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(IT-NEWSWIRE.COM, July 01, 2015 ) Portland, Oregon -- The increasing use of radio frequency identification or "rfid" chips in credit cards and passports provides people with greater convenience but also exposes them to greater risk of theft of both their money and their identity.
Information stored in rfid chips makes purchasing easier by allowing services such as tap and go where a credit card payment can be made by passing the card in front of a rfid reader without the need to enter a PIN or sign for a purchase. But this increasing convenience comes at a cost.
Hackers and security experts have known for a long time that these chips can be read by anybody with the right equipment. Readers can be bought online for as little as $20. Recently, software has been made available on the internet that allows some popular mobile phones to be modified so that they can also be used to steal the details from a credit card. The practice of stealing this information is known as digital pickpocketing.
As rfid chips are designed to be read at a distance, criminals can steal credit card or passport details though clothing, bags or wallets. Researchers at Cambridge University have managed to intercept information from rfid cards at a distance of 160 feet. Given this, the victim of the crime is likely to be unaware that their details have been stolen until they find unexpected charges on their account.
Information stored on credit card and passport rfids can include;
1. The person's name
2. Account number
3. Expiry date
4. Date of birth
5. Digital identification photo
6. Fingerprints
This type of information is very sensitive and can be used to steal the victim's money or identity.
Protecting credit cards from digital pickpockets is easy. A layer of aluminum foil provides an effective shield that stops rfid readers from working. A cheap option to protect cards and passports is to wrap them in aluminum foil and gaffer tape. Ann Richards from Shield Safe says "wrapping credit cards in foil might work, but it's awkward and unsightly. A more practical solution is to keep credit cards and passports in specially designed sleeves. These sleeves fit into an individual's wallet or purse and are an inexpensive way to protect credit card details from digital pickpockets."
About Shield Safe
Shield Safe manufactures high quality RFID Blocking Sleeves for credit cards and passports. The sleeves prevent the card being scanned and details accessed.
Shield Safe
Anne Richards
503-177-5428
info@shieldsafe.net
Source: EmailWire.Com 
Source: EmailWire.com
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