Can an RFID blocking wallet keep your cards safe? Facts vs. hype

kAmyFDE 2 76H 564256D 28@[ 3FJ:?8 E9:?8D >62?E 8@:?8 E@ E96 32?< — J@FC @H? A9JD:42= 3C2?49[ >:?5 J@F[ 5FC:?8 E96 3C:67 9@FCD :E H2D @A6? — E@ E2<6 @FE 42D9] x7 J@F 5:5?’E 92G6 E:>6 7@C E92E[ @C C2? @FE @7 >@?6J[ J@F’5 HC:E6 2 4964< 2?5 9@A6 E96 >6C492?E 2446AE65 :E] %96 >6C492?E[ >62?H9:=6[ 9@A65 J@FC 4964< H2D 8@@5] }@H[ A2J:?8 :D 2D D:>A=6 2D 2 E2A H:E9 J@FC A9@?6 @C 2 42C5[ 2?5 E96 EC2?D24E:@? E2<6D A=246 :?DE2?E=J] xE 2=>@DE D66>D E@@ 62DJ] %96 }ur 4:C4F:E :? J@FC A9@?6[ @C E96 #uxs 49:A @? J@FC 42C5[ 8:G6D E96 E6C>:?2= J@FC A2J>6?E :?7@C>2E:@?[ 2?5 3@@>[ J@F’C6 5@?6] qFE 42? J@F ECFDE E92E @?=J E96 E6C>:?2= 42? C625 E92E :?7@C>2E:@?n ~C D9@F=5 J@F :?G6DE :? 2? #uxs 3=@4<:?8 H2==6E W@C D@>6E9:?8 D:>:=2CX 7@C 25565 AC@E64E:@?n k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DA@<6@]4@>Qm$A@<6@k^2m 5:8D :?E@ E96 E649?@=@8J E@ D66 :7 :E’D H@CE9 FD:?8]k^Am

k9bmw@H s@6D #uxs (@C<nk^9bm

kAm%96C6 2C6 D6G6C2= 5:776C6?E <:?5D @7 #25:@ uC6BF6?4J x56?E:7:42E:@? W#uxsX 49:AD[ 3FE E96J 2== H@C< @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3=F67=6E49]4@>^C7:5E649?@=@8J9@H:EH@C<D2?592DE96A@H6CE@EC2?D7@C>E96DFAA=J492:?^RiOiE6IElp?Ta_#uxsTa_C6256CTa_D6?5DTa_#25:@[52E2Ta_7C@>Ta_E96Ta_6>365565Ta_49:A]QmE96 D2>6 32D:4 AC:?4:A=6k^2m] %96C6’D 2 D>2== 49:A H:E9 2 3:E @7 4@56 @? :E E92E 4@?E2:?D :?7@C>2E:@?] x? 4@>>6C4:2= D6EE:?8D =:<6 2 724E@CJ @C 2? p>2K@? H2C69@FD6[ E92E 49:A >:89E :56?E:7J 2 A2CE @C 2 DA64:7:4 A24<286] ~? 4C65:E @C 563:E 42C5D[ :E 9@=5D J@FC A2J>6?E :?7@C>2E:@?] %96C6’D 2=D@ 2? 2?E6??2 2EE24965 E@ E96 49:A]k^Am

kAm(96? 2 49:A C6256C 4@>6D 4=@D6 E@ E96 #uxs E28[ E96 C6256C’D C25:@ H2G6D 24E 2D 2 A@H6C D@FC46 7@C E96 49:A 2?5 2?E6??2[ 2?5 :E C6DA@?5D 3J EC2?D>:EE:?8 E96 :?7@C>2E:@? :E 4@?E2:?D WC25:@ H2G6D 2C6 2 A@H6C D@FC46 :? E96>D6=G6D[ C6>6>36Cj :E’D 9@H J@FC >:4C@H2G6 4@@<D E9:?8DX] x?5FDEC:2= #uxs E28D 42? 36 C625 7C@> D6G6C2= 766E 2H2J[ 3FE E96 <:?5 @? J@FC 42C5D ?665 E@ 36 G6CJ 4=@D6 E@ E96 C6256C]k^Am

