RFID Secure Wallet

RFID has been used in stores and cars as a identification system for years. They seem to make life in general more efficient.

With RFID tags in Credit Cards, Passports, and drivers licenses coming out I started to worry. Soon there will be RFID tags in money. I guess that would help solve some of the poverty problems. RFID tags are also not very secure. When the first RFID passports came out in the UK the encryption on the chips was broken in under 48 hours!

RFID blocking wallets are for sale for ~$20 (http://www.difrwear.com/products.shtml). However these are a little unstylish(yes I know its not a word) and pricey for me.

So here I will show you how to make a RFID shielded wallet that doubles as a waterproof, tear proof, cool looking ducktape wallet, without spending a fortune.

We will use Aluminum foil as a to block the radio waves that power the RFID, like a faraday cage.

Step 1: Materials

You will need:
-Aluminum Foil
-Ducktape
-Double sided Scotch(or similar brand) tape
-Packaging tape(optional)

Comments

[thewizzard333]

I recently did some research on this as my wife got skimmed, I found this cool product made in Australia called Armourcard, it jams RFID signals and fits in a wallet. Pretty cool we both have one now. http://www.armourcard.com.au/

[iBurn]

couldn't you just line your wallet with a brass mesh? Or would that be too expensive?

[EaglesNestOne]

It's called AlFoil. Cheap, suitable, able to shape into a helmet XD. Not sure about brass but aluminum foil is well known on instructables for blocking/boosting signals. Also, you can get Aluminium foil/tape which may be more convenient. Nice instructable *Votes*

[EaglesNestOne]

Quotes self: *Votes* Not in a competition >_< soz to get ur hopes up.

[Snappy83]

...also very easy to form into a tinfoil hat!

[Snappy83]

Thanks for the info about RFID! Its awsome people like you that share good info that most people need to know about :) cheers!

[andi456]

They already have RFIDs in money. Its those magnetic strips in them.

[dombeef]

That is not rfid

[fox64]

"Probably works" ... nice. Going to Defcon this year, gonna have to make these. Nice job BTW! I would have loved to see you put more work into the design of the wallet, like the all of the other duct tape wallets out there.

[lg4747]

very fashionable

[lg4747]

It is a rather baddish and fashionable product,I love it.

[PKTraceur]

Cute Dog! I guess I will have to update my DT wallet to be RFID blocking. Well, here goes another layer of DT! ~RoAr

[rfid]

Thanks for the Instructable. interesting

[PocketSized]

I'm going to have to try and make one of these, along with a mobile phone sock containing Tin Foil (I'm sure my blasted phone is still sending out signals even when it's turned off). :D Thanks for the Instructable.

[glitcher]

how would you recieve a call or a text

[Agroking]

Who keeps their phone in their wallet?

[bdl]

Could you also use the shiny metallic covers that come with some CDs? Are these RFID proof or just anti-magnetic proof-type thingy ??????

[James (pseudo-geek)]

RFID = magnetism. light is magnetism, radio waves, microwaves, X-rays.... pretty much any "wave" is magnetism. so yes, tinfoil will stop any of those.

[thepaul1993]

so i wrap up my mobile phone in tin foil it would block out all radio waves to and from it?

[ConanMayerFan]

ummm could i just put a piece of tin foil instead of making one of these?

[James (pseudo-geek)]

yes,

[ConanMayerFan]

yes! thanks

[dogsrcool2me]

could you explain these covers in more detail?

[James (pseudo-geek)]

RFID = magnetism. light is magnetism, radio waves, microwaves, X-rays.... pretty much any "wave" is magnetism. so yes, tinfoil will stop any of those.

[dogsrcool2me]

No, RFID = electromagnetic waves light is electromagnetism, radio waves, microwaves, X-rays.... pretty much any "wave" is electromagnetism. so yes, tinfoil may spot alot of these, It depends on the electron configuration.

electromagnetism DOES NOT = MAGNITISM

[cunningfellow]

Absolutely right!

Prove it to yourself - get a magnet and wrap it in aluminum foil. Try to pick up something with the magnet. Did it still work?

Aluminum foil will block RF, but not magnetism.

[conrad2468]

lets just say i have this super powerful light will it pull itself to my refrigerator?

[glitcher]

Light is a particle, not a wave. how else would they make laser pointers or cut things with lasers?
Qoute"electromagnetism DOES NOT = MAGNITISM"end qoute.

[dogsrcool2me]

light is both a particle and a wave It has aspects of both

[conrad2468]

god i cant wait until what is it physics? im just dying to understand all of it!!!! (really!)

[dogsrcool2me]

see post above

[James (pseudo-geek)]

probably not, its a frequency, not a steady stream like a fridge magnet is. anyhow, if you where to get that powerful of a light, you would burn stuff up with it.

[dogsrcool2me]

No offense, but do you have any idea what your talking about?

[conrad2468]

not atoll im just a kid who likes explosives with a passion for science

[thepaul1993]

your the same as me

[James (pseudo-geek)]

somewhat. I'm not a pro. I'm speaking from my experience, and from what I've read about physics.

[cunningfellow]

Which is all that guys with PhD's have done - read a lot, lots of experience (experiments) and then convinced other people with PhD's that they know it.

Question: Who had the first degree? Who gave it to him? What were THEIR qualifications? Did that mean that their graduate was more qualified than them? hmm, interesting....

[dogsrcool2me]

The electric wave from the electromagnetic field would induce a current in a conductive material. This current would cause the conductive material to become magnetic by aligning the magnetic domains. However, fridge material is probably not conductive at the frequency of light. again "MAGNETISM IS NOT ELECTROMAGNETISM" Electromagnetism is were a changing magnetic wave that produces a electric field that then produces an magnetic field. A permanent magnet only produces an unchanging magnetic field.

[James (pseudo-geek)]

true, but you can move a permanent magnet to produce a changing field. ever see those flashlights you shake to charge?

[harley_rly]

thats because the magnet disturbs the atomic particles in the wire causing electrons(or protons cant remember which) to flow in the wire generating electricity which then powers the light. Just read up on generators and how they work