Passport With RFID Chip
 

Anyone heard of anyone disabling the RFID chip in their new USA passport?

Mine came with a foil shield, for the purpose.

Sorry, Passport card came with a foil shield. I'll have to look into a Foil pouch for the passport.

Just whack it a few times with a hammer. That will take care of the chip. I'm not too sure U.S. customs will like the passport when you go through security but I don't think they can invalidate it soley based on a mangled RFID chip. I could be wrong though!

Michael

Passport office FAQ says a passport w/ non functional chip remains valid. Presumably destroying the chip is some sort of federal offense but how would they prove it.

Microwave it for 2 seconds? You go first.

Nuke it and claim ignorance.

This "big brother" crap is starting to go way too far...

The terrorists we really need to worry about will find ways to counterfeit the ones even with the RFID chips. Does nothing against the dedicated professionals with big-money backers.

Yep, I've heard this works.

Why would one want to destroy the chip?

When did the chips come into use? Mine was issued in late '07.
Jim

mine expires in two years. i have accumulated some serious stampage. it will be sad to get the new one.

now why are we all worried about this chip? they will know your comings/goings anyways. right? isnt the chip for dudes like jason bourne anyways? us going to new zealand for an outdoor adventure at some resort, nobody cares.

didn't you see "enemy of the state"?

Actually no.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,531720,00.html

If your passport has a chip in it, it has an extra little symbol on the front, under "United states of America." Sort of a little circle inside a rectangle.

So you have to wrap it in aluminum foil, or is a mylar bag enough. Can get plenty of tinfoil from old hats

Defeat is better than destroy, IMHO

From all I know about RFID, a small and flat chip like that can't be read from more than 3 feet away. Don't worry that you can be scanned or located with it going about your business away from customs / airports.

George

I cannot feel the chip in the back cover, so unclear where to hammer. Perhaps wrapping the back cover in foil will be enough.

Apparently you don't know much

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID#Passports

a clear demonstration that special equipment can read the test passports from 10 meters (33 ft) away

Apparently you believe what you read on a web page. Where is the link to that study? There is no link to that claim on the wikipedia page.

If you look up the ISO spec on the passport chip it turns out to be a 13.56 MHz system. Go read about that online anywhere and show me the 33 foot range in real life conditions (someone carrying a passport on their body or in a bag). Sure, if you hang the lone chip from a string and put a powerful reader in straight line of sight with only dry air around it, you may get lucky.

George