New passport holder claims to block unwanted RFID signals

Culver City (CA) - An Orem Utah-based forensics company is now selling metal mesh bags that it claims will stop identity thieves from accessing the newer US E-Passports. Paraben Corporation, known for their mobile phone forensic kits, is selling a nickel, copper and silver mesh "Passport StrongHold" bag will block RFID transmissions from hitting unopened passports.

Update: We have since received samples of the StrongHold bag and have briefly tested them out. Read more here...

Paraben's Rob Schroader told TG Daily that the nickel, copper and silver mesh fabric is expensive to buy. "It's not the metal itself, but the weave that drives up the cost," said Schroader. Schroader also said that signals cannot penetrate because the electromagnetic waves are bigger than space between the threads.

Paraben has traditionally sold mobile phone forensic kits corporations and government agencies. These kits extract caller numbers, messages and other information from phones. The Passport StrongHold bag is similar to the company's previous Wireless StrongHold bag which was specifically made for mobile phones. So similar that Shroader said the Passport bag will also block cellular phone signals from reaching a phone inside the bag.

First Look: Paraben's StrongHold Passport Holder

"Faraday caged apparel" - RFID-blocking wallets introduced

Humphrey Cheung was a senior editor at Tom's Hardware, covering a range of topics on computing and consumer electronics. You can find more of his work in many major publications, including CNN and FOX, to name a few.