frontpagedoublehelixx | Staff posted Yesterday 03:18 PM
Item 1 of 5
Item 1 of 5
frontpagedoublehelixx | Staff posted Yesterday 03:18 PM
Furid Men's Slim Metal Card Wallet w/ Money Clip (Various)
from $4.50
$9.99
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Also do people carry these in their front or rear pockets? It cant be comfortable to have a slab of metal in your rear pocket when sitting down. Maybe there is an aspect I'm overlooking.
Also do people carry these in their front or rear pockets? It cant be comfortable to have a slab of metal in your rear pocket when sitting down. Maybe there is an aspect I'm overlooking.
The skepticism expressed by "Ride_The_Sky" is well-founded when you look at the actual mechanics of RFID skimming versus the marketing behind RFID-blocking wallets.
Here is a breakdown of the subject matter based on how these systems actually function:
The Likelihood of "Remote Tapping"
The threat of a stranger "skimming" your credit card in a crowd is statistically negligible.
Near-Field Limitations: EMV (chip) cards use Near-Field Communication (NFC). The physics of these chips require the reader to be within roughly 4cm to establish a connection. While a high-powered custom antenna could technically extend this slightly, it becomes physically conspicuous and electronically "noisy."
Encryption and Tokenization: Even if someone successfully pings your card, they don't get your name, your CCV code, or your billing address. They get a one-time transaction code or a digital "token." This data is useless for online shopping or creating a physical clone of the card.
The Paper Trail: To actually "charge" a card, the thief needs a merchant account. Merchant accounts are tied to bank accounts and real identities. It is a highly inefficient way to steal money compared to database hacks or phishing, which provide thousands of usable datasets instantly.
Mechanical Trade-offs
The "inconvenience" mentioned is a direct result of how Faraday cages work.
Signal Attenuation: RFID-blocking wallets use a conductive mesh or solid metal (like the "slab" mentioned) to create a shield. This doesn't just block thieves; it blocks the legitimate reader at the subway turnstile or the coffee shop.
The "Tap and Pay" Friction: By solving a problem that barely exists, these wallets remove the primary mechanical benefit of NFC technology: speed.
Ergonomics and Pocket Placement
The comment about comfort highlights a shift in EDC (Everyday Carry) trends:
Front Pocket Carry: Most metal or "minimalist" wallets are designed specifically for the front pocket. Carrying a rigid metal frame in a rear pocket creates a pressure point on the sciatic nerve and can lead to lower back issues over time (often called "Wallet Sciatica").
Screen Damage: As the top comment in your image notes, metal wallets are abrasive. If kept in the same pocket as a phone, the aluminum or titanium edges will easily scratch Gorilla Glass or the phone's chassis, which are significantly softer than the metal wallet's coating or the metal itself.
The Verdict: RFID blocking is largely a "peace of mind" feature sold to consumers who remember the security flaws of 1st-generation contactless cards from 15 years ago, rather than a necessary defense against modern financial crime.
Would you like to look into which types of cards (like older building HID badges) are actually still vulnerable to cloning?
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