RFID passport protection

[kidicarus13]

Do any of you world travelers do anything to protect your personal information stored on the RFID chip in your passport? I've heard everything from microwave it, to smash it with a hammer, to wrap it in tinfoil. I'm open to suggestions.

[vim]

I'm working off a pre-RFID passport, but when I switch I do NOT plan on screwing with it. I need it to get back into the country.

It's not like I whip it out everywhere, so some kind of protective case will do fine.

[TheGrey]

They have passport cases that provide RFID protection, without messing with the chip inside. It's a pretty popular product now. I know Colorado Baggage at Park Meadows mall carries them.

[asmo]

Copper mesh will solve your problems.

[kidicarus13]

Copper mesh will solve your problems.

Best place to find a small quantity?

[hatidua]

http://cacm.acm.org/magazines/2009/12/52836-a-threat-analysis-of-rfid-passports/fulltext


The Final Analysis
Having looked at the potential attack, the costs of that attack, and the returns, we can now ask how concerned we should be about such an exploit. Should you really be worried as you walk through the airport that someone behind you might be stripping you of your passport information in a grand scheme to rob you?The technical hurdles are surmountable, at least in proof-of-concept demonstrations. It is possible that such an attack could occur, but this possibility must be balanced against the complexity of the attack, the difficulty of obtaining the required high-priced blank passport, and the limited return the attack is likely to produce.It seems much more likely that most perpetrators would resort to old-fashioned means of stealing your passport information, by stealing your physical passport itself. We recommend that it is more important to be careful about keeping your physical passport safely in hand than to be wary of perpetrators lurking behind you in line at the airport attempting to exploit the RFID tag in your passport.

[275RLTW]

If someone wants your information bad enough to go through that hassle to get it from your passport, then they know that they can get it elsewhere much easier. If you're on a blue tourist passport then I wouldn't worry about it.

[Kraven251]

all kidding aside, just get a passport holder with an outer pocket and line that with tinfoil, it works.

[electronman1729]

Put two rare earth magnets over and under the chip for a second

[kidicarus13]

Put two rare earth magnets over and under the chip for a second

Ahh, now those are something I have.

[AirbornePathogen]

ThinkGeek.com has an RFID-blocking pouch for such things. Link:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/eed2/?srp=19

[Aloha_Shooter]

All you really need to do is line your passport holder with a double thickness of aluminum foil.

[jplove71]

Good luck on re-entering the US with a passport that has a non-working RFID chip. If you are really that paranoid about it, wrap it in aluminum foil or get a RFID-blocking case/cover for it.