Minimalist, a lifestyle choice or perfect design? appeared first on RFID Cloaked - Protecting your RFID personal data.

The wallet is one of those essential accessories that are designed to keep our personal identification, cash, and credit cards organised and safe. In the recent past, the type of wallet we chose usually depended on our personal needs. Design used to be a minor factor in the buying process. As long as there were enough slots for our cards, and the wallet was made from a durable material, such as leather or canvas, the design was not all that important. However, times are changing in the accessories industry. Functionality and style are no longer mutually exclusive.

Contemporary Wallets and Accessories

The world of accessories has had to adapt to new advances in technology, and an evolution of style has meant that consumers are looking for a wallet that is functional, but also slick and polished. When it comes to wallets, functionality on its own is no longer enough, and neither is design.

Modern wallets range from the weird and wacky, to the ingenious and innovative. In a market saturated with so much choice, for a wallet to stand out amongst the thousands available, it needs to have unique design features that set it apart from its competition. Additionally, for a wallet to remain on trend throughout many seasons, it needs to have a design that is sleek, contemporary, and stylish.

Wallet Design Innovations

The contemporary accessories industry has gone far beyond the traditional, in fact the possibilities are endless. Many wallets have become more lightweight and multi-functional than their predecessors, whilst retaining the classic style. Whereas others have pushed the boundaries of design, using unconventional materials such as recycled cans, plastic bottles, or even car tyres. There are wallets that take the shape of surprising everyday items, like taco shells and old cassette tapes. Furthermore, fans of standout designs can purchase wallets adorned with quirky prints from comic strips or vintage magazines.

Express Your Personal Style With A Unique Wallet

A wallet with a unique design is one of many ways you can express your personal style. They are no longer just an essential item to keep your cards and personal items safe, they are also a way to show off an element of your personality. Trendsetting men and women know that a wallet is an essential accessory that can also give their whole 'look' an extra contemporary edge.

Contemporary Wallets Favour A Minimalist Design

A wallet with a slim and minimalist design will still fit all necessary cards and personal items, whilst also fitting sleekly into a front or back pocket, without affecting the style and fit of a pair of well tailored trousers, jeans or jacket. An added benefit of a wallet not being easily visible through clothing, is that you will be less of a target to pickpockets or other opportunistic thieves. A minimalist wallet will also allow quick access to cards and cash, whilst still keeping your sensitive information and possessions safe.

On Trend Wallets for 2019

Leather is a timeless textile choice for on trend slim line wallets as it is both flexible and durable. However, a shift towards eco-friendly fashion has seen a rise in the use of ethical and recycled materials. Other features to look out for in on trend accessories in 2019 includes:

Wallets With RFID Blocking Technology

High-tech wallets have been developed that have the capacity to keep personal details safe, in a fast-paced, urban environment. In a world where contactless payments are the norm, our card details are vulnerable to being intercepted due to their Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID). Thankfully, new RFID-blocking wallets prevent the electronically-stored information on your cards from being intercepted and stolen, which is a real benefit to security. Additionally, RFID-secure wallets are associated with a sleek metallic design, which is cool and contemporary. With RFID-blocking wallets, functionality is in perfect harmony with style.

Industrial Materials

Materials with an industrial feel, such as aluminium, stainless steel, and modern plastics even carbon fibre have surged in popularity for wallet construction. These unconventional materials give a real contemporary finish to wallets, that can also increase security.

Unique Design Innovation and Functionality

The contemporary design and unique functionality of industrial-inspired, and RFID-blocking wallets, puts them at the cutting edge of world of accessories. These two contemporary movements in the accessory industry have collided in perfect harmony with the RFID wallets from RFID Cloaked. They combine RFID-blocking technology, with sleek, minimal design. At the cutting edge of the wallet industry, they have launched a Kickstarter campaign, where you can be the first to know about their latest releases. Plus, through the campaign, you can purchase their current card protector for just £2.50, that's a 75% discount.

Today, design innovations are continuing to push the boundaries, which has seen a switch from basic wallets to those much more advanced. These modern wallets are increasingly becoming the ones that the trendsetters are reaching for.

The post Contemporary Accessories: The Wallet – Sleek and Minimal and on Trend in 2019 appeared first on RFID Cloaked - Protecting your RFID personal data.

Slide Pay Go – Contactless secure payments just became effortless.