kAm%96 }62C u:6=5 r@>>F?:42E:@?D W}urX 49:AD :? J@FC A9@?6 2C6 6DD6?E:2==J 2 D@FA65FA 7@C> @7 #uxs[ H9:49 42? EC2?D>:E 2?5 C646:G6 WD@ :E’D 3@E9 2 E28 2?5 2 E28 C6256CX] {:<6 J@FC 42C5D[ E9:D @?=J H@C<D :? G6CJ 4=@D6 AC@I:>:EJ E@ E96 A2J>6?E E6C>:?2=]k^Am

k9bmr2? #uxs #62==J 36 w24<65nk^9bm

kAm%92E =625D E@ 2 4@FA=6 @7 3:8 BF6DE:@?Di 2X H96E96C #uxs 42C5D 42? 36 924<65j 2?5 3X H96E96C E96J’C6 2 D276 H2J E@ A2J]k^Am

kAm%96 7:CDE BF6DE:@? H2D 2?DH6C65 =@?8 28@ H:E9 2 567:?:E:G6 J6D] p== E96 H2J 324< :? a__e[ D64FC:EJ C6D62C496CD H6C6 56>@?DEC2E:?8 “AC@@7 @7 4@?46AE” 2EE24<D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H:C65]4@>^a__e^_d^C7:5a^Qm92CG6DE:?8 E96 :?7@C>2E:@? 7C@> #uxs 42C5Dk^2m] qFE E96 D64@?5 BF6DE:@? :D E@F896C[ 3642FD6 >@DE @7 E96D6 924<D E2C86E65 @E96C #uxs 56G:46D C2E96C E92? 563:E 2?5 4C65:E 42C5D] %96 H9@=6 A@:?E @7 49:A6?23=65 42C5D[ 27E6C 2==[ H2D E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E564F]@C8^3=@8^H9J2C649:A42C5D>@C6D64FC6E92?DH:A:?8Qm>2<6 E96> >@C6 D64FC6k^2m 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 @=5D49@@= >28?6E:4 DEC:A6] %96 DEC:A6 H2D 62D:=J C625 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DA@<6@]4@>^4@>A2DD^9@HE@DA@E2D<:>>:?8D42>^Qm4C65:E42C5 “D<:>>6CD”k^2m — 2? :==:4:E C6256C :?DE2==65 @G6C E96 E@A @7 2 =68:E:>2E6 @?6 — H9:49 2==@H65 4C:>:?2=D E@ >2<6 2 5FA=:42E6 @7 J@FC 42C5[ 2?5 >2I @FE J@FC 4C65:E :? 2 9FCCJ]k^Am

kAmr9:A 42C5D 2C6 2 E@F896C ?FE E@ 4C24<[ A2CE=J 3642FD6 <6J 52E2 @? E96 49:A :D 6?4CJAE65 2?5 A2CE=J 3642FD6 E96J FD6 2? 2=8@C:E9> E92E 4C62E6D 2 F?:BF6 4@56 W2? “pFE96?E:42E:@? s2E2 t=6>6?E[” @C ps6X 7@C 6249 AFC492D6] $42>>6CD FD:?8 2? :>AC@G65 G6CD:@? @7 2 D<:>>6C[ 42==65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DA@<6@]4@>^4@>A2DD^92G6J@F366?E96G:4E:>@72D9:>>:?82EE24<^Qm2 “D9:>>6C[”k^2m 42? 24EF2==J C625 D@>6 52E2 7C@> E96 49:A[ 3FE :E’D ?@E 2D 325 2D :E D@F?5D 2E 7:CDE]k^Am

kAmrC:>:?2=D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^<C63D@?D64FC:EJ]4@>^a_`f^_`^2E>D9:>>6CDE2C86E49:A32D6542C5D^QmDE:== 42?’E 4=@?6 E96 49:A 42C5k^2m[ 3FE E96J’== 86E E96 :r” 4@56 — E96 5:8:E2= 6BF:G2=6?E @7 E9@D6 E9C66 5:8:ED @? E96 324< @7 J@FC 42C5 — H9:49 >62?D E96J 42? >2<6 2 36EE6C 4=@?6 @7 J@FC DEC:A6 42C5] $@>6 42C5 :DDF6CD 92G6 5C@AA65 E96 DEC:A6 6?E:C6=J[ FD:?8 6:E96C E2A2?5D:8? @C E2A2?5!x} :?DE625[ E@ 4=@D6 E9:D GF=?6C23:=:EJ]k^Am

