Disabling Your Credit Card’s RFID Chip?
For those of you concerned about the little RFID chip on your contactless credit card or smart card, think twice before taking a hammer to it. Some blogs are suggesting this a means to disable RFID chips in credit cards and passports. Doing so to the latter might get you fined for tampering. For the former, keep in mind that credit cards usually have a bit of fine print that says the card issuer owns the actual piece of plastic and that, if requested, you have to turn it over to them. It’s rarely enforced, as far as I know, but it’s something to think about.
If you don’t want to use a credit card with an RFID chip, I suggest you call up your issuer to have it cancelled, then dispose of it in their suggested manner. But if it’s concern that a lurker with an RFID scanner might skim information off of your card, try anti-RFID wallet or pouch such as those sold at DIFRwear or Emvelope.
