In this blog post, we will explore Faraday bags, which are designed to block all signals to and from devices placed inside them. We'll delve into their functionality and discuss the advantages they offer for enhancing privacy.
1) Fara-what?
Faraday is a term and concept in the field of electromagnetism, named after the British scientist Michael Faraday. It refers to the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction and the principles related to the interaction between electric and magnetic fields.
One of his most famous contributions is the concept of the Faraday cage or Faraday shield, which is the basis for Faraday bags and many other shielding devices.
Faraday's discovery was that if you surround an object with a conductive (metallic) material, like a wire mesh or a metal container, it can block electromagnetic fields and signals from reaching what's inside. Imagine it like putting a protective shield around something to keep it safe from electrical or electromagnetic interference.
He discovered this principle through a series of experiments. One of his most famous experiments involved placing a metal cage around an electrical conductor and observing that it prevented electrical charges from passing through. This led him to the idea that the cage was acting as a shield against electrical fields.
If you were struck by a gigantic bolt of lightning while inside a Faraday cage, you'd be completely unharmed!!
2) How does this sorcery work? Drunk you asked:
The Pablo1 answer:
Pablo: “A Faraday bag operates by using a combination of specific materials like aluminum to create an internal environment that blocks electromagnetic signals effectively.”
Drunk you: “Woah that’s cool, how does that happen?”
Pablo: “When an electromagnetic wave, such as a Wi-Fi signal or cellular transmission, encounters the Faraday bag, the aluminum layer absorbs the energy from the wave and evenly distributes it across the bag's surface. This process cancels out the electromagnetic signals, preventing them from passing through the bag. As a result, any electronic devices placed inside the Faraday bag are effectively cut off from all incoming and outgoing signals, ensuring their privacy and security.”
Drunk you: “Oh Pablo, is there anything you don’t know?”
Pablo: “Yes, the number of drinks you ordered tonight :)”
The Faraday answer: (feel free to skip if you hate high school physics)
Drunk you: “Yo broo what’s new in like, physics and stuff??”
Michael Faraday: “They have bestowed upon a humble bag the honor of bearing my name.”
Drunk you: “OMG THAT’S SO COOL, YOU’RE LIKE GUCCI NOW!!”
Michael Faraday: “Verily, not precisely so... The bag, in its ingenious design, doth halt all electromagnetic transmissions, barring their entry and exit with utmost efficacy.”
Drunk you: “Wut?”
Michael Faraday: “Alright, I’ll dumb it down for you. All wireless communication, such as Wi-Fi, cellular signals, and GPS, relies on the transmission of electromagnetic waves. These waves consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space.
The key to a Faraday bag's functionality is its conductive layer, typically made of materials like copper or aluminum. These materials have a high electrical conductivity, which means they allow electric charges to move freely within them. When an electromagnetic wave encounters the conductive layer of a Faraday bag, the conductive material absorbs the energy carried by the electromagnetic wave. This absorption happens because the free electrons within the conductive material are easily set into motion by the changing electric and magnetic fields of the wave.
As the electromagnetic wave passes through the conductive material, it induces the movement of free electrons. These electrons respond to the changing electric fields of the wave by shifting within the material. The movement of these free electrons redistributes the energy from the incoming electromagnetic wave throughout the conductive material. This redistribution process is essential because it ensures that the energy is evenly spread across the material's surface.
The redistributed energy effectively cancels out the electromagnetic signals. This cancellation happens because the conductive material disperses the energy in such a way that the outgoing waves produced by the material are equal in magnitude but opposite in phase to the incoming waves. When these waves combine, they interfere destructively, resulting in a net cancellation of the signals.
This process creates a shield around the interior of the Faraday bag. Any electronic devices placed inside the bag are isolated from external electromagnetic fields because the signals cannot penetrate the conductive barrier.”
Drunk you (barely listening): “Dudeeee that’s such a nice beard you have there, is it like fake or something?”
Michael Faraday: “I don’t have a … *sigh* whatever.”
3) Sooo, what is a Faraday Bag?
A Faraday bag is like a special pouch or bag that can block signals from electronic devices like cell phones, laptops, or key fobs, using the same principle that Faraday discovered! When you put your device inside a Faraday bag and close it, it essentially cuts off all communication between your device and the outside world. Neither calls, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi signals, nor location services can penetrate the protective shield of a Faraday bag. This level of signal-blocking ensures that your devices remain completely isolated from the outside world while inside the bag.
4) Why Bother with Tech Ninja Gear?
