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(MoneyNewsWire.Net, October 30, 2014 ) United Kingdom, Yorkshire -- Recent research carried out by Tom Heydt-Benjamin and Kevin Fu, professor at Massachusetts University RFID - CUSP (RFID Consortium for Security and Privacy) has demonstrated the ease with which criminals can retrieve confidential and sensitive information from the latest generation of contactless credit cards and other smart cards. Even more obvious is how easy it is for criminals to access this information without actually physically stealing the card.
Attacks on cards can be undertaken using relatively cheap RFID reading devices, some of which are available to be bought straight of the shelf. Other tactics used include re-programming mobile phones and other electronic devices to make them capable of reading RFID signals coming from the chips in credit cards and smart cards.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips are found in contactless credit cards, debit cards and other smart cards, and contain confidential information such as name, address and bank details. The RFID chip responds to a certain frequency, and when these "tags" come into contact with radio waves, they respond with a slightly altered signal. The response can contain encoded personal identifying information, including the card holder's name, address, Social Security Number, phone number, and pertinent account or employee information.
Upon capturing (or 'harvesting') this data, thieves are then able to program their own cards to respond in an identical fashion (via 'cloning'). Many sites are dedicated to nothing but teaching people how to perform this act, as well as supplying the necessary equipment and software.
Although RFID technology is designed to be scanned at relatively close proximity to a reader, certain researchers have suggested that in fact cards can be read from a number of feet away. In such instances, victims would be totally unaware that they had fallen victim to an attack.
One of the easiest methods of protecting confidential credit card information is the use of RFID Blocking Sleeves. These are small, thin sleeves designed to hold individual cards, made with an aluminium coating on the inside, which acts as a shield against those signals emitted from theft devices.
RFID Blocking Sleeves can be purchased from amazon in packs of 10, enough to cover a full wallet or purse full of cards, or to hand out to family and friends.
About Dearo
Dearo provides high-quality RFID Blocking Sleeves which protect owners of credit, debit, and other smart cards from fraud and identity theft in an easy, simple and very cost-effective way. Dearo strives to provide peace of mind to ensure that the public can continue to use smart cards confidently and safely.
Dearo
Jeanette Smith
01632960000
press@dearo.com
Source: EmailWire.Com 
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