Trend Topic: RFID Explained

The promotional products world is full of some great technologies, fun branded giveaway items, and unique custom solutions perfect for your brand. One category of items you might consider for your next great promotion include RFID-blocking items, yet many people don’t know what RFID is, how it works, or why they’d want to block it.

What is RFID?

RFID is an acronym for “Radio-Frequency Identification” and it involves tiny tags, label, or chips that are imbedded in items, allowing them to be tracked by RFID readers.¹ Similar to barcodes, RFID tags carry information about the item they are attached to and can be used to control inventory, track items or people, or control access. If you’ve had a hotel room “key” that just required a tap next to the doorknob, you’ve encountered and used RFID. RFID tags are used in retail, libraries, workplaces, and throughout our daily lives.² RFID powers electronic toll collecting, public transit payments, ePassports, keyless entry, and the food supply chain.

Hazards of RFID

If there is a card in your wallet that offers contact-less payments such as “tap-to-pay”, it uses RFID to make that transaction happen. The RFID chip will contain account information as well as personal data. Passports with embedded chips contain biometric information (facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, or iris recognition) along with personal information like name and birth date.³ Both RFID cards and passports have the potential to have the data on them stolen by thieves using an RFID-skimming device, even if they never touch the item. This can compromise both credit card data as well as personal information, opening victims up to identity theft.

Blocking RFID Skimmers

RFID-enabled cards and passports can be protected by using RFID-blocking sleeves, wallets, cases, or pouches. These cases use electromagnetic materials to shield cards from malicious skimmers. They can be designed to protect a single card, or all contents within a bag, laptop backpack or wallet. RFID-blocking items make great promotional items for travel agents, financial institutions, or any organization wanting to provide their clients with peace of mind.