How to Protect Your RFID Enabled Passport Tampa FL

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

Tampa International Airport
(813) 870-8706
PO Box 22287
Tampa, FL
SuperShuttle Tampa Bay
(727) 572-1111
11901 30th Court N.
Clearwater, FL
Islands4travel
813 975 9745
14734 morning dr
lutz, FL
Elite Air, Inc.
866-569-5880
100 Second Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL
All About Honeymoons
866-589-3303
11306 Palm Island Ave
Riverview, FL
St. Petersburg-Clearwater Intl. Airport
(727) 453-7800
14700 Terminal Blvd. Suite 221
Clearwater, FL
Allstar Limousine
(727) 345-6614
11345 53rd St. N.
Clearwater, FL
Robotic Parking Systems
(727) 539-7275
12812 N. 60th Street
Clearwater, FL
Ambassador Limousine & Sedan
(727) 442-9050
1172 Turner Street
Clearwater, FL
T & L Travel Inc
(813) 931-3969
1818 W Waters Ave
Tampa, FL

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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.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Protect Your RFID Enabled Passport. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Featured Local Company

Tampa International Airport

(813) 870-8706
PO Box 22287
Tampa, FL

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