Wallets with RFID Protection
RFID protection: your cards stay under wraps
A quick tap on the terminal and you're done: contactless payment has long been part of everyday life. To make sure it only happens when you want it to, wallets and card holders from aunts & uncles feature integrated RFID protection. Invisibly built in, with no effect on design or weight.
What is RFID?
RFID stands for Radio-Frequency Identification, meaning data is transmitted via radio waves. Many of the cards you carry every day use this technology: debit and credit cards with the contactless symbol, company badges, hotel and access cards or electronic ID cards. Each one contains a small chip that is activated by a reader's electromagnetic field and then sends its data. It doesn't need a battery of its own to do so.
RFID or NFC: what's the difference?
NFC (Near Field Communication) is based on RFID but designed for very short distances of just a few centimetres. This is exactly the variant you use when paying contactless at the till, whether with a card, smartphone or smartwatch. The short range is intentional: it ensures a payment is only triggered when the device is deliberately held to the terminal. Unlike classic RFID chips, NFC can also communicate in both directions. That's why your phone can take over the role of your card at checkout.
How big is the risk really?
Honestly: manageable. Anyone wanting to read card data unnoticed needs a suitable reader and has to get very close to your card, for example in a crowded train or queue. ID cards are additionally secured by access procedures. With bank cards, there is a small remaining risk that details such as the card number or expiry date could be read.
RFID shielding closes this gap with minimal effort. There's nothing to switch on, nothing to remember and nothing extra to carry.
How it works
Inside the wallet sits a thin layer of fabric with a metallic coating. It blocks the signal of an unknown reader from reaching the chip, and the chip can't transmit anything to the outside. As soon as you take your card out to pay, it works as usual.
Security you can't see
At aunts & uncles, design comes first while the RFID protection works in the background. The shielding is built into the lining and changes neither shape nor feel. So you can choose your wallet by size, compartment layout and look, and get the security on top.
FAQ about RFID protection
Can I still pay contactless with my card?
Yes. Simply take the card out of your wallet and hold it to the terminal as usual.
Does RFID protection also cover my smartphone?
No, the shielding only affects cards kept inside the wallet. Payment functions on your phone are secured by unlocking via PIN, fingerprint or face recognition.
How can I tell if a card has a radio chip?
By the contactless symbol with four curved lines. German ID cards issued since November 2010 all contain a chip.
Does the shielding affect the magnetic strips on my cards?
No, it only blocks radio signals.
How do I care for my leather wallet?
You'll find tips in our leather care guide.
Well organised, well protected
Find the wallet that suits your everyday life: stylish, well organised and secure with RFID protection!
