Well, hey there. In an effort to increase our blog post frequency to every Thursday, consider this your welcome aboard to weekly "hullo's!" from Studio Hall.
This week, we're looking at our newest add-on feature: RFID-blocking material! You can now easily select "RFID Blocking" on any of our hand-crafted wallet and cardholder designs. I had long been resistant to offering RFID protection, not because it wasn't in demand (I actually get at least a couple requests for it every time we have an event) but because all former solutions came at the cost of bulk and aesthetics. Let's talk for a minute about what RFID is and why some folks look for RFID protection.
What is RFID?
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is an extremely useful tool that allows wireless handshakes between a reader and a tag. While RFID is used in a huge variety of applications, from clothing tags in retail stores, to employee access cards, to toll tags in your windshield and a chip to return your favorite doggo home when he gets lost. Most prevalent, though, are RFID chips in credit cards, which have enabled secure, quick, and less issue-prone payments than EMV chips (the ones you insert into the machine, but don't take out too quick!!) RFID bank cards have been common in Europe and Asia for many years, dating back to around 1995, but the US was slow in adopting this technology.
While contactless payment was first trialed in the US in 2004, legislation meant to combat fraud mandated a switch to more secure NFC (Near Field Communication) was only enacted in 2015-17 after taking years to move from magnetic stripes to the "new" already outdated chip and pin style. Point of Sale machines had to be swapped out and payment processors caught up to speed in a transition fraught with exceptions, extensions, and hurt feelings.
Why block RFID?
Moving America to contactless payments was anything but smooth. But that was then, and this is now. Apple and Google Pay are everywhere. The vast majority of retailers have switched at least a good portion of their services and goods to RFID-capable readers, many of which no longer even allow magnetic stripe payment. By all accounts, contactless payment has won the battle and maintains a solid reputation as the safest way to pay. Yet, like any technology, there are risks.
Some customers find comfort in knowing that their cards are more shielded than normal from "skimming" attacks, where a bad actor can place an RFID reader near your belongings and capture limited credit card information. Others simply don't want to have to worry about accidentally bumping the wrong card against a terminal when buying their coffee (this one I've done, and it definitely was not a business expense). Whatever the reason, RFID blocking has become an expected addition to some folks' feature lists when shopping for accessories.
How are we implementing RFID blocking?
This is our initial offering for RFID blocking material. We had looked at RFID blocking materials in the past and––let's just say we weren't enthused. Now there's a better way. The hyper-thin metallic layer sewn into our wallets adds almost no bulk and can be cleverly hidden behind the sweet, sweet veg tan leather we love. A note: we cannot guarantee that there will never be a bad angle, a protruding card, or a fumbled tap. While we want to do our very best to block readers from accessing what's in your wallet, we take no legal responsibility if mistakes happen or your card is read without your consent. RFID protection is a seat belt, not Fort Knox.
If this trial run for RFID blocking is a hit, we will make it a permanent optional add-on to all of our wallets and cardholders. If interest fades over time, we may take RFID blocking off the table and focus solely on the basics like leather and canvas.
Do you prefer RFID blocking in your wallet?
Let us know in the comments below! And don't be a stranger. Reach out any time on Instagram or YouTube for a little Near Field Communication with Studio Hall 😏
-Thomas