iOS: Keeping track of the credit cards, IDs, and other stuff in your wallet is important in case your wallet ever gets lost. Popular password manager LastPass now offers a free app to backup and sync all that important personal information and you can add attachments too.

When you login to the app, your existing LastPass secure notes are added automatically. It's easy to add a new "note" or information to store, thanks to the LastPass Wallet templates for just about any kind of important data. These include your bank account, credit cards, driver's license, insurance ID, membership info, passport, social security number, and Wi-Fi password.

You can attach audio clips, photos, text, or even record audio from within the app. With 50MBs of free storage, though, you might not want to add too many media attachments.

In terms of security, LastPass Wallet locally encrypts and decrypts the sensitive data and you can turn on features like "logoff on close" and "PIN code prompt" (highly recommended for your mobile device.

You'll then be able to access those notes in your browser on any device or on LastPass' other mobile apps. (Attachments in LastPass Wallet, however, are not yet accessible on other devices.)

The app is very easy to use and is optimized on the iPad too.

LastPass Wallet | iTunes App Store via LastPass blog

The merits of smartphone cases are a subject of debate, but if you do use one, consider storing an emergency $20 bill between the cover and the phone.

As Reddit user Lunkavitch points out, the money could come in handy to pay a cab or lunch bill if your wallet gets stolen, or if you just forgot it at home. It may seem a little paranoid, but it's a small insurance policy that could get you out of a jam if your wallet goes missing.

LPT: Keep a $20 bill between your phone and its case. You'll have some cash if you lose your wallet | Reddit

With more forms of identifications and credit cards getting RFID tags embedded in them, you might be in the market for a wallet that protects your data. If you're not interested in spending the cash, blogger Serge outlines a DIY method over at Embedded Edge.

He uses Kevlar-Nomex for the fabric, but that's just because it's strong, not because it's a good electromagnetic shield. The shielding comes from adding a layer of silver epoxy to the lining, which in turn also reinforces the material. He recommends using regular epoxy with a tin foil layer if you're looking for a cheaper alternative. If you're not into making yourself a duct tape wallet to keep RFID hackers at bay, this will certainly accomplish the same ends. Find the whole guide over at Embedded Edge.

Super Wallet | Embedded Edge via Hack-A-Day

Dear Lifehacker,
I just heard about Google Wallet (and a little about the "NFC" technology that makes it work). What exactly does Google Wallet do, and how, when, and where can I actually use it?

Sincerely,
Wondering About Wallets

Dear Wondering,

Good question! Google Wallet can seem pretty radical and a little confusing at first, but we're actually pretty excited about. Here's the lowdown on what it is, how it works, and what it means for your practical, day-to-day life.

What's Google Wallet?

Google Wallet is a new service that allows you to pay for things with your smartphone like you currently do with credit cards. When you're at a store, you'll just be able to tap your phone to a receiver and "scan" a digital version of your credit card to pay for things. The idea is that once the service becomes more popular, you won't have to carry a wallet full of cards wherever you go. Sure you may still need to carry one as a backup, but you'll be able to make many of your purchases just by pulling out your phone.

Can I Actually Use It?

Google Wallet hasn't officially launched yet, but at launch time, it will work at a number of different merchants, like CVS, Subway, RadioShack, and more—many of them even offering loyalty coupons when you use Google Wallet. To see all the places you can use it, check out Google's interactive map. Obviously, as time goes by more merchants will hop on board, but it already has a few places you probably shop at regularly, which is pretty cool.

Likewise, when it launches, Google Wallet will only be available on the Sprint Nexus S 4G. It will likely be rolling out to more phones, though, so more people will be able to use it in the future—just not quite yet.

How Does It Work?

The technology that makes Google Wallet tick—called Near Field Communications, or NFC—has been around for long enough that there are other MasterCard devices called PayPass you can carry around to get the same functionality. Google Wallet is just the first service bringing the functionality to smartphones.

At launch time, it will also work out-of-the-box with the Citi MasterCard, letting you charge items directly to your credit card by scanning your phone. However, you don't have to be with Citi to use Google Wallet—they've also set up a system where you can transfer money directly from your bank account to your Google Wallet account, which will then go toward your purchases. Citi is just the first bank to eliminate that middleman, and more banks will hopefully follow.

Google's also putting a stress on security for this release, since many people may be uncomfortable putting financial information on their phone. Google Wallet will only be accessible with your Google Wallet PIN, though, and the NFC chip in your phone is completely separate from your phone's memory, only allowing the official receivers to access your information. Obviously, if your phone is stolen, you'll still want to cancel your credit cards, but it's not really any different than if your wallet were stolen.

So, I Probably Won't Be Able to Use It for a While?

As of right now, only a few people will be able to use Google Wallet when it launches, and only at a limited number of stores around the country. However, the service definitely has a lot of potential, and we expect to see it (and possibly others like it) grow quite a bit in the coming months. Hopefully Google Wallet and NFC make a little more sense to you—it's something we think is pretty cool, and we're excited to see where it goes.

Sincerely,
Lifehacker