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(MoneyNewsWire.Net, November 03, 2014 ) United Kingdom, Yorkshire -- In this second case study to be released by Dearo, Kathryn Noyes discusses the findings of a live demonstration in which the ease and simplicity of hacking into RFID credit cards is made clear.
"It's been known for some time that there are security issues associated with the increasing use of RFID tags in credit cards, but this past weekend afforded a fresh demonstration of just how easy it is for hackers to take advantage of them.
Onstage at the Shmoocon hacker conference in Washington, D.C., Recursion Ventures security researcher Kristin Paget used about $350 in equipment to wirelessly read a volunteer's RFID-enabled credit card and then encode its key data onto a blank card, as described Monday by Forbes.
Next, she used the fraudulent card and a Square Card Reader to make a payment to herself.
'Embarrassingly Simple'
Elaborate trick? Far from it: 'This is an embarrassingly simple hack, but it works,' Paget told Forbes.
Essentially, it's possible because much the way the store's point-of-sale device reads the data on a contactless card wirelessly, so, too, can pretty much any RFID reader--through standard wallets and clothing, and regardless of the encryption or security measures that are in place, Paget said.
Three Seconds on 'High'
So what can you do to protect yourself and your business?
First, determine if any of your cards are RFID-enabled. PayPass and payWave, for example, are two of the leading names under which this technology is offered in the United States.
Assuming you do have one, there are a few steps you can take to protect it. Among the more drastic options, certainly, is toasting your RFID chip in the microwave--three seconds will kill it, Paget reportedly told Forbes. Of course, then you can kiss your contactless payment capabilities goodbye as well.
RFID Blocking Sleeves
Recursion Ventures, meanwhile, is reportedly working on a high-powered protection device for RFID-enabled credit cards, but it's still in the prototype stages.
In the meantime, you could try one of today's RFID-blocking shields or wallets, which generally use aluminum or steel to keep out prying eyes."
Dearo, the company specialising in the protection of confidential personal and financial information from wireless theft, manufactures RFID Blocking Sleeves in packs of 10, which are available on Amazon now.
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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