• RFID Cloaked Ltd launches Kickstarter for new secure wallet with pioneering Active Alert feature lights up when a contactless card reader is detected, warning you of thieves trying to steal your card data.
• The wallet integrates the blocking technology that protects bank and ID cards from wireless attack from the company’s previous product which smashed its crowd funding target two years ago.
• Innovatively designed, the wallet has two slide-out trays and a sleek, minimalist design which allows simple, one-handed use for both right and left handers.

RFID Cloaked, the company behind the hugely successful RFIDsecur Contactless Blocking Card, is launching a Kickstarter campaign for its innovative new RFIDsecur Wallet with Active Alert that will keep you safe from RFID identity theft. Following the massive success of its first Kickstarter campaign two years ago, the Exeter-based business is now turning to crowdfunding once more to bring its latest invention to market.

Constructed with a metalized ABS and polycarbonate frame, the intuitively designed Secure Wallet is fit for the 21st century, combining the ultimate in protection technology with beautifully functional design. With optional in-built theft detection, RFIDsecur Wallet with Active Alert will light up whenever it comes into contact with a card reader. Requiring no batteries to work, this never before seen technology will alert you to potential criminals trying to access your card data.

This unique wallet will not only protect all of your contactless cards from attack with its RFID-blocking technology, its innovative design also means your payment cards never need leave your wallet to make contactless payments. With two slide out trays, contactless secure payments just became intuitively effortless. Simply slide out your card to make a payment and it will automatically retract, remaining secure in your wallet the whole time.

The RFIDsecur Wallet with Active Alert is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Julian Ghail and Reuben Millard who co-founded RFID Cloaked with the goal of improving personal financial and data security.

In 2015, the pair developed an ultra-thin RFID blocking card using a specially created combination of materials that could be used in a wallet or purse, to protect cards against RFID identity theft and unauthorised payments. They have now integrated this technology into their latest proposition: a wallet that utilises innovative design to not only protect your cards at all times, but also make contactless payments effortless.

With contactless card fraud on the rise, so much so that it recently overtook cheque fraud for the first time ever, there has never been more of a need for this product.

Quotes

Julian Ghail, co-founder of RFID Cloaked, explained: “With the increase of contactless payments and the move towards a cashless society, protecting our bank cards and ID cards has never been more important. We came up with an idea for a unique RFID blocking card in 2015, Reuben and I founded RFID Cloaked and launched a Kickstarter campaign to develop our cards and bring them to market. We were blown away by the interest our crowdfunding campaign generated and we ended up being overfunded by more than 40%. After seeing the huge success of our Kickstarter and the consumer need for this product, the next logical step was to integrate the technology into a wallet of our own. We have been working on this project for a while, developing proof of concept, and we are now ready to turn to the crowd again to bring this wallet to market.”

Reuben Millard, co-founder of RFID Cloaked, added: “We believe our minimalist RFIDsecur Wallet with Active Alert is the best on the market for tech-savvy consumers who want to protect their personal data. We have designed the wallet with a purpose: safe and fast contactless payments that are not only fully secure, they are actually easier than standard payments. Our unique slide-out trays mean that paying for anything is a simple one-handed process and your cards never have to leave the protection of your wallet. But the wallet isn’t just functional. We have worked to create a sleek and stylish ergonomic design that is as beautiful as it is effortless to use.”

The RFIDsecur Wallet with Active Alert is launching on Kickstarter today. Earlybird pledges will start from £39 for the standard wallet and £49 for the wallet with in-built theft detection. We are aiming to raise £15,000 ($19,000 USD) for tooling and production costs, the Kickstarter campaign ends Thursday 20th December 18:00 UTC. If you’d like to get your very own RFIDsecur Wallet with Active Alert then back their Kickstarter campaign, by visiting it here: https://rebrand.ly/RFIDCloaked-KickstarterCampaign

Word Count 786

Notes to editor:

For media enquiries please contact: Julian Ghail

RFID Cloaked: RFID Cloaked is a tech company based in Exeter, Devon, UK. Established in 2015, the company manufactures and supplies RFID blocking cards for ID cards and contactless payment cards. The business also supplies material NFC and electromagnetic shielding film which protects against radio frequencies: such as Bluetooth, WiFi, RFID as well as 3G and 4G mobile phone signals

Julian Ghail: Julian Ghail trained as a communications and radio engineer before changing careers and manufacturing F1 engine parts for Mercedes McLaren and Cosworth Ferrari.

Reuben Millard: Reuben Millard comes from a design and digital media background and currently works in corporate communications for the public sector.

