What are e-passports?

Many countries are now issuing passports that have RFID chips in them. These are called e-passports, or electronic passports. These chips is meant as an enhanced security feature. Some people argue that this does nothing to improve security. Regardless, having a passport that is readable in the general public is not a very good idea.

RFID chips contain data such as your name, date of birth, hair and eye color, photo, and even fingerprints. They can be read from a distance, sometimes without even taking the passport out of your pocket. While each country uses different and varying methods to keep the data secure, people have been able to bypass these with varying degrees of success. The best protection is to make sure that no one can get the data from your passport without your permission by keeping it in an RFID Shield when not in use.

How does the RFID Shield work?

The metal shielding in the RFID Shield acts as a "Faraday cage", preventing radio frequency waves from getting to your passport and keeping your data inaccessible. When it comes time to use your passport, take it out of the sleeve and use it as you normally would - the shield does not break or inactivate your passport; it merely keeps it protected when not in use.