How to Make Your Own RFID Shield
The use of radio frequency identification or RFID chips is on the rise in technological items intended for personal use. Public transit cards, ID badges for some buildings, even credit cards now contain these tiny devices, some not much bigger than a grain of rice. RFID chips may some day be inserted into passports to speed processing at border security locations. However, they do concern some users because they are constantly broadcasting, meaning someone with an RFID reader could copy and possibly steal some information. You can shield your RFID chips with a device you can build at home.
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Instructions
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Cut a sheet of tinfoil at least 17 inches by seven inches, and fold it in half to create an eight and a half inches by seven inches sheet of tinfoil. This will be the bulk of the shield.
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Make a solid sheet of duct tape by overlapping seven-inch strips of duct tape with at least one-half to one-quarter inch overlaps, so they create an eight and a half-inch sheet of duct tape.
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Place the tinfoil shield onto the center of the adhesive side of the duct tape sheet. Fold this entire sheet in half.
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A typical bi-fold wallet. Tape the short sides to create a pocket; this is where you will store your RFID-enabled cards. Fold the pocket in half to make it more wallet-shaped.
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Add a top flap to block RFID signals from the top of the wallet. Begin with a double-thick strip of tinfoil measuring four and a half inches wide by at least two inches long. Place a few strips of duct tape on the back. Make this flap the same length, but at least an inch wider than the tinfoil. Place this a half-inch down on the back of the wallet-pocket, so you can fold it over the mouth of the RFID shield when shut.
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Tips & Warnings
When you open most typical wallets, there are pockets for business and other credit cards inside. You can make duct tape pockets to attach to the inside the fold of the wallet.
A single sheet of tinfoil may not completely shield your RFID chip from outside use, but it will at least significantly decrease its range. If someone were attempting to copy the RFID information, they would need to be within a few inches of you and your RFID chips.
References
- Photo Credit rfid tags image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com wallet image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
Comments
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This is very good information. I already made one for myself before I saw this but did not use duct tape. Since then I have just decided not to carry a debit card (the only one I was carrying) since it is no longer safe to use ATM machines. I just put the cash I need in my bra and carry copies of other vital info in pockets and/or security traveling belt under clothing. Walk into the bank and get cash like we did 40 years ago. Go into the ladies room and put the cash in 3-4 different places before you leave the premises. Carry in your hand pepper spray (locked and loaded so to speak). Watch surroundings at all times. Wear tennis shoes. Walk with confidence. Don't look like a victim.
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I just made my own. I stack my cards in my wallet and stacking them makes them more secure. Then I made a little foil pouch the size of the cards with duct tape holding it together and inserted my cards in it and inserted this in my wallet. Make it a little loose so you can remove a card when you need it. Now the cards are enclosed in aluminum foil. Also the most important cards face my body when wearing the wallet instead of toward the outside. You don't need to buy anything, just foil and duct tape from home. Save your money. You ladies could line your purse with foil.
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Has anyone thought of making or using these?
