How to Protect Your RFID Enabled Passport Honolulu HI

Since 2006, the United States has started issuing passports with an RFID chip in them. European and select other countries had them longer. The problem is that your personal data can get read from your passport at a distance, without anyone ever opening, touching, or even coming close to your passport.

Local Companies

Nta Hawaii
(808) 596-4200
Honolulu, HI
Cosmopolitan Travel Inc
(808) 526-3535
1149 S Beretania St
Honolulu, HI
American Automobile Assn-AAA
(808) 593-2221
1130 N Nimitz Hwy Rm A170
Honolulu, HI
Skyway Express
(808) 537-2810
1028 Smith St
Honolulu, HI
East-West Travel Network
(808) 524-4640
1255 Nuuanu Ave Ste C104
Honolulu, HI
Tohoku Travel Service
(808) 538-7854
1741 Nuuanu Ave
Honolulu, HI
China Odyssey Llc
(808) 947-6900
738 Kaheka St Ste 306
Honolulu, HI
Express Travel Agency Co
(808) 931-3328
Honolulu, HI
Aloha Travel Service Llc
(808) 922-8887
Honolulu, HI
Nta Hawaii
(808) 836-0577
Honolulu, HI

Provided By:

Steps

  1. Determine if your passport has an RFID chip in it. If on the cover there is a rectangle with a circle and a line through it, then it definitely contains an RFID chip and can be read from a distance.
  2. Decide if you want to merely be passively cautious, actively protect your data, or permanently disable the RFID chip in your passport.
  3. If you want to be cautious:
    • The passport cover will provide some shielding to the RFID chip inside. However, it does no good if it is open.
    • If you carry your passport around loosely in your purse, make sure you store it so that it is closed. Even a slightly opened passport increases the ability to have its chip read.
    • When carrying your passport in your pocket, make sure it is closed
  4. If you want to actively protect our data:
    • Get a shielded case for your passport and use it actively whenever you travel with your passport
    • Alternatively, you can wrap your passport in aluminum foil. This works just fine, but is not convenient and quite unsightly
  5. If you want to disable it permanently:
    • Microwave your passport for a couple seconds - this will fry the chip.
    • If you can determine exactly where the chip is, a sharp blow of a hammer will disable it

Tips

  • RFID Shielding Products:
  • http://www.emvelope.com/products/show/7
  • http://www.rfid-shield.com/
  • http://www.magellans.com/store/New_Products___Fall_2008___Travel_EssentialsLB192?Args=
  • http://www.passport-stronghold.com/products.html

Warnings

  • Physically damaging your passport is probably against the law of the country that issued it. While it will be close to impossible to determine whether or not you intentionally defaced your passport, you should bear this in mind.

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