Should I keep my enhanced driver's license in its anti-RFID sleeve?
I have an Enhanced Driver's License from Washington, which comes with an RFID protective sleeve to keep it in.
From the Washington Department of Licensing EDL FAQ page:
The passive RFID tag embedded in your EDL/EID doesn’t contain any personal identifying information, just a unique reference number. In addition, the tag doesn’t have a power source and cannot transmit data unless it is activated by an RFID reader. When you get an EDL/EID, we will give you a security sleeve to protect the RFID tag from being activated when you are not at a border crossing station.
What am I exposing myself to by not shielding my card properly, and therefore, is it necessary to keep my EDL in its sleeve at all times? It's rather cumbersome to do so. Or should I only keep it in its sleeve when abroad?
Best Answer
The protection is really against someone bumping up against you and stealing the encoded information with a concealed device. These occurrences are very rare and don't lead to much as the info is just a number that is tied to the person's "Passport" profile. The only people this number makes any sense to are the customs and immigration people. The sort of idea is that no one will try and create a duplicate with that serial number and use it to TRY and get past the border.
That being said, it is better to keep it in an RFID blocking enclosure of some kind. The same applies to most modern credit cards and full passports. There are wallets out there that have a mesh lining that blocks RFID signals. I suggest one of those to hold their drivers license as well as their normal credit/debit cards. Especially for your credit cards which could be duplicated and charged.
Heres an example of a wallet: http://a.co/1KMLygf
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What does RFID blocking mean?
RFID blocking systems reduce the transmitted signal power of the reader, preventing the microchip in the RFID card from working. This ensures RFID card security. Essentially, RFID readers transmit signals which power the microchip in the card, the microchip in the card then powers up and send data back to the reader.Real ID Update - Can I use my driver's license to board a plane?
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