RFID Blocking: What It Is and Why You Need It

How Does RFID Blocking Work?  

RFID technology goes back to the 1940s. During World War II, the British Air Force used a similar system to tell if planes were friendly or not. In 1948, the idea behind RFID was shared in a paper called “Communication by Means of Reflected Power” by Stockman. The first RFID patent was filed by Charles Walton in 1973. 

An RFID system has two main parts: the reader, which controls the system, and the tag, which stores product information and a unique ID. Other important parts include the antenna, middleware, and a back-end database that help everything work together. 

But how does RFID get blocked, especially when it’s designed to work wirelessly? 

Scientific research shows how RFID blocking works by comparing it to a Faraday cage, a conductive enclosure that prevents electromagnetic fields from passing through.⁴  

This same principle is used in RFID-blocking.  

The Blocking Process

1. Barrier Placement:RFID-blocking products use conductive materials to form a protective barrier around your RFID-enabled items. These materials act like a mini-Faraday cage, surrounding your cards or passports and blocking external radio waves from reaching them.  

2. Field Cancellation: When an RFID reader tries to send out a radio signal, the metallic shield redirects the waves along its surface, preventing them from reaching the card's chip. 

3. No Power, No Reply: Without the radio energy to power the chip, the RFID tag doesn’t activate, so no data is exchanged. 

When the conductive shield is intact, consistent, and covers the entire signal frequency range, it blocks RFID communication effectively. This makes it a passive yet reliable defense that requires no batteries or activation. 

What Is RFID Blocking Material Made Of?  

RFID blocking materials are typically made of conductive metals like nickel, copper, or aluminum. These are the same types of materials used in Faraday bag shielding to block wireless signals. 

Reasons These Metals Work: 

• High Permeability: These metals react well to electric fields and absorb them, making them good at blocking signals.  
• Malleable and Ductile: They can be woven into fabric or thin sheets to line bags and wallets.  
• Rust and Corrosion Resistant: They don’t rust easily. This helps RFID-blocking gear last longer, especially when exposed to humidity or moisture.  
• Lightweight: No one wants a heavy bag or wallet. These metals keep the weight down while still protecting your cards.  
• Non-Toxic: Aluminum, copper and nickel are generally safe and non-toxic when used in everyday items like RFID-blocking materials, electronics, coins, and cookware.   

RFID-blocking gear from GoDark Bags use flexible shielding materials that help block unwanted wireless signals and protect your cards from being scanned without your knowledge.

What Is the Best RFID Blocking Card Sleeve, Wallet, or Bag?  

The best RFID-blocking gear is one that reliably shields your contactless cards and IDs from unauthorized scanning, while also fits your lifestyle and daily habits. 

Card Sleeves 

A good RFID-blocking card sleeve should include: 

• Uses conductive metal lining to form a miniature Faraday cage that prevents unauthorized signal access. 
• Effective shielding against RFID/Bluetooth frequencies (e.g. 13.56 MHz contactless cards), with certified or tested shielding performance.  
• Made from materials that pose no health risks in everyday contact.  

Card sleeves can protect one or two RFID‑enabled cards when stored in your wallet or bag. But if you frequently use your cards in crowded environments or want protection even during use, you may prefer a GoDark Card Guard.  

The key differences are as follows: 

RFID Card Sleeve	GoDark Card Guard
Small, envelope-style protectors that you slide your RFID card into. They work by surrounding each card with a metal-based shield that blocks radio signals.	The GoDark Card Guard is not a sleeve. It’s a passive card that jams the reader by sending back scrambled or false signals.
You need one sleeve per card	Protects the cards placed next to or between them, so you only need one per wallet
Causes your wallet to become bulky and harder to use	Keeps your wallet slim and functional (no bulky sleeves!)
Every time you want to tap a card, you must remove it from the sleeve	Need to remove your payment card from the wallet to use it, but there’s no sleeve to fuss with
Easy to forget which card is protected and which isn’t	Works automatically

RFID-Blocking Wallets 

A good RFID wallet should be: 

• Compact and practical for daily use. 
• Able to hold and protect up to 6 credit cards or IDs.  
• Provide 360-degree shielding around your cards. 

This is ideal for people who carry multiple RFID cards and want full protection without relying on separate inserts. 

RFID-Blocking Bags

The goal is full enclosure. They can be neck and crossbody slings, waist belts, and more. 

Look for bags that: 

• Have RF shielding fabric capable of blocking chip-enabled credit cards, passports, and IDs.
• Have water-resistant fabric or breathable backing to protect both your items and the shielding layer. 

Great for travelers or professionals who carry data-sensitive valuables like passports, smartphones, or work IDs and need stronger, more reliable protection.

Each GoDark RFID-blocking gear uses GoDark fabric to secure your contactless cards in different formats. Pick the style that matches your daily habits: something slim and pocket-friendly, or a hands-free travel option.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does RFID Blocking Do?   

RFID blocking prevents scanners from reading the wireless data stored on your contactless cards. It works by using conductive materials (like metal) that disrupt radio waves from reaching your card’s chip. Without a signal, the card can’t be activated or scanned, protecting you from unwanted data theft, skimming, or cloning. 

Does My Credit Card Have RFID?  

If your credit card has a symbol that looks like a Wi-Fi signal turned sideways, it likely has RFID. This means it can be tapped to pay without swiping or inserting it. Most newer cards have this feature, but not all. If you're unsure, check with your bank or try tapping the card at a contactless payment terminal to see if it works. 

Do I Really Need an RFID Blocking Wallet?   

You might not need an RFID-blocking wallet for everyday use, but it adds a layer of protection against long range digital pickpocketing. It's a relay-style RFID attack (a wireless attack where criminals intercept and forward signals between a contactless RFID card and a reader) that doesn’t require physical contact and can steal your card details in seconds. 

If you use contactless cards often or travel a lot, GoDark’s RFID-blocking solutions offer reliable, tested protection to help keep your data private.