FAQ

Radio Frequency Identification, commonly referred to as RFID is a contact-less system that is able to read out data from a transponder via radio waves. Transponder chips are very small and can be fitted into all kinds of devices. RFID systems are commonly used in contacless door opening systems, libraries, business passes and of course in official personal documents like your passport as well as in ID-Cards and Credit and Debit Cards.

Direct contact between the reading device and the RFID document is not necessary for reading the data from the transponder. Depending on the system, the distance between the reader and the chip can range between several centimeters to more than 20-30 meters and potentially much more as the technology advances. EVERYONE carrying an RFID document with him can be the target of electronic eavesdropping operations without ever noticing it. The criminals can make duplicates (clones) by copying the data on blank cards and, for example, enter office premises at any time without authorization.

In order to maintain your privacy, it is essential to prevent communication between the RFID document and the the unauthorized reading device. One solution to this is by surrounding your document with a thick copper or zinc plate. In reality however, this is not practical at all. HIDENTITY uses a state of the art material called Cryptalloy which has a thickness of simple foil and still provides very high shielding against radio waves. We incorporate Cryptalloy in the most diverse products to protect your data from unauthorized access. During the research and development process our goal was to achieve the highest possible shielding at the lowest possible thickness.

The data presently on the e-passport is protected from unauthorized decoding using cryptological technology. This technology is the most innovative on the market today. The e-passport is valid for 10 years, and the hacker community is constantly coming up with new ways to steal your information. The advancements in 10 years will be significant. Can you really be safe without shielding?

Passport are both electronically controlled and visually inspected by the proper officials. When you give your passport over for inspection you are required to remove it from the cover. Our products product you from UN-authorized persons stealing your information.

The RFID chip in the passport works like a small transmitter. Our products are protected with a special coating that blocks the signal of the transmitter from unauthorized read out of your private data.

Passive RFID chips have a relatively low output power. The special coating of the material that the card carrier is made of, highly reduces radiation regardless of the reading devices transmitting power. The protective cover also prevents the RFID chip in your document from developing a magnetic field. The specially developed material is used for producing the card carriers: the foil is 0.1mm thick and well suited for this purpose. Due to the additional synthetic material, the foils is resistant against normal wear and tear. If your RFID cover becomes wrinkled, you can easily smoothen this by hand.

Due to the location of the antenna in the e-passport, the cover effectively protects signals from coming in from the side. We cannot guarantee 100% that the cover will protect your document (depending on how you handle it), we can say that signal leakage through the opening is extremely small. The inner plastic is meant for the insertion of the document and not for closing the cover.

No. Antistatic bags have only a very thin metallic layer to prevent electrical conductivity. There is little to no shielding from electromagnetic waves.

It is true that you can shield your documents from signals or at least reduce the signals with suitable aluminum foil. However, if you use plain kitchen foil, you will need several closely spaced layers overlapping the edges of the document in order to achieve protection. The disadvantages of such a construction are clear once you need to unwrap your document the first time. It is also unsafe to use this kind of “home-made” cover again. You would have to make a new one every time you use to document. Not to mention that such a construction is aesthetically unpleasing.

In the lamination process, the cover is made of several layers. The exterior layers are made of a dirt and water repellent synthetic material. Therefore, cleaning with a soft cloth using water and washing up liquid is possible without difficulty.

No, it does NOT. The German manufacturing regulations on hazardous substances (RoHS) effective from June 2006 have been carefully observed during the development of HIDENTITY products. The implementation of those regulations during the production process have been independently certified.

The material the carrier is made of has been specifically developed for shielding of RFID documents from radio waves. We currently make a wide range of products and as RFID technology advances, we will introduce the respective covers, such as ID Cards, Driving Licenses etc..)

Your security is enhanced by our products. Anyone who is authorized to read out your data from your document can do so without hindrance as YOU control this by removing the document from its holder. You can never avoid the risk completely of an UN-authorized person trying to get access to the data on your RFID chip via radio waves. Our products effectively prevent the readout of data in passing.

No, you are NOT. By using our products, you are not altering or deleting any data on your passport or sensitive document in any way.

On entry into foreign countries, you are normally required to show your passport to the authorities. When doing so, you only need to take your passport out of the cover before handing it over to the officials for them to review and stamp it.