Press release Media Pack: https://rebrand.ly/RFIDCloaked-PR

Sales@rfidcloaked.com

www.rfidcloaked.com

Related Articles

Which?
Brits lose over £5.6m to contactless card fraud
https://www.which.co.uk/news/2018/02/brits-lose-over-5-6m-to-contactless-card-fraud/

The Telegraph
Contactless card fraud overtakes cheque scams for first time
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/24/contactless-card-fraud-overtakes-cheque-scams-first-time/

This is Money
Thieves plundering contactless cards at a rate of £27 a minute: How to stop criminals making off with your cash
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/beatthescammers/article-5641861/Thieves-plundering-contactless-cards-rate-27-minute.html

Mail Online
‘Tap-and-go’ bank cards are so very convenient but read how fraudsters can steal your details just by standing close to you — and ask yourself… will you ever use contactless again?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5571407/The-rise-contactless-led-relentless-rise-contactless-fraud.html

Mail Online
Contactless boom fuels 51% surge in bank card fraud in the past year with almost 1,000 cases recorded each day
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5507769/Contactless-boom-fuels-51-surge-tap-fraud.html

Love Money
Contactless card and mobile payment fraud losses soar: how to stay safe – including card protectors
https://www.lovemoney.com/news/63485/contactless-card-payment-fraud-uk-security-flaw-how-safe-is-it

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The post RFIDsecur™ Wallet Blocks Thieves from Stealing your Money – now on Kickstarter appeared first on RFID Cloaked - Protecting your RFID personal data.

Revolutionary wallet launches on Kickstarter

Slide Pay Go – Contactless secure payments just became effortless.

• RFID Cloaked Ltd launches Kickstarter for new secure wallet with pioneering Active Alert feature lights up when a contactless card reader is detected, warning you of thieves trying to steal your card data.
• The wallet integrates the blocking technology that protects bank and ID cards from wireless attack from the company’s previous product which smashed its crowd funding target two years ago.
• Innovatively designed, the wallet has two slide-out trays and a sleek, minimalist design which allows simple, one-handed use for both right and left handers.

RFID Cloaked, the company behind the hugely successful RFIDsecur Contactless Blocking Card, is launching a Kickstarter campaign for its innovative new RFIDsecur Wallet with Active Alert that will keep you safe from RFID identity theft. Following the massive success of its first Kickstarter campaign two years ago, the Exeter-based business is now turning to crowdfunding once more to bring its latest invention to market.

Constructed with a metalized ABS and polycarbonate frame, the intuitively designed Secure Wallet is fit for the 21st century, combining the ultimate in protection technology with beautifully functional design. With optional in-built theft detection, RFIDsecur Wallet with Active Alert will light up whenever it comes into contact with a card reader. Requiring no batteries to work, this never before seen technology will alert you to potential criminals trying to access your card data.

This unique wallet will not only protect all of your contactless cards from attack with its RFID-blocking technology, its innovative design also means your payment cards never need leave your wallet to make contactless payments. With two slide out trays, contactless secure payments just became intuitively effortless. Simply slide out your card to make a payment and it will automatically retract, remaining secure in your wallet the whole time.

The RFIDsecur Wallet with Active Alert is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Julian Ghail and Reuben Millard who co-founded RFID Cloaked with the goal of improving personal financial and data security.

In 2015, the pair developed an ultra-thin RFID blocking card using a specially created combination of materials that could be used in a wallet or purse, to protect cards against RFID identity theft and unauthorised payments. They have now integrated this technology into their latest proposition: a wallet that utilises innovative design to not only protect your cards at all times, but also make contactless payments effortless.

With contactless card fraud on the rise, so much so that it recently overtook cheque fraud for the first time ever, there has never been more of a need for this product.

Quotes

Julian Ghail, co-founder of RFID Cloaked, explained: “With the increase of contactless payments and the move towards a cashless society, protecting our bank cards and ID cards has never been more important. We came up with an idea for a unique RFID blocking card in 2015, Reuben and I founded RFID Cloaked and launched a Kickstarter campaign to develop our cards and bring them to market. We were blown away by the interest our crowdfunding campaign generated and we ended up being overfunded by more than 40%. After seeing the huge success of our Kickstarter and the consumer need for this product, the next logical step was to integrate the technology into a wallet of our own. We have been working on this project for a while, developing proof of concept, and we are now ready to turn to the crowd again to bring this wallet to market.”