k9bmw@H s@6D #uxs q=@4<:?8 (@C<nk^9bm

kAmp =@E @7 4@>A2?:6D[ D66:?8 E96 4@G6C286 @7 #uxs 924<D 2?5 GF=?6C23:=:E:6D @G6C E96 J62CD[ 92G6 368F? >2C<6E:?8 AC@E64E:G6 56G:46D E@ 96=A <66A J@FC :?7@C>2E:@? D64FC6] tDD6?E:2==J[ E96J 4C62E6 H92E’D 42==65 2 “u2C252J 4286” 2C@F?5 J@FC 42C5] p u2C252J 4286 W?2>65 7@C 2 3C:==:2?E `hE946?EFCJ A:@?66C :? 6=64EC:42= C6D62C49X :D ;FDE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?2E:@?2=>28=23]@C8^23@FEE96>28=23^2C@F?5E96=23^H92E:DE92E^72C252J4286^Qm2? 6?4=@DFC6 >256 @7 4@?5F4E:G6 >2E6C:2=k^2m[ =:<6 2=F>:?F> @C 4@AA6C] %96J’C6 C@FE:?6=J FD65 :? D4:6?E:7:4 2?5 :?5FDEC:2= D6EE:?8D[ H96C6 D6?D:E:G6 6BF:A>6?E ?665D E@ 36 AC@E64E65 7C@> :?E6C76C6?46[ 2?5 6G6? :? 4@?DF>6C 6=64EC@?:4D[ H96C6 @FED:56 D:8?2=D >:89E >6DD H:E9 J@FC 52E2 @C J@FC >FD:4]k^Am

kAmx?E6C6DE:?8=J[ 2 u2C252J 4286 5@6D?’E 92G6 E@ 36 2 D@=:5 6?4=@DFC6[ 3642FD6 2 4@?5F4E:G6 >6D9 H@C<D ;FDE 2D H6==] x7 J@F 4FE @A6? 2 %’ 423=6[ J@F’== D66 2 C68F=2C H:C6 :? E96 >:55=6 2?5 2 4@AA6C 3C2:5 2C@F?5 E96 @FED:56j E96 3C2:5 24ED 2D 2 u2C252J 4286 E@ D9:6=5 E96 H:C6 :? E96 >:55=6 WH9:49 42CC:6D J@FC %’ D:8?2=X 7C@> :?E6C76C6?46]k^Am

kAm%92E’D :>A@CE2?E 7@C 4@?DF>6CD H2?E:?8 2 H2==6E E92E 42? AC@E64E E96:C 42C5D 7C@> 2 A@E6?E:2= 924<6C H:E9 2? #uxs C6256C] p D@=:5 u2C252J 4286 H@F=5?’E >2<6 2 G6CJ AC24E:42= H2==6E[ 3FE >6D9 42? 36 :?4@CA@C2E65 :?E@ 6G6? 2 D=6?56C[ 7=6I:3=6 H2==6E H:E9@FE >F49 5:77:4F=EJ] %92E’D 9@H #uxs 3=@4<:?8 H2==6ED H@C<]k^Am

k9bms@ x }665 2? #uxs q=@4<:?8 (2==6Enk^9bm

kAmw6C6’D E96 E9:?8 23@FE #uxs 924<:?8i s6DA:E6 2== E96 A@E6?E:2= GF=?6C23:=:E:6D E92E 92G6 366? 56>@?DEC2E65 @G6C E96 J62CD[ :E ;FDE 92D?’E 366? 2 “E9:?8” :? E96 C62= H@C=5] %96C6 2C6 2 4@FA=6 @7 C62D@?D 7@C E92E] ~?6 :D E92E C6=2E:G6=J 76H 42C5D 2C6 “4@?E24E=6DD[” >62?:?8 J@F 4@F=5 E96@C6E:42==J C625 E96> 7C@> 2 76H :?496D 2H2J WDF3H2J[ 4@7766 D9@A[ 6=6G2E@CX H:E9 2? #uxs C6256C] |@DE ?665 E@ 36 :?D6CE65 :?E@ E96 E6C>:?2=[ @C >2<6 A9JD:42= 4@?E24E H:E9 E96 “%2A” C6256C]k^Am

