RFID Pouch for Electronics

I can't imagine why you might need such a thing for a tablet or other electronics, but then there is no need to have anything like that for your credit cards either. "RFID protection" is just a scare tactic, a concern based on the remotist of possibilities that has now become a trendy feature on just about any travel item (RFID protecting underclothes?)

Exactly, why would you need RFID protection anyway?

This is one of the more successful marketing hypes for creating a demand for a product that doesn't solve any problems. In a similar discussion last week, someone posted that just having the RFID protection made her feel safer even if it wasn't needed it. If you are really worried, just put a couple sheets of AL foil in any bag. Mostly it is waste of money but if you feel better about it, go ahead.

RFID refers to contactless transactions such as tap-and-go payments with some credit cards, many transit cards and such. Few US credit cards even have the technology (there will be a little Wi-Fi symbol on your card if it does). Your computers/phones will have Wi-Fi but not that someone with a nefarious reader could access (consider what they would be reading anyway). And any payment cards you have with it will have security measures. And to read the chip, it has to be a fraction of an inch away.

So ask yourself it you really need RFID protection.

My Nexus 7 allows me to turn off NFC and Bluetooth. In any event NFC required close proximity of devices, I.e. "near".

RFID is a way to move money from the neophyte to the snake oil salesperson. Don't even think twice about the need for RFID protection. If you need protection ask your druggist.

I can't imagine why RFID protection for electronics would be necessary. There's no financial information on a Kindle or iPad that can be obtained by scanning the devices, so what would be the point of protecting these? This sounds like a ploy to squeeze money out of ignorant consumers who don't know any better.

@douglas

Few US credit cards even have the technology
Not so, at least in the Northeast. All my cards have it, and most merchants and vending machines accept paypass in these parts.

@ken

can't imagine why RFID protection for electronics would be necessary.

All iphones 6s and all of the high-end Samsung phones have an RFID chip for use with Apple Pay/Google Wallet.

Michael S.,

"All iphones 6s and all of the high-end Samsung phones have an RFID chip for use with Apple Pay/Google Wallet."

I was aware of that, but it wouldn't seem too practical to keep an iPhone inside a bag while travelling, just to avoid the remote chance that a thief may scan this while walking through a crowd. Also, not everyone that has an iPhone 6 will enable or set-up Apple pay, and with no payment cards entered it would seem likely that scanning attempts would be useless.

Another point to consider is that unlike an RFID-equipped card which is a "passive" device until interrogated (and powered on) by a reader, RFID systems on phones are powered and I believe the payment request would have to be initiated by the phone user. Each transaction is tokenized and unique, and the phones do not store this information.

Maybe it's a regional thing Michael, but I'm not aware of it being very common in Chicago (no jokes about the Midwest being behind on things... And anyway our credit cards are with national banks). And as noted, contactless payment system do have built in security systems - otherwise this would be a rampant form of theft. You never really hear about it except from RFID blocker salesmen.

I ended up buying a PacSafe RFID wallet for our upcoming trip, but not for radio frequency thing. The wallet was on sale, the wallet was small and the wallet had as small ring sewn in in which a lanyard attaches to. I figured I can tie it to my belt and not worry about it falling out of my front pocket.

now that passports have chips in them, I do worry about RFID with those. With my gadgets, not so much. They really don't have anything of value stored on them (except photos, which hopefully everyone is always backing up).

phred, please read down this State Department page to the FAQ where they write:

"“Skimming.” We use an embedded metallic element in our passports. One of the simplest measures for preventing unauthorized reading of e-passports is to add RF blocking material to the cover of an e-passport. A passport has to be physically opened before it can be read. It is a simple and effective method for reducing the opportunity for unauthorized reading of the passport.

"“Skimming and Eavesdropping.” We have adopted Basic Access Control (BAC) to minimize the risk of “skimming” and “eavesdropping.” A chip that is protected by the BAC mechanism denies access to its contents unless the inspection system can prove that it is authorized to access the chip. “Tracking.” The chip in the e-passport uses a randomized Unique Identifier (UID) to reduce the risk of the document bearer being tracked. "

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/FAQs.html

In fairness, there are ten years of passports out in use at a given time. So I'm sure this statement doesn't apply to every single one of them.

"We're the government you can trust us"