Reuben Millard, co-founder of RFID Cloaked, added: “We believe our minimalist RFIDsecur Wallet with Active Alert is the best on the market for tech-savvy consumers who want to protect their personal data. We have designed the wallet with a purpose: safe and fast contactless payments that are not only fully secure, they are actually easier than standard payments. Our unique slide-out trays mean that paying for anything is a simple one-handed process and your cards never have to leave the protection of your wallet. But the wallet isn’t just functional. We have worked to create a sleek and stylish ergonomic design that is as beautiful as it is effortless to use.”

The RFIDsecur Wallet with Active Alert is launching on Kickstarter today. Earlybird pledges will start from £39 for the standard wallet and £49 for the wallet with in-built theft detection. We are aiming to raise £15,000 ($19,000 USD) for tooling and production costs, the Kickstarter campaign ends Thursday 20th December 18:00 UTC. If you’d like to get your very own RFIDsecur Wallet with Active Alert then back their Kickstarter campaign, by visiting it here: https://rebrand.ly/RFIDCloaked-KickstarterCampaign

Word Count 786

Notes to editor:

For media enquiries please contact: Julian Ghail

RFID Cloaked: RFID Cloaked is a tech company based in Exeter, Devon, UK. Established in 2015, the company manufactures and supplies RFID blocking cards for ID cards and contactless payment cards. The business also supplies material NFC and electromagnetic shielding film which protects against radio frequencies: such as Bluetooth, WiFi, RFID as well as 3G and 4G mobile phone signals

Julian Ghail: Julian Ghail trained as a communications and radio engineer before changing careers and manufacturing F1 engine parts for Mercedes McLaren and Cosworth Ferrari.

Reuben Millard: Reuben Millard comes from a design and digital media background and currently works in corporate communications for the public sector.

Press release Media Pack: https://rebrand.ly/RFIDCloaked-PR

Sales@rfidcloaked.com

www.rfidcloaked.com

Related Articles

Which?
Brits lose over £5.6m to contactless card fraud
https://www.which.co.uk/news/2018/02/brits-lose-over-5-6m-to-contactless-card-fraud/

The Telegraph
Contactless card fraud overtakes cheque scams for first time
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/24/contactless-card-fraud-overtakes-cheque-scams-first-time/

This is Money
Thieves plundering contactless cards at a rate of £27 a minute: How to stop criminals making off with your cash
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/beatthescammers/article-5641861/Thieves-plundering-contactless-cards-rate-27-minute.html

Mail Online
‘Tap-and-go’ bank cards are so very convenient but read how fraudsters can steal your details just by standing close to you — and ask yourself… will you ever use contactless again?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5571407/The-rise-contactless-led-relentless-rise-contactless-fraud.html

Mail Online
Contactless boom fuels 51% surge in bank card fraud in the past year with almost 1,000 cases recorded each day
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5507769/Contactless-boom-fuels-51-surge-tap-fraud.html

Love Money
Contactless card and mobile payment fraud losses soar: how to stay safe – including card protectors
https://www.lovemoney.com/news/63485/contactless-card-payment-fraud-uk-security-flaw-how-safe-is-it

The post RFIDsecur™ Wallet Blocks Thieves from Stealing your Money appeared first on RFID Cloaked - Protecting your RFID personal data.

1. Sneak in some exercise

We've all heard the slogan "sitting is the new smoking", yet many commuters spend too little time on their feet. If you go from sitting on the bus or train to sitting at your desk for hours, it's numbing down both your body and your mind. Fortunately, there's an easy fix – just get off a stop or two earlier and walk for the rest of the way.

If you're used to thinking of yourself as "not a morning person", you might be surprised at how refreshing a brisk walk between leaving the house and arriving at work can be. Moderate exercise increases blood circulation, which in turn sharpens your mind in preparation for the working day. You can also discover new things around your workplace that you'd never come across if you’ve always stayed on until the very last stop.

2. Explore new music

The commute is a great time to discover new artists or releases you've missed from old favourites. All you need is an internet connection and decent headphones (preferably with some noise canceling, so you don't run into conflict with the outside world!). Many streaming services now use algorithms that save you the trouble of finding songs that hit the spot. Or if you're a more old-school person, you can always dig out that old Walkman or iPod and enjoy some offline time with your favourites.

3. Meditate

Meditation is true "me time" – make sure you're prepared for the day ahead by giving yourself time to breathe and just be. Don't stress, don't overthink it, try not to think at all. Look at the scenery, if you're lucky enough to have views on your commute, or just close your eyes and focus on how you're feeling.

