Invisible Privacy | Online Privacy

Let's assume that a PI firm is on your trail, employed by a law firm with unlimited funds. They are after your list of sent e-mails (encrypted or not) and they use illegal associates who are skilled in computer theft.

I myself do not send confidential e-mails. (For that, I use snail mail). Nevertheless, I do take steps to protect my computer files as a general practice. First, I travel with an Asus Eee netbook which weighs about 3 pounds and has a six-cell battery with a nine-hour life. It's easy to carry in a slim shoulder bag so I often take it with me when I leave the room. Otherwise, it fits into most room safes. (I just took the picture shown here while meeting with a client for a consultation at the Encore in Las Vegas.)

If your hotel room does not have a safe, then you may wish to travel with a suitcase that has combination locks. Slip your laptop into the suitcase before you leave the room, and lock it.Or, if the room contains a tall piece of furniture (such as is used to house the television set), lay the laptop up there when you're away from the room. Maids, when cleaning a room, can sometimes be fooled into letting a stranger posing as the room's occupant slip into the room. The excuse will be something like "I forgot to pick up my laptop." However, when a quick glance around does not reveal it, the intruder may assume you have taken it with you.

Protecting your computer at the airport presents a different series of dangers and may--if enough interest is shown--be the subject of a future post.

Labels: computer protection, computer theft, consulting, room safe, safe travel

For too long I dismissed the possibility of identity theft or fraud via one of those increasingly common long-distance RFID readers. This was because I normally do not carry a credit card, a passport, or a driver’s license.

However, even though I’m not a tin-foil-hat-wearing paranoid, I’ve been traveling more than usual lately and this does require me to carry a passport for airport security (TSA), a credit card for the hotel (even though I pay cash), and a driver’s license for renting a car. Thus, the time had come to get some protection for the RFID chips.

[1] An RFID-blocking passport case. My passport goes on the left. On the right are four slots for my single credit card, my AAA card, my driver’s license and my business cards.

[2] An elegant RFID-blocking wallet made from Italian leather, for occasional use around town—primarily for its good looks. Each pocket has its own layer of shielding material.

[3] A front-pocket wallet for protection against pickpockets (also RFID-protected). I was a little doubtful about this one, even though I do switch my wallet from my back left pocket to my front left pocket when trapped in a crowd. However, I got used to this one fast, liked it, and plan to carry it on future trips.

Low-cost solutions:

If you are not yet ready for an RFID-blocking wallet, stack your credit cards and driver’s license next to each other. That will at least reduce their strength. A more secure solution is to wrap them in tin foil, if you can find it. (It seems to be disappearing from the market.) Do not use aluminum foil—that doesn’t work.

Or, for $8.95 you can buy an RFID-blocking three-layered electronic shield which is the size of a dollar bill. It fits nicely in any wallet.

Labels: identity theft, passports, pickpockets, RFID, RFID blocking, RFID protection, safe travel, wallets