Full FeedHow To: Stop the government from tracking you
Worried that you are being tracked by big brother everywhere you go, 24/7? I can’t say whether or not that is true, if I tell you the truth they’ll kill me, but I can warn you about getting a new passport. All passports issued by the US State Department after January 1 will have always-on RFID chips (radio frequency identification chips), making it easier for officials – and hackers – to grab your personal stats. These are the same chips used for the “quick pass” systems in your credit cards, tied into clothing for scanning, and are one of the bigger ways Wal-mart came to be a $250 billion business.
So if you weren’t already about credit card identity theft, how about passport identity theft (who knows how much data these chips will hold). Here’s the low down of how to get around the situation (via Wired):
- RFID-tagged passports have a distinctive logo on the front cover; the chip is embedded in the back.
- “Accidentally” leaving your passport in the jeans you just put in the washer won’t work. You’re more likely to ruin the passport itself than the chip.
- Forget about nuking it in the microwave – the chip could burst into flames, leaving telltale scorch marks. Besides, have you ever smelled burnt passport?
- The best approach? Hammer time. Hitting the chip with a blunt, hard object should disable it. A nonworking RFID doesn’t invalidate the passport, so you can still use it.
Oops, did I almost forget to say that tampering/destroying your passport will result in 25 years in jail for you—I take no responsibility. Happy smashing!
And now that you in such a sour mood, here is some RFID humor:
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This is just another way people are being made aware at how we the people are being “looked” upon. But I never see any thing on the traffic/city cams that t.v. stations use. They can see for miles and miles and miles…and zoom in at the touch of a button. People just are so silly they say, “Look there’s our house” but are not realising just what is available to “law enforcement” and God only knows who else. I personally have nothing to hide BUT, that does not mean I like the idea of being watched by who ever when ever. Someone should look into the privacy invasions of those things but noone ever says a word as more and more cams are placed stratigically EVERY WHERE.
on December 27, 2006 at 02:25 PM - LINKForget that hammer. Try this: http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2006/01/weapons_the_rfi.html
on January 8, 2007 at 01:21 PM - LINKThe government has many ways of tracking people, They watch the American People more than they do the terrorist. Just like them trying to take our guns away, they just want total control of us.I think they are going to succeed unless the American People do something about it. Before long they will have cameras in the bathrooms, if they dont already. They have cameras now that can see through your house to watch what you are doing.If you are speak publicly about you thoughts on the government, you are labled a terrorist threat. If you are a middle clase working American you are labled a terrorist, and if you collect guns you are labled a terrorist treat. These are all just reasons for them to watch us. I know Im being watched, I send letters over the internet to the white house all the time giveing them my thoughts on sertain things. I can keep going on forever, so Im going to stop myself. Im interested in getting into contact with someone who feels like me and shares some of the same thoughts on things. Im 21 with 3 kids and a wife, and I have nothing to do with the Government, so dont think Im just somebody trying to get information. Thank you
on November 17, 2007 at 09:00 AM - LINKMy e-mail is Thank you.
on November 17, 2007 at 09:04 AM - LINKi have heard that microwaving rfid chips will destroy them also
on January 11, 2008 at 06:46 PM - LINKHow do you test if the zap worked; you don’t want to get caught.
on January 15, 2008 at 05:07 PM - LINK