4. Listen to podcasts or audiobooks

If you're more the type for external stimulus, podcasts and audiobooks are a perfect commuting companion. Whether you want education, entertainment, or both at the same time, there's a wealth of content available online. Rediscover your favourite novel in audio format, listen to a witty commentary on the latest news, or learn a new language – this way your commute time will fly by!

5. Minimise fuss with a practical wallet

There's a lot of stuff you need to carry with you when commuting: keys, ID, credit cards, maybe cash. Paying for tickets, getting some lunch, grabbing a quick coffee at the station.. There's a lot of room for awkward fussing about when you're holding your phone in one hand, your wallet in the other, paying for the coffee and putting your wallet back in your pocket..

A practical wallet can be surprisingly useful – it's the kind of thing that you don't think you need but that can actually change your life (or at least your commute!). A company called RFID Cloaked is about to make this a reality by launching a Kickstarter campaign. Right now, they're also offering a 75% discount on card protectors just to follow it. If the combination of less stress and more convenience on your commute sounds good to you, what are you waiting for?

Do you have any great tips you could share that would help other commuters?

The post 5 ways to improve your commute appeared first on RFID Cloaked - Protecting your RFID personal data.

Whether you are shopping for groceries or paying for petrol, you can use contactless payments. COVID-19 has increased the desire to minimise contact. We use this even more often than before. Whilst contactless payments are quick and convenient, there is a niggling voice in the back of your mind. “Are contactless cards safe?”

What are contactless payments?

What are contactless payments? How does financial information get from your credit card to the reader?

Contactless payments can be a concept that is hard to comprehend. When we don’t fully understand something, it can make us feel vulnerable. So, how do contactless payments actually work?

RFID or NFC

Your contactless credit card has a chip within it, as well as a tiny antenna. The card reader makes connection to the card, with radio waves, much like you tune a radio to your favourite station. If you don’t tune it right or are too far away you can’t listen to it. The difference is that when the card reader sends radio waves, the credit card uses some of the energy it receives to power the chip. So that the credit card can talk back to the reader. This process is known as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or Near Field Communication (NFC) or contactless for short!

Your card details are transferred to the card reader, which picks up the signal emitted from your card to process your payment. You can make contactless payments for purchases under £45 (in the UK). There is usually no such limit if you use contactless with your smartphone as an extra layer of security is required, such as fingerprint ID or PIN.

If you lost your debit card or contactless card was stolen, someone could use it to make small payments. Although the number of contactless payments that can be made in one day is limited. If your contactless card goes missing you should freeze it, or report it immediately to avoid contactless fraud.

Security concerns

You can’t open a newspaper, read a magazine, or watch the news without seeing a story about contactless card fraud, fraud purchase on credit card. Or you can hear the news that personal details being stolen or credit card data being hacked. It seems like it is getting harder and harder to keep our sensitive information safe. How exactly can we keep the information of our credit cards safe, if they are emitting radio waves for anyone to intercept?

Unfortunately, contactless card fraud is on the rise. Whilst not at the levels of credit card fraud generally, the believed losses to contactless card fraud were £5.6 million in the UK in 2017 and already more than £20.6 million in 2019. The United States leads as the most credit fraud prone country with 38.6% of reported card fraud losses in 2018. The United States accounted for $9.47 billion in fraud losses in 2018.

It can occur by a criminal getting close to you, and reading your card’s details through a radio frequency identification reader concealed within their clothing.

With contactless card fraud on the rise, you may be considering using your smartphone to make payments. This opens up additional concerns. Expensive phones brought into the open in a busy environment provides an opportunity for thieves. Furthermore, if you drop your smartphone whilst juggling shopping, a purchase for just a few pounds, may cost you hundreds.

So, what can you do to make safe and secure payment? In fact, safe card payment can be implemented quite simply.

Minimising contactless card security risks

Whilst the threat of theft of your card information may seem pretty concerning, there is no cause for paranoia. However, there is a way that you can minimise contactless card security fraud risk.

RFID card protector

The rise in the use of contactless cards has resulted in some developments from accessory brands to keep your information safe. One such brand is RFID-Cloaked, who have created a range of products which prevents both bank cards and security passes from being read by a wide range of radio frequencies.

RFIDsecur RFID Blocking Card will protect at the same time RFID cards with 13.56Mhz and 125khz frequency chips.

RFID blocking credit card protector made of ultra-thin material which is suitable for different types of contactless cards – bank cards, id cards, access cards etc.

