Renewing Passport - contains electronic radio frequency tracking device

[LukeP]

How can you tell if your passport has a chip in it? Hubby and I renewed ours about five months ago.

"The cover of the new passport book is printed with a special symbol representing the embedded chip. The symbol will appear in port–of–entry areas where the electronic passport book can be read."
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/79960.pdf

 

[SophisticatedFarmGirl]

Hmmm..it leaves a burn mark. Anyone doubting you are being tracked? Hate to tell you, yet it's already in the $$$ you are carrying. They know how much now! Microwave that & you'll see! {{Course at our last meetup post-caucus, we started scrapping it out of a few bills to show the doubters amongst us}}

What's this you are saying? I haven't heard this.

 

[Arklatex]

well just emerge it in water

 

[Ara825]

We are going on a cruise next month, leaving the day after the TX primary.
I'm afraid to mess with it before we are back from our trip. I wouldn't want to get held up by customs or put on some flaged list.

 

[Carole]

Yes, you can be tracked no matter where you are. Don't carry it around unless you absolutely have to.

Here is one site.

h ttp://gizmodo.com/gadgets/wireless/how-to-disable-the-rfid-chip-in-us-passports-224321.php

"January 1 all United States issued passports will include a little RFID chip that has all of your delicious information embedded. The passports with said RFID chips are clearly marked on the front, and the RFID chip is in the back. There is only one fool-proof method to destroying the RFID chip to prevent those RFID-hacking hobos from taking your information: bash in the chip with a hammer. This is really the only method that won't destroy the rest of the passport. Some of the other methods that definitely won't work includes washing, microwaving or stuffing the passport down your pants (sorry, Jason, RFID signals penetrate the pants).
Oh, I forgot to mention: tampering with a passport is punishable up to 25 years in prison, so proceed with your own risk. "– TRAVIS HUDSON

 

[c0unterph0bia]

Whatever you do, don't microwave it. I got a dog from the pound that had an RFID chip in it and the microwave method DOES NOT work.

 

[Carole]

Rubber glove search and possible 25 years in prison.

 

[LukeP]

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/wireless/how-to-disable-the-rfid-chip-in-us-passports-224321.php

There is only one fool-proof method to destroying the RFID chip to prevent those RFID-hacking hobos from taking your information: bash in the chip with a hammer. This is really the only method that won't destroy the rest of the passport. Some of the other methods that definitely won't work includes washing, microwaving or stuffing the passport down your pants (sorry, Jason, RFID signals penetrate the pants).

Informative but somewhat discouraging.

 

[Hook]

Whatever you do, don't microwave it. I got a dog from the pound that had an RFID chip in it and the microwave method DOES NOT work.

I'm afraid to ask the obvious question.

 

[Hook]

Microwave will almost certainly work. Hammer probably does as well.
I do some RF engineering, and a microwave oven will fry the transistors in seconds.
You can also use an exacto knife and just remove it from the back.

 

[LukeP]

Thank you for the information.

 

[Hook]

Thank you for the information. Is there anyway to test whether it is working? Can someone use a air-port type packet sniffer and ping it somehow? An exacto knife would seem to be obvious tampering.

If they use standard RFID protocols, you can buy an RFID reader from places like Mouser and Digikey. Not sure about what they really use though.

 

[bj72]

Are they still just using RFID chips, or RFID ink too? I'm wondering how ya get around the ink RFIDs eventually...http://www.somarkinnovations.com/.

I read a hammer is better than the microwave. Wrap in a cloth, then hammer away...no marks I'm guessing then on the ID. In a microwave it could catch fire, leave a mark, and it'll be obvious probably.


Other RFID companies....
http://www.verichipcorp.com/ (subdermal RFID for humans)
http://www.digitalangel.com/ (parent company of Verichip holds many govt. contracts)

 

[suzypotaka]

What's this you are saying? I haven't heard this.

Yes! You will be able to remove a thin, thin, thin, thin strip about 2" long.

Can't remember where right now, yet the scanners on certain highways know precisely how much $$ you are now carrying because of the chips.

Let me check with my local *pro*, yet I believe folding your $$ in tin foil blotches readings. The way we detected it here is 1 guy was exiting a store & kept throwing off the security alarm. Being suspicious after going through everything on his person--he questioned his $$. Sure enough, went home, microwaved it & burned a hole where the chip was!

And oh, by the way...the post from NC with the RFID? I truly doubt I would ever personally renew my license if it happened in my state!! (just my thoughts)

From what I've learned, without it , you can't access any federal buildings -- ZIP! NADA! And eventually the gameplan is that merchants/banks won't serrvice you without it. Yet, one can get a child to do your business in the interim. And store cash or coin on your own to stockpile IF/WHEN needed to have someone chipped help you out.

Sorry! This is where I draw the line. I don't care wtf the repercussions! I will NOT be chipped & I will not take any of their putrid vaccines or friekin' flu shots!!

Bottom line is I'm not willing to go "there"! That's why we are all working so diligently for RP...so this BS stops NOW!!!!!

God help us all!

GO RON PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!