How to disable your e-passport's RFID chip

[Via Slashdot]

[Nubaeus @ Dec 26th 2006 3:21PM]

I think thats one of the best stories I've read in a while.

[Gil @ Dec 26th 2006 3:26PM]

Best engadget article... EVER

[TheCount @ Dec 27th 2006 10:23AM]

It actually seems to be a Wired article, and via Slashdot, no less.

[Dean @ Dec 26th 2006 3:28PM]

Pretty much the only way.

[Parker @ Dec 26th 2006 3:35PM]

I love it!

[Jeramy @ Dec 26th 2006 3:35PM]

lol

[soopergooman @ Dec 26th 2006 3:38PM]

1 000 000 000 volt EMP

[Brad @ Dec 26th 2006 3:41PM]

How well would retail store tag deactivation magnets work on the RFID units used in the passports? are they strong enough to destroy them?

[Robert @ Dec 26th 2006 3:43PM]

I know it's meant as a tounge-in-check humor, but how do you really disable the RFID in the passport???

Thanks.

[kaybee @ Dec 26th 2006 3:49PM]

Robert, read the article in the link.

Thanks.

[Nipponese @ Dec 26th 2006 3:56PM]

Your very own rfid zapper.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/27/stick-it-to-the-man-with-your-very-own-rfid-zapper/

[kaztm @ Dec 26th 2006 3:56PM]

Well done!

This is why I come back to Engadget, even though you have completely ruined my peaceful holiday with the hateful article and ebay feedback.

[cammy @ Dec 26th 2006 4:02PM]

LMAO!

[Robert @ Dec 26th 2006 4:02PM]

Thanks, Kaybee.

However, they started issuing this passports in December. My g/f got hers and it had the RFID symbol and chip on it.

This is the most unsecure action of security I have seen done by our govermnet.

[PSPguru @ Dec 26th 2006 4:19PM]

LOL...nice article, easy to read instructions(part 2 coming???)

[Johannes Vinke @ Dec 26th 2006 4:36PM]

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA

Best article EVER!!!

Keep it going!

[3rdsun @ Dec 26th 2006 5:18PM]

this picture says a 1001 words. lol

[drivebybiped @ Dec 26th 2006 5:18PM]

people should be able to elect to have the RFID in their passport.

[Brian @ Dec 26th 2006 5:34PM]

HAHAHA! Good one.

[Unomi @ Dec 26th 2006 5:44PM]

I dunno.... Good hint and tips, but I think people could get in serious trouble. They are after a serious record of people who are misbehaving or have a suspicious background.

If they find out your chip is disfunctioning (not disabled precisely), they urge you to replace it. Here in The Netherlands, you have to pay the costs to do so anyhow. So risking to pay extra is not for everybody.

If you have a disfunctioning chip again (after the first replacement), no doubt they will put it in some personal record. Highlighting this in some checklist is easy. The United States of America already having a system for screening people without giving any information what they are tracking, when and how many times, gives me the creeps. Messing with my official document borrowed to me by the government (ok, you pay, but it is still not yours) puts me on several lists in an instant.

Soooooo....... Score is 1-0 but as soon as people start putting these disfunctioning e-documents in front of an officer, the scores gonna rise. And that's not in your best favor.

- Unomi -

[Matt @ Dec 26th 2006 5:51PM]

dude this artical is sooo long!!

[kaybee @ Dec 26th 2006 6:22PM]

It's a shame that it has to come to this with the RFID passports. However, this isnt the first time that a strike from blunt object has been the best/only solution for a technical problem.

[Cowboy Bob @ Dec 26th 2006 6:27PM]

I love you guys

[Yubal @ Dec 26th 2006 6:45PM]

soooo funny, mang, soooo funny. but it's true... should you break what's not yours? hmmm... should be optional tho' or @ least mandatory for criminals with know repetition of crimes

[McGinley @ Dec 26th 2006 7:07PM]

The old favourite......

[Murali @ Dec 26th 2006 7:49PM]

Just superb....article of recent times.

[maximal @ Dec 26th 2006 8:57PM]

I don't think this would quite disable it. :)

[Zeb @ Dec 26th 2006 10:35PM]

Best tech article i have read in years!!!!!

[JRA219psu @ Dec 26th 2006 10:39PM]

Dear Engadget,

You guys rock

The End.

[rotelle3 @ Dec 26th 2006 11:16PM]

Pleading ignorance as to why your RFID-enabled passport doesn't work right to U.S. Customs folks is going to be a hard sell; the passport is US government property, not yours. If you want to linger at Customs for a few hours while they run a background check on you, though, it's a great idea. Can't think of doing anything more fun after an 18 hour flight from say, Sydney to LAX, or from LHR to JFK. Oh...your checked luggage AND your carry-ons will be very carefully inspected as well. Sometimes, Engadget, a bright idea...isn't so bright.

[Derrick @ Dec 26th 2006 11:31PM]

FTW

[michas_pi @ Dec 27th 2006 12:39AM]

I LOL'd.

Engadget, you kick incomprehensible amounts of ass. Please continue.

[Mark @ Dec 27th 2006 2:05AM]

I love engadget :)

Now, where did I put that sledgehammer.. I got some work to do :)

[Roger Shepherd @ Dec 27th 2006 6:23AM]

Very funny but.... This is a very serious matter. Sure, smashing the chip will stop it working but may make the passport non-functional. What I want is a working passport that can't be snooped. That's why I've bought an anti-rfis passport holder. See my blog

http://bloggershepherd.blogspot.com/search/label/rfid

[PEZ @ Dec 27th 2006 6:54AM]

Like MacGyver would say: lateral cranial impact enhancer.

GO GO GADGET SWISS ARMY KNIFE!

[Neebs @ Dec 27th 2006 10:07AM]

The Great American Novel!

[Kolin @ Dec 27th 2006 10:30AM]

No text... but really, is there any needed? heh

[Mike @ Dec 27th 2006 1:04PM]

5 seconds in Microwave oven

[buddha @ Dec 29th 2006 8:25PM]

Engadget has such a way with words.

[mitch @ Dec 30th 2006 11:35AM]

Thank you so much for making my day Engadget.

[margaret @ Jan 8th 2007 8:06PM]

Too funny...I think this is the same solution for when my laptop crashes.

[josh @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:07AM]

Has anyone actually disabled there passport and been held up in customs?


Some points made on here were good about the pros and cons, but can we get some real feedback from people.


-after the passport bash'n was your trip through smooth or a shakedown?

-which airport