I was recently the victim of an identity theft, an experience that has shocked me into awareness of how rampant the problem is (13.1 million victims a year in the US alone) and how burdensome the resolution process can be. If you’re at all active online, chances are your credentials have already been stolen in one of the many massive breaches of the last few years. But that doesn’t mean it’s too late to protect yourself.
Many companies are innovating ways to help customers become more secure without forcing them to dress like Robocop. Here are a few examples of products that nicely integrate security, utility and style.
Card Protection as Fashion Statement
Credit card fraud is a $5.5 billion annual business, and one in 10 Americans has been a victim. Did you know that cyber thieves have long been able to read the magnetic stripes on credit cards in your wallet from up to 30 feet away? They can read chip cards, too.
It isn’t just credit cards that are at risk. Anything that uses a magnetic storage medium – which includes mobile phones, driver’s licenses, membership cards, gift cards and even car keys – is a potential target.
Protection needn’t be expensive or ugly. Silent Pocket Faraday Cage Sleeves are attractive leather sheathes that protect against nearly any kind of electronic snooping. If a fashion wallet is more your style, the Spikes & Sparrow Austin RFID Trifold Leather Wallet is both stylish and secure. If you really want to make a fashion statement, the SCOTTeVEST Enforcer Jacket packs 30 pockets into an attractive outer garment that’s engineered not only to protect against snoops but to balance your collection of devices in a way that won’t strain your back.
But even the best of these products won’t protect against pickpocketing, a crime that hits an estimated 400,000 people worldwide every day. That’s why I love Wallet Buckle. This product of an overfunded Kickstarter campaign brilliantly combines designed with security. Owners can squirrel way up to five cards in a western-style belt buckle, and there are scores of designs available. The buckles have a tapered design that keeps cards from falling out and the price won’t pick your pocket: Buckles range from $39.95 to $94.95.
Wear Your Keys
Everyone’s wearing those plastic bracelets to express their support for one cause or another. Why not make them practical as well? The Everykey stores all your passwords and electronic access credentials on a wristband hardened by military grade security. You can use it to unlock your phone, laptop, car door and any other device protected by electronic access controls. It’ll generate secure passwords for your website accounts and log you in automatically when you visit them. Everything is encrypted, and you can immediately deactivate the device if lost or stolen. Available in seven colors, it’s also a fashion accessory.
Best Backpack Ever
My favorite example of a product that co-mingles design and security is the Bobby Anti-theft Backpack. The developers of this innovative wearable raised an astonishing $800,000 on Kickstarter, or 32 times the modest $25,000 ask. It’s easy to see why.
To the casual observer, the Bobby looks like any other stylish backpack, but a closer look reveals no exposed zippers or pockets. The zippers are cleverly hidden next to the wearer’s back, which makes them impossible to see, much less reach. The material is cut-proof, crush-proof and water-resistant. Three hidden pockets give quick access to small items like credit cards and transit passes. 
The storage area has compartments designed to accommodate a variety of electronic devices. There’s even an external USB port for charging your smartphone on the go. The company also says the design distributes weight optimally to make the backpack feel 20% lighter than conventional backpacks. That’s a lot of features for $95.
