When traveling nowadays so many people are saying that RFID products are a necessity. Knowing what RFID does, I would like some opinions keeping in mind that IF one is very careful about handling their wallets (men) and bags (women), are these products truly a "must have.". If a woman has a RFID purse, then is it necessary to have the wallet also? Looking forward to hearing many views on this subject.

When you talk about RFID products, are you talking about products that block the RFID device? If yes, then if a woman has an RFID blocking purse, she does not need an RFID wallet; <b>HOWEVER</b> since the RFID blocking devices are basically Faraday Cages, once the purse is opened, the purse ceases to be an effective RFID blocker.

Hope that helps.

Who are these "many people"? Never heard of such a suggestion except from people who use an awful lot of tin foil

I clarify my statement and say that what I said about opening the purse applies only if the whole purse if RFID shielded. If it's just a compartment, then the RFID protection holds as long as the compartment is closed.

<<so many people are saying that RFID products are a necessity.>>

They are? No one I know is talking about it, and I tend to hang out with major travelers. Not the slightest bit interested in it, myself.

Yeah, I agree with StCirq and dotheboyshall.

What's RFID? I don't even know what it is let alone know anyone who is talking about it.

It sounds as if the RFID is a loser so far! Adrienne, search RFID and see what you come up with! Thanks for all your comments, and still welcome any others.

I worked in a profession in which it was important to worry about electronic security.

I used to worry about RFID compromises to privacy.

I don't anymore. While they are theoretically possible, your mobile phone and your computer are so much easier to breach that it is hardly worth the ime to bother with capturing RFID data.

RFID: Radio Frequency Identification

It is a essentially transistor that is embedded into an object. As the transistor passes through an electromagnetic field, it emits a radio burst. The radio signal measured can be thought of as a fingerprint. RFID is used for tracking and identification. It is also the technology behind non-swiping IDs and credit cards.

Of course, this opens the door to privacy concerns as well as misuse, criminal and otherwise. A google search will show those easily enough.

You can "block" the RFID signal by surrounding the RFID embedded item with a Faraday Cage. The prevents the external electromagnetic field from exciting the transistor. RFID blocking wallets and bags are made with a metal mesh which acts as a Faraday Cage.

Robertalee, RFID is not a loser as many passports have RFID technology in them as do millions of other products around the world. I still have no idea what you are on about.

Sparkchaser, I am not "on about" anything except just to start a discussion and to get people's ideas on the thing.

They are all the rage here in Switzerland. I've seen them for sale all over town, esp in bookshops and department stores. Several of my co-workers have them, esp. the ones living in France.

Tinfoil is the answer! Wrap your passport in tin foil!

Sorry - sounds like a lot of nonsense to me.

Can't imagine why anyone would need this - not do I know anyone who has.

Are you suggesting that people keep all of their electronics and credit cards inside special devices?????

Seems even sillier than the people with those metal lock purses or wearing money pinned to their underwear.

Robertalee: if you want to have a discussion about RFID <b>blocking/shielding</b> devices, you should have said so. Your OP says you want to talk about the technology, not countermeasures.

nytraveler: those metal lock purses amuse me greatly.

<i>Can't imagine why anyone would need this - not do I know anyone who has.<i>

My Global Entry card came with a RFID blocking sleeve. Although, given all the shenanigans the NSA has been up to, it would not surprise me if it was an amplifier and not a blocker.


<i>Tinfoil is the answer! Wrap your passport in tin foil!</i>

That is certainly a more cost-effective solution than buying a wallet with metal weave.

There is some debate as to whether aluminium foil is indeed effective at shielding RFIDs.

Shops use them for security, dogs cats and other animals have them implanted, some passports have them.
Chip and Pin credit cards and (generally, but not always) ATM cards with a chip are not RFIDs. Oyster cards and their ilk are.

The UK passport RFID chip was hacked within a couple of hours, but that doesn't mean I carry my passport around wrapped up like the Christmas Turkey in Bacofoil.

Thieves have easier ways of getting hold of your information.