With contactless card payments growing in popularity, our personal data is increasingly at risk of interception by fraudsters. RFID technology that allows these products to function is not entirely secure and can be accessed by using scanning devices that are freely available online. RFID enabled cards offer remarkable convenience and save a lot of time for both consumers and businesses. Governments pounced on this technology and introduced RFID technology in passports, IDs, driving licenses, etc. Criminals can easily acquire equipment that can access the data stored on your cards or passports from up to several meters. With this data they can replicate your credit card, steal your identity or get access to your building.
A small chip and an antenna relay information from credit and debit cards to contactless scanners, serving the same purpose as a barcode or magnetic strip on the back of a card. Contactless payment cards are convenient as they don’t need to be in direct contact with the scanner to work and don’t require a PIN or signature. However, the long-range nature of the technology enables an RFID chip to be read from up to 20 feet away with a high-powered skimming device - thereby compromising personal data.
As consumers have become increasingly aware of RFID fraud, a flood of products have appeared to address these concerns. All of the current products are based on the same principle of shielding the RFID card from electromagnetic waves using metal foils and materials. However in practice this approach is susceptible to flaws. This is due to the way that electromagnetic waves propagate through space.
To ensure full protection your cards need to be fully wrapped in metal foil with no gaps or spaces. This is almost impossible to achieve. A typical wallet with metal shielding can only protect against low power reading devices, and only at certain angles.
Vaultskin has launched the most advanced RFID protection for your wallet - 'VAULTCARD'. Vault Card is a credit-card-sized tool, which can be placed inside a wallet to block electromagnetic signals - guaranteeing protection against RFID theft, while still enabling the use of contactless payments. The Vault Card protects our RFID enabled cards, passports, driving licences, office door passes etc. from RFID skimming (electronic pick-pocketing). The card uses sophisticated electromagnetic jamming technology frequently used in military applications.
Vault Card switches on automatically when it senses an electromagnetic wave emitted by a RFID scanner. It responds to a signal strength a hundred times smaller than what your RFID enabled cards need. Vaultcard then creates a sophisticated electromagnetic jamming signal that blocks RFID readers. This principle is frequently use in military jamming systems. The stronger the signal of the scanner, the stronger the jam signal that Vaultcard will generate. This way your credit cards, passports, etc. remain protected from even the most powerful scanning devices. And you can even use your credit card normally, just make sure to hold it at least 20cm (8 inches) away from Vaultcard.
The card has an extremely efficient energy harnessing technology which allows it to be powered by energy from RFID scanner. VaultCard automatically adjust power of its jamming signal to ensure your RFID enabled cards, passport etc remain protected even against very powerful RFID skimming systems. The card is only 1.1mm thick and fits perfectly in a wallet. All RFID enabled cards will be protected within 4cm (1.6 inches) of Vaultcard. Cards can be of either side of Vaultcard, so your wallet can be up to 8cm (3.2 inches) thick, which should be more than enough. For more information about Vaultcard, click here.
