You don't need a tinfoil hat, either. Opportunists have exploited consumer fears to create an industry that doesn't need to exist
Because I’m a computer security guy, I have friends who like to show off
their new RFID-blocking wallets and purses. "Look what I got for
Christmas!" they say. My lack of response should be telling, but they
don’t seem to pick up on it.
They've seen the TV ads about malicious hackers who can “stand on any
street corner” and wirelessly steal their credit card and other identity
information. I've seen similar demonstrations at Black Hat and other
computer security conferences for nearly a decade now. They never fail
to wow the audience.
An entire, multi-billion-dollar RFID-blocking industry has emerged. You
can get RFID blocking for almost any object you own. Some of my friends
have so much faith in RFID-blocking products that they buy expensive,
customized purses and wallets. These are the same people who drive extra
miles to save a few cents on gas.
It goes to show that humans don’t evaluate risk very well.
