How to Protect Your RFID Enabled Passport West Fargo ND

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

Travel Travel Carlson Wagonlit
701-492-5000
2000 44th St SW
Fargo, ND
Travel Travel Inc
(701) 492-5039
West Fargo, ND
Around the World Travel
(701) 772-5440
1551 28th Ave S
Grand Forks, ND
Satrom Travel & Tour Inc
(701) 838-1000
1015 S Broadway
Minot, ND
North Star Travel
(701) 751-0865
Bismarck, ND
Travel Travel
(701) 492-5000
2000 44th St S Ste 103
Fargo, ND
Sato Travel
(701) 727-4747
Bldg 527
Minot AFB, ND
Brekke Tours Scandinavia
(701) 772-8999
802 N 43rd St
Grand Forks, ND
Rosenbluth International
(701) 254-4545
8030 Highway 83
Linton, ND
A & B Travel
(701) 483-5550
1459 2nd St S
Dickinson, ND

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.

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

Travel Travel Carlson Wagonlit

701-492-5000
2000 44th St SW
Fargo, ND
http://www.ttravel.com