kAmp >@C6 :>A@CE2?E A@:?E :D E92E[ @? E96 H9@=6[ :E’D ;FDE ?@E H@CE9 4C:>:?2=D’ E:>6] {:<6 2?J @E96C 3FD:?6DD[ E96J’C6 4@?46C?65 H:E9 677:4:6?4J 2?5 C6EFC? @? :?G6DE>6?E] u@C A6??:6D[ E96J 42? D6?5 @FE 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DA@<6@]4@>^4@>A2DD^9@HE@DE@ADA2>2?5A9:D9:?86>2:=D^Qm>2DD A9:D9:?8 6>2:=k^2m 2?5 A@E6?E:2==J DE62= 4C65:E 42C5 52E2 7C@> E9@FD2?5D] w24<6CD 42? DE62= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4=62C=JA2J>6?ED]4@>^3=@8^4C65:E42C57C2F5:?a_ab^Qm>:==:@?D @7 42C5 FD6CD’ 52E2k^2m :? 2 D:?8=6 3C6249[ 2?5 — >@C6 :>A@CE2?E=J — D6== E96> @? E@ @E96C 4C:>:?2=D 7@C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]AC:G24J2772:CD]4@>^52C<H63AC:46:?56Ia_ab^Qm2D =:EE=6 2D S`_ E@ S`d 6249k^2m] p =@@< 2E E96 u%r’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7E4]8@G^DJDE6>^7:=6D^7E408@G^A57^r$}s2E2q@@<a_aa]A57Qm4C65:E 42C5 7C2F5 52E2 7@C a_aak^2m D9@HD @G6C c__[___ :?4:56?ED :?G@=G:?8 ?6H 244@F?ED W:]6][ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DA@<6@]4@>^4@>A2DD^:56?E:EJE967EAC@E64E:@?9@HE@<?@H:7J@FC:56?E:EJ92D366?DE@=6?^Qm:56?E:EJ E967Ek^2mX[ 4@>A2C65 E@ F?56C c_[___ :?G@=G:?8 6I:DE:?8 244@F?ED W4C65:E 42C5 924<D[ D<:>>:?8[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DA@<6@]4@>^4@>A2DD^H92E:DD9@F=56CDFC7:?8^QmD9@F=56C DFC7:?8k^2m[ 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8 6=D6 4@>3:?65X]k^Am

kAmx? @E96C H@C5D[ 4C:>:?2=D 92G6 4@==64E:G6=J 564:565 E92E “E96 ;F:46 :D?’E H@CE9 E96 DBF66K6]” %92E’D ?@E E@ D2J 2 924< :D :>A@DD:3=6[ 6DA64:2==J :7 J@F’C6 2 AF3=:4 7:8FC6 @C :? D@>6 @E96C H2J 2 9:89G2=F6 E2C86E] xE 2=D@ 5@6D?’E >62? E9:?8D H:== ?646DD2C:=J DE2J E9:D H2J WE96C6’D 2 =@E @7 >@?6J 2?5 E2=6?E @? E96 4C:>:?2=D’ D:56[ 27E6C 2==X]k^Am

kAm$@[ 5@ J@F ?665 2? #uxs 3=@4<:?8 H2==6E @C D=66G6D 7@C J@FC 42C5Dn }@[ AC@323=J ?@E] qFE :7 J@F’5 D=66A 36EE6C 7@C 92G:?8 @?6[ 3J 2== >62?D 8@ 29625 2?5 3FJ :E]k^Am