Why should you bother to use Faraday bags? That’s a great question, and we’ve got the answers! Here are 8 reasons for you to purchase and use a Faraday bag:
Blocking Wireless Signals: Chances are, your smartphone likely lacks a removable battery, and the functions like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other internal radios are controlled by software switches rather than physical kill-switches. In simpler terms, you have no clear way to ensure that your device genuinely stops sending and receiving data when you activate airplane mode or turn off Wi-Fi. Faraday bags are designed to block electromagnetic signals, including cellular, Wi-Fi, GPS, and RFID2 signals, preventing devices placed inside the bag from transmitting or receiving data wirelessly. This prevents unauthorized access to your devices, data, and communications.
Preventing Tracking: Faraday bags can help prevent location tracking through GPS signals or cell phone triangulation3. By placing your phone or GPS-enabled device in a Faraday bag, you can ensure that your whereabouts are not being tracked without your consent.
Securing Sensitive Information: If you have electronic devices like RFID-enabled credit cards, passports, or key fobs, placing them in a Faraday bag can protect the information stored on these cards from being scanned or skimmed4 by malicious individuals or data-hungry companies that require some kind of scan of your electronics like airports.
Protection from Hacking: If you have a high threat model and you’re directly targeted by malicious actors or by law enforcement, Faraday bags can protect your devices from remote hacking attempts, ensuring that your personal information remains secure.
Reducing Distractions: Using Faraday bags for specific periods of focus or during designated times can help you disconnect from the digital world, allowing you to focus on the present moment and reduce distractions.
Peace of Mind: Knowing that your devices are safely tucked away in a Faraday bag can provide peace of mind, particularly when you need to store them temporarily in potentially vulnerable situations, like at a public charging station or in a crowded Starbucks.
Emergency Preparedness: Faraday bags can also serve as part of your emergency preparedness kit. In the event of a disaster or blackout, you can use them to shield your devices from electromagnetic interference, ensuring you have access to communication when you need it most.
Cool: Having tech ninja gear is cool.
5) I got scammed, my bag stopped working!!
While Faraday bags are effective, they can lose their effectiveness over time. If the bag develops holes or the material wears out, it might allow signals to pass through. Additionally, not all Faraday bags are created equal, and some may not work properly from the start.
That's why it's crucial to test your Faraday bag when you first get it and periodically thereafter. The easiest way to check if your bag is doing its job is to place your phone inside it and attempt to call it from another device. If the call goes through, it means the bag isn't functioning as it should. This same principle applies to RFID cards – if the card still works when it's sealed inside the bag, then the bag isn't doing its job correctly.
6) That’s cool and all but, I don’t like bags!
Fear not! Faraday shields come in all sorts of shapes and forms! Including but not limited to:
Faraday Pouches: These are similar to Faraday bags but often come in a pouch format. They are designed to hold specific items like passports, or key fobs and protect them from RFID skimming and unauthorized access.
Signal-Blocking Phone Cases: Some phone cases are designed with built-in signal-blocking materials, effectively turning your phone into a mini Faraday cage.
Signal-Blocking Wallets: Wallets with signal-blocking compartments are designed to shield your payment cards and IDs from RFID skimming. They typically have a layer of RFID-blocking material to prevent unauthorized scanning of your cards.
RFID-Blocking Sleeves: These are sleeves or envelopes made from RFID-blocking materials. They are designed to hold individual cards, passports, or documents and protect them from RFID skimming.
— That’s it, in this post you’ve learnt all about Faraday bags. I’m sure Michael Faraday would be proud :)
Pablo is your friendly local bartender that knows the secrets of life. Say hi to Pablo, and you’ll surely have a nice chat! Just don’t drink too much :/
RFID is essentially a form of electronic bar tag — one that can be much smaller. A nearby reader can use radiowaves to read the RFID tag without any visual contact.
Cell phone triangulation, is a method used by mobile networks to determine the location of a cell phone. It works by measuring the phone's distance from nearby cell towers. Imagine you're in a park, and there are three tall flagpoles around you. If you know how far you are from each flagpole, you can pinpoint your location because you're at the intersection of those distances. Similarly, cell phone triangulation uses signals from multiple cell towers to figure out where your phone is located.
Credit card skimming is a method where criminals secretly attach small, deceptive devices called "skimmers" to legitimate card readers, like those at ATMs or gas pumps, to illicitly capture the data from the magnetic stripe on your credit card. This stolen information can then be exploited for unauthorized transactions or cloned cards, all while you remain unaware of the theft until you check your statement or receive unexpected charges.