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(MoneyNewsWire.Net, August 07, 2015 ) Kirkland, WA -- Fears that hackers will steal credit card and passport information more easily has sparked Elk and Bear to release credit card and passport protector sleeves that block radio signals from RFID chip embedded cards.
Credit card thieves no longer need to touch their victims. They can use a cheap reader from eBay or a free Android App to read credit cards right through a victim's clothes and wallet.
As early as the 2012 Shmoocon Hacker conference, Kristin Paget proved this with a $35 Vivotech RFID (radio frequency identification) credit card reader.
Paget asked a volunteer to allow her to read their credit card while she was standing some distance away, then, using the Vivotech reader to wirelessly read the credit card, she took the data and fed it through a magnetizing tool to put the data onto a blank card, effectively cloning the volunteer's credit card. Paget was able to obtain the credit card's number and expiration date, along with a one-time CVV number used to authenticate payments.
Next she attached a Square reader to her iPhone, swiped the cloned card and "stole" $15 from her volunteer. (She paid him back $20 immediately).
According to Leo Hamel of digital security brand, VAULT, "The Shmoocon demonstration amply illustrates the need for protection of your credit cards. People really have no idea what they're carrying in their wallets any more."
VAULT has now joined forces with Elk and Bear: Handpicked to offer a stylish sleeve that slips handily in and out of most wallets, while offering full spectrum protection.
RFID technology uses radio waves to communicate between a reader and a RFID card or tag. It has been used for many years in a variety of applications including tracking of goods or livestock, electronic reading of passports, airport baggage tracking, wireless tool collecting and contactless payments.
The RFID systems work on these frequencies:
Low Frequency RFID is less than 135 KHz
High Frequency RFID is 13.56 MHz
Ultra High Frequency RFID is 868-870 MHz or 902-928 MHz
Super High Frequency RFID is 2.400-2.483 GHz
Most RFID credit cards transactions take place at 13.56 MHz. Financial institutions embed a tiny microchip into credit and debit cards that contain information about the account and the account holder. The cards then transmit that information to any reader that is set to receive that frequency.
RFID is designed to speed up purchases and prevent cashier theft. Unfortunately, readers are very easy to purchase, so electronic credit card fraud is on the rise, which is why more sleeves are beginning to appear on the market.
The most effective ones contain aluminum and copper to block wireless transmission of sensitive banking and personal information. One such offering is from Elk and Bear. The sleeve is designed to be a stylish, easy to use and welcome addition to the digital security space.
About Elk & Bear: Handpicked
Elkandbear.com is on a mission to provide the best version of the lifestyle products consumers want. They aim to provide best design aesthetics, best function, and best durability, all backed by a 100% money back guarantee. The Elk and Bear brand wants to save people time and money by doing the leg work for them. If they don't find the version they want, they'll make it themselves.
Elk & Bear: Handpicked
Chris Butler
4252730993
info@elkandbear.com
Source: EmailWire.Com 
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