Armourcard and your ePassport
The way RFID works is a RFID reader sends a signal to your ePassport’s microchip via the RFID antenna embedded in your e passport. This query (signal) tells the micro-chip to transmit the data stored on the microchip within your ePassport back to the RFID reader across open airwaves.
Today any hacker or skimmer can buy an RFID reader on eBay for under $100. They are able to program the reader to search for RFID enabled ePassports and then gain access to the data stored within the microchip. You will not even know this breach of your personal data has occurred.
Discover more about the vulnerabilities surrounding RFID technology here.
It’s big business for criminals to steal your identity!
Whether it’s an organized crime syndicate or just localized hackers, the price placed on a stolen identity is high.
The cost to the victim of identity theft can be a painful and time-consuming exercise to clear your name from any fraudulent activity. Many examples exist today where individuals have had their bank accounts cleared out due to identity theft. This type of crime is constantly on the rise as criminals find new ways to steal your personal data.
At ARMOURCARD we applaud the government agencies who issue the ePassports and, knowing that RFID technology can be vulnerable, have also implemented some security measures to help protect your data.
Most often they have encrypted the data held within the e-passports microchip. Unfortunately, if you do a quick internet search on hacking an e-passport, you can read and see articles covering how it has been done.
We all know that it doesn’t matter how encrypted the data is, if it is valuable then it will be decrypted.. and the value of that identity is high.
There is a reference at the bottom of the page to an article from a prominent British newspaper stating that the UK ePassport was hacked within 4hrs of it being issued.
We do not want to leave the safety of our personal data to chance!
That is why we developed passportBLOCK
The nanotechnology inside our passportBLOCK will block unwanted RFID signals trying to communicate with your e-passport and steal your personal information. As frequent travellers, we wanted to ensure the design was streamlined and easy to use as your travel. The result is a thin bookmark style card secured to your e-passport microchip page with a slimline band. The passportBLOCK is able to remain in your e-passport as you go through security and passport readers – no more fussing about with a passport sleeve or cover. This gives the power back to you to actively protect your biometric e-passport from unwanted pickpockets.
Source:
^Daily Mail UK Hacked ePassport article
#Australian Patent: AU2013354900 | US patent 9596051 | International Patent pending
If you value your personal data being kept private then you need Armourcard
