RFID blocking is big business, especially with the rise of RFID skimming. Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID, is nothing new. If you have a credit or debit card or even some passports, there’s a good chance that they have one of these small chips in them.
As a Miami cybersecurity company, we know that while these chips may seem secure, they are not.
Skimming can occur, allowing criminals to access your card’s RFID function and steal your money in the process. So, how do you protect yourself and your customers from potential risks associated with RFID skimming? You use what is known as RFID blocking.
What is RFID Blocking?
RFID blocking helps make your cards or anything that is RFID-enabled resistant to unauthorized access. Without blocking, a person can walk close to you and skim your data without you even realizing it.
How RFID Blocking Works
RFID blocking comes in many forms, but they all work similarly:
- Wallets
- Purses
- Bags
If you’re using an RFID wallet, the wallet is designed to disrupt the electromagnetic wave of any card reader in your vicinity. So, if a person walks by you and attempts to skim your RFID, they will not be able to do so because the wallet will block the signal.
This is the same technology that’s used in purses or bags that claim to be “RFID blocking.”
Many of these wallets are made with aluminum or carbon fiber, so they’re still very strong yet lightweight and block unwanted radio frequencies. How RFID works is by a card reader sending a signal to the chip, which activates and sends data back.
RFID is a very useful and convenient technology, and it’s one that major credit card companies have promoted such as VISA and MasterCard.
Why Businesses Need to Be Aware of RFID Blocking
Business owners should be aware of RFID blocking because criminals know that if an employee uses a company credit card that uses RFID technology, they can make small purchases that go under the radar.
For example, imagine an employee is responsible for inventory and purchases $50,000 a month using various debit and credit cards.
If your accounting team is not diligent, it’s very easy for a criminal to charge $500 - $1,000 on the card, which goes completely missed. Criminals need to be very close to the physical card to scan the data on the card, so if you only make purchases over the phone or online, RFID blocking may not be a major concern.
RFID wallets and blocking material are a good option if you provide any employees with a company card. Offering a secure wallet to these workers reduces the risk that a criminal will carry out an RFID skimming attack and steal your data.
Encryption and one-time use codes are quickly lowering RFID risks, but empowering your team with the appropriate RFID blocking tools can stop data from debit and credit cards from being compromised.
If you need help hardening your business’s security, our cybersecurity in Miami can help. Reach out to us to learn how we can help you integrate RFID blocking into your operations.