It is well known to any well-studied Freemason that information is indeed a powerful tool, but information in the wrong hands can lead to disastrous results. This applies to the esoteric aspects of Freemasonry as well as to the everyday mundane world. Advances in information technology have made daily life easy and convenient in many ways. There is one amazing advancement that has been available for many years and is beginning a massive proliferation to everyday consumers: the RFID credit card and the NFC cell phone.

Did you know however that this technology exposes the information contained in the cards to a casual passerby? Have a look at this video, and then continue reading after as to how you can protect yourself.

Most people are blissfully unaware that their data can be stolen just by a person walking by. RFID chips are essentially tiny antennas with a computer chip embedded into many credit cards and U.S. passports (picture of these chips at the top of this post). When they are passed through an appropriate electric field, electricity is generated by induction in its antenna coil allowing it to broadcast the computer chip’s information via radio waves to a nearby receiver. Think of it as working the same way as the anti-theft tags attached to merchandise – when you exit the store you pass through large electric fields and antennas which search for those tags. Here is a diagram that helps explain the steps:

In the case of NFC chips which are typically in cell phones, they are different in that they are powered by a battery and do not require induction to activate. This means that if they are on, then they are broadcasting. Securing NFC simply means turning it off while not in use. Most mid- to high-end Android and iOS (Apple) devices have this technology.

So how can you protect against unintentional loss of your credit card, passport (yes, U.S. passports use this technology as well), or other personal data embedded in these chips? The answer is quite simple – get an RFID-shielding wallet or sleeve. There is a good web site called RFID Wallet Headquarters that posts reviews of the protective options available. The cost of these options averages around $15-$20 – well worth the price for peace of mind!

Remember, information is power. Keep it in the right hands.