k9bm%96C6 2C6 $@>6 $A64:2= r2D6Dk^9bm

kAm%92E’D ?@E E@ D2J E96C6 2C6?’E 2 76H D46?2C:@D H96C6 #uxs :D 2 =68:E:>2E6 E9C62Ej E96J’C6 ;FDE ?@E FDF2==J D@>6E9:?8 2 AC:G2E6 4:E:K6? ?665D E@ 36 4@?46C?65 23@FE] %9@D6 A2DD6D J@F DH:A6 E@ 86E :?E@ D64FC65 2C62D 2E H@C<n %9@D6 2C6 #uxs E28D[ 2?5 E96J’C6 >F49 62D:6C E@ 5FA=:42E6 E92? 2 4C65:E @C 563:E 42C5] $@ 2C6 E96 42C5D92A65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96D64FC:EJ3=@886C]4@>^924<6CD3F:=52>2DE6C<6JE92EF?=@4<D>:==:@?D@79@E6=C@@>DH65?6D52J2AC:=ada_`gDH2E:<92?56=H2=9@E6==@4<<6J924<:?8:7J@F@7E6?=62G6J@FCG2=F23=62?56IA6?D:G6DEF77=:<6=2AE@A^Qm9@E6= C@@> <6JDk^2m]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 2EE24<D =:<6 E9@D6 2C6 D6=5@> E2C86E65 2E 2? :?5:G:5F2=[ 2D @AA@D65 E@ E96 @C82?:K2E:@?[ :E’D A@DD:3=6 E92E D@>6@?6 H:E9 2? #uxs C6256C — =:<6 E96 u=:AA6C +6C@[ >2C<6E65 E@ 9@33J:DED 2D 2 “$H:DD pC>J z?:76 7@C 924<:?8[” 2E H6== F?56C Sa__ — 4@F=5 >2?286 E@ 4@AJ E96 #uxs 7@C J@FC DA64:7:4 C@@>[ 2?5 DE62= J@FC A6CD@?2= 36=@?8:?8D] xE’D 2 DEC6E49[ 3FE :E 4@F=5 92AA6?] %96C6’D 46CE2:?=J ?@ 92C> :? FD:?8 2 D=66G6 @C #uxs 3=@4<:?8 H2==6E E@ 6=:>:?2E6 E92E >:?:>2= C:D<]k^Am

kAm|@C6 @7E6?[ E9:D <:?5 @7 E9:?8 :D 2 96252496 7@C E96 4@>A2?:6D :?G@=G65[ 2?5 E96 DFAA=:6CD @7 E96 24EF2= #uxs 42C5D 2?5 E96:C C6256CD WH9@D6 4FDE@>6CD[ @7 4@FCD6[ FD6 E96> 7@C D64FC:EJ C62D@?D 2?5 6IA64E E96> E@ 36[ H6==… D64FC6X] x7 J@FC H@C<A=246 DF556?=J 564C66D E92E J@F ?665 E@ <66A J@FC 2446DD 42C5 :? 2? #uxs3=@4<:?8 D=66G6 @C H2==6E H96? :E’D ?@E :? FD6[ E9:D :D H9J]k^Am

k9bms@?’E (@CCJ[ q6 w2AAJk^9bm

kAm$@ H92E’D E96 3@EE@> =:?6nk^Am

kAmx7 J@F’G6 366? 6J6:?8 25G6CE:D6>6?ED 7@C #uxs 3=@4<:?8 H2==6ED @C 4@?E6>A=2E:?8 2 92=75@K6? D=66G6D E@ AC@E64E J@FC 42C5D :?5:G:5F2==J[ J@F 42? C6=2I] %96C6’D =:EE=6 C62=:DE:4 =:<6=:9@@5 E92E 2?J3@5J’D 8@:?8 E@ 924< J@FC 42C5D E92E H2J] ~? E96 @E96C 92?5[ :7 E96 AC:46 7:ED J@FC 3F586E 2?5 :E H:== >2<6 J@F 766= 36EE6C[ E96C6’D ?@ 4@>A6==:?8 C62D@? ?@E E@]k^Am

kAm~? E96 H9@=6[ E9@F89[ J@F’== 5@ >@C6 7@C J@FC @H? D64FC:EJ :7 J@F <66A FA E@ DA665 @? E96 =2E6DE D42>D 2?5 E9C62ED E9C@F89 2CE:4=6D =:<6 E9:D @?6[ 2?5 <66A 2 4=@D6 6J6 @? J@FC 244@F?ED 7@C 2?J F?6IA64E65 @C :==:4:E 24E:G:EJ]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DA@<6@]4@>^4@>A2DD^5@J@F?665C7:53=@4<:?8H2==6E^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DA@<6@]4@>Qmk6>m$A@<6@k^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^”_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2m]k^Am