Pants-on Review: The Kena Kai RF-Blocking Wallet

Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:34PM EDT

See Comments (10)

You might not be aware of it, but "swipe your credit card" technology, which still seems fairly new, is already on the way out. In its place: Contactless credit cards, which can be read by a card reader that comes within a few inches of the card, are coming soon to a checkout lane near you.

Now I'm not entirely sure what the advantage of contactless credit cards, which use a type of RFID chip to store information, have over the magnetic strip, but they certainly seem to be gaining momentum. (One report says they're faster to use.) Along with general-purpose RFID, contactless credit cards are making the reading of information without any physical contact a sober reality. (RFID is also coming to U.S. passports beginning this month; some have already been issued.)

But there's always a downside. Stories of RFID chips being read from 60 feet away or more should scare you, because it means that credit card numbers could be stolen from a guy out in the parking lot while your wallet is safely tucked in your pants. Never mind the promises of encryption on the cards, I'd rather they not get the information in the first place.

Enter Kena Kai, which is making a genius set of products for the RFID age: Wallets lined with a shielding material to prevent RFID signals from coming in or out. And no, this isn't your Incredible Hulk velcro affair, these are nice-looking wallets made from real leather and available in a variety of styles. The DataSafe Italian Leather Bi-Fold Wallet that I'm trying out is handsomely crafted, stitched (not glued), and fits well in a front pocket (which I prefer over the back). And the whole thing is lined with a golden, metallic material that handles the RF shielding (and is the same stuff the State Department is using for its new passport sleeves). I'm also hopeful this will keep my subway card from constantly becoming demagnetized...

Kena Kai offers four men's styles and two women's styles. Prices run about $30 to $60. Knowing that your credit card data can't be stolen while you're browsing the tile section at Home Depot: Priceless.

Comments on Pants-on Review: The Kena Kai RF-Blocking Wallet

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 6 Posted by gwenfco on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    Personally, I don't see any benefit to these RFID cards. Seems like something created just because the credit card companies were looking for a new gimmick, never mind the new hassles it creates. When I received an RFID card I called the credit card company and asked for a normal one instead, without RFID. They sent it to me. Maybe with more complaints, they will stop forcing them on us.

  • 7 Posted by penny07960 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    In response to Post #5, as a 'chick', "Incredible Hulks" we may dig, "Incredible Hulk Wallets with Velcro" we do not. Style still rules, even for hulks. With regard to the encryption issue, the encryption they use is tight. I am not worried about the mythical "guy in the parking lot" - well, to be clear, I am not worried about what he can do to my credit card. What does worry me is the possibility that my card will be mistakenly read by a point-of-sales scanner. I would hate to get a bill at the end of the month and find that I had bought someone else's groceries.

  • 8 Posted by tracey_sub_f on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    Placing your credit card in a microwave oven for 1 second will fry the RFID (which is very sensitive) and *probably* not erase the magnetic strip (which is relatively insensitive). I.e., the credit card will continue to operate as an 'old fashioned' card. Any longer that 1 sec and the heating will likely demagnetize the strip too, making the card useless. If a working credit card is critical to your life, do not try this experiment; you might be the 1-in-10 who end up with an unreadable magnetic strip.

  • 9 Posted by skellar on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    this guy is putting another technology scare into people. RFID chips in credit card work by induction. The card reading device charges a small chip when placed within 2-6 inches of the card. only once the card is charged can the credit card number read. the card number is encrypted, but you can NOT read the card from across the parking lot, in fact it would be next to impossible to read a card in your regular wallet.

  • 10 Posted by juliecleo23 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    $30-60 my butt. I checked the site and the women's wallets are about $150+. False advertising. I guess it's gonna cost us a lot of money to protect ourselves from all of these "conveniences".

More Posts: First Prev 1 2 Next Last

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.