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

Edited in may 2020

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When you leave a house one of the things you always carry with you is a wallet. Probably like most people, you like to carry your stuff with you all the time. Money, credit cards and ID card are the things that we carry with us all the time.

Secure travellers wallet

If you are often travelling and use public transport, train or any other means of transportation, the imperative is a good wallet. When we say good we think it's safe, it's invisible because of the pickpockets, slim and one-handed type of a wallet. Travel wallets are all about getting rid of a jumble, keeping your valuables safe and organised, and making sure you enjoy your trip.

Good wallet for travellers

When you are travelling, you need a good wallet. A good wallet means that you can put inside all the things you need, it is big enough for all your cards, cash and other documents, but on the other hand, it is safe and you have to be sure that all your things will be secure.

Capacity and function

Even the best traveller wallet is something between capacity and function.

What a good traveller wallet contains:

-Slim and minimalistic

-RFID blocking

-The minimal organisation and streamlined

What type of travel wallet do you need? There are a lot of travel wallets on the market. Some are super slim minimalist only holding a few things, while others are much bigger and full-sized made for purses. It depends on what sort of trip you’re taking, is it a day trip or a weekend getaway. Depending on your travel trip, your wallet might need to hold a lot of coins, or a lot of cash, or credit cards.

Travel wallets come in some various materials—leather, carbon fibre, aluminium, and even a waterproof and travel RFID blocking type of a wallet easy credit card access, hidden stash pockets, tons of room for your cash and cards.

Minimalist slim traveller wallet

The best type of wallets when you are travelling is a minimalist slim wallet. Why is that? It is small, with this kind of wallet you avoid being the target as someone pickpocket victim, it is accessible and one-handed use.

RFID travel wallet

If we are talking about travel wallets, we have to mention RFID wallet. It is important that your wallet is secure and that your money and cards will be safe all the time. The RFID blocking wallet is a for a bounce the better option on travel than the minimalist wallet.

Accessible wallet

Most of these wallets are very practical, which is very important. You can easily take off them from your pocket or a purse, use them with one hand, which is important if you need to use the card for the subway or a train. Choose some accessible, one-handed and durable wallet for your travel. If you are going to spend a lot of time in a crowd, choose minimalist and slim wallet, that can fit in your pocket.

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Sports people need to ditch the bulk

No-one wants to be carrying around a bulky wallet when playing sport. After all, you don't need access to all of your various cards when you are out for a run, cycling or on the golf course. But it is sensible to have access to a card when you are out in case you need to grab a drink or food and in case of emergencies – that is why a wallet designed for sport is required.

Slim, light and durable

A really well designed sports cardholder wallet should meet several criteria. Ideally it should be light and thin, a slimline wallet which fits into your running or cycling gear discreetly, without creating unnecessary bulk. It should also be durable enough to protect your cards from damage. Something which is sweat proof and weather proof is also a bonus!

Practical and simple to use

Having easy, fuss free access to your cards and cash is always a desirable quality in a wallet or cardholder, whatever you are doing. Playing sports is no different. Access to your bank cards should not be a fiddly or cumbersome process.

Keeping your information and your money secure

Contactless cards have revolutionised the way we pay. It's fast and convenient and enables us to simply tap and go. This convenience has also brought with it the potential for your contactless cards to be cloned or hacked and put your personal information at risk. There is also a risk of unauthorised payments being taken from your contactless card. A 21st century wallet or cardholder should then feature RFID blocking technology to keep your cards secure all the time.

A traditional wallet or cardholder is just not cut out for taking out when you are exercising or playing sport and we imagined a different way of doing things to make a wallet which answered the conundrum of keeping your essential payment cards with you when on your bike, running a trail or working out in the gym. A wallet for sports lovers, and we have designed just that.

A new kind of wallet – designed for sports lovers

We Imagined a cardholder which was durable, slim and stylish. Small enough to be secured tight fitting sportswear without getting in the way with ready access to your essential contactless bank cards. A durable hard case to protect your payment cards from damage and sweat proof too! Our new cardholder wallet also has a innovative and unique design which allows swift one-handed operation, allowing you to slide your card out, make a payment and then retract it back in an instant. It also offers RFID Blocking for complete protection. We think it is the perfect solution to carrying your essential cards whilst exercising or playing sport.

Coming soon to Kickstarter

We are sure you will love our new wallet as much as we do – For more information and to follow our upcoming wallet launch on Kickstarter – click here

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