Do you really need an RFID blocker?

In 2013, security expert Fran Brown revealed a device that can copy RFID (radio frequency identification) cards three-feet away. He wanted to demonstrate how vulnerable RFID data in credit cards, identification cards, security passes, car key fobs and everywhere else is.

- By JOYCE REYES-AGUILA

Twelve years later, the threat of RFID hacking is still present. There have been incidents such as hotel key room hacking and unauthorized credit card transactions after transiting in certain airports that have given people enough reason to invest in products with RFID-blocking features. Examples of these are bags, vehicle key fobs, passport holders, and wallets. But are they really worth spending on?

Before we answer that, let's go back to the basics: what is RFID and what does it do? According to the Department of Homeland Security of the United States, it is a technology that utilizes radio waves to identify objects or people through a device. It is capable of reading "information contained in a wireless device or 'tag' from a distance without making any physical contact or requiring a line of sight." An antenna reads the data from the RFID-tagged items and transmits it to an RFID reader. Radio frequencies are used to store and collect data.