Mission Darkness Faraday Bag Review: Used By The NSA

In today’s world, where digital security is paramount, Faraday bags have become an essential tool for anyone looking to protect their sensitive information from unauthorized access.

Whether you’re involved in intelligence operations, contracting, or simply want to safeguard your personal devices, understanding the role of Faraday bags is critical. This review dives into the Mission Darkness Non-Window Faraday Bag, a top choice for those needing reliable signal-blocking technology.

By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly how this product works, its key features, and how it can enhance your digital security, whether in everyday life or high-stakes environments.

The Mission Darkness Non-Window Faraday Bag for Phones

Faraday bags are essentially signal-blocking devices designed to encase electronic equipment, preventing these devices from sending or receiving signals.

This capability is critical in reducing the digital footprint of an operative, thus ensuring a higher level of secrecy and security during missions. In an environment where electronic detection or interception can compromise an entire operation, Faraday bags offer a simple yet effective solution.

The Mission Darkness Non-Window Faraday Bag for Phones stands out in the market of signal-blocking technology.

Designed specifically for mobile phones, this bag is engineered to block all wireless signals, rendering devices undetectable and untraceable. Its use is particularly relevant in scenarios where digital signature reduction is critical.

• Commonly, it is used to safeguard cell phones, ensuring that sensitive information remains secure from unauthorized access or electromagnetic interference.
• Passports, embedded with electronic chips containing personal data, are shielded to prevent unauthorized scanning and identity theft.
• Keyfobs, which provide convenient access to vehicles or buildings, require shielding to prevent hacking or signal interception.
• Credit cards, containing sensitive financial information, and building access key cards are also commonly shielded to enhance security and prevent data theft.

Features and Specs

• Military-grade faraday bag designed for law enforcement forensic investigators and armed services to shield electronic devices from RF signals; also used for EMF radiation reduction, executive travel, personal security, and EMP protection
• Phone size bag shields cell phones, GPS units, electronic toll collection transponders (like E-ZPass), keyfobs, smart watches, or other similar size devices
• Two layers of high-shielding TitanRF Faraday Fabric on all interior sides with dual paired seam construction (TitanRF Faraday Fabric is lab tested and certified to shielding effectiveness standards MIL STD 188-125 and IEEE 299-2006)
• Blocks WiFi (2.4 & 5GHz), Bluetooth, cell signals including 5G networks, GPS, RFID, NFC, and radio signals from low MHz to 40GHz
• EMI, EMR, and EMF radiation shielding
• Uniquely serialized for asset tracking and evidence chain of custody
• Transparent branding pocket on back to display agency information
• Water-resistant ballistic nylon outer materials
• Double roll and Velcro closure
• External dimensions when open: 9.75″ x 9.5″ x .2″ (24.8cm x 24.1cm x 5.1mm)
• Internal usage dimensions when closed (device must fit inside these dimensions): 9.5″ x 5.5″ (24.1cm x 14cm)

NSA’s Approval and Special Missions Unit (SMU) Usage

The National Security Agency (NSA), a cornerstone in the U.S. intelligence community, approves these Faraday bags for “non-attributable procurement,” as per the aforementioned military veteran.

A government contact of mine, with three decades of experience, now serving in a civilian contracting role within the intelligence community, sheds light on the significance of these bags in clandestine operations.

— SENSITIVE but UNCLASSIFIED —

Sometimes, it is beneficial for you to mask your electronic footprint while traveling. Today, technology is so abundant, that we have become almost dependent on our handheld devices that it is rare ever to see someone in an airport, or walking down the street without a smartphone in their hands. Even if you are not actively using your cell phone, it is broadcasting over the airwaves. All of the Apps you have loaded on your phone, run in the background. Third-party Apps have end-user agreements that are barely read by consumers and collect key data from you. Thieves and hackers can routinely intercept the signals from your electronic devices, and can open you up to having your system cloned or “hacked”, leaving your personal identification open to exploitation.

When choosing to eliminate or reduce your electronic footprint, there are very few ways to do it better than a Faraday Bag. Sure, just getting rid of your smartphone altogether is the best way, but that is not practical in today’s society. Turning your smartphone “off” or putting it into “airplane mode” does not stop it from emitting a signal. Most smartphones do not allow you to remove the battery these days, so using a Faraday Bag is the best solution.

A Faraday Bag is similar to the Faraday Cage. It is essentially a fine mesh enclosure that is made into a pouch, with either a leather or nylon exterior. The secret to this working is to create a constant, unbroken mesh around the electronic device. No seams, no voids. This mesh completely blocks incoming signals as well as any outgoing signals. The principle of the Faraday Bag is to leave you completely un-traceable, un-trackable, and most importantly un-hackable.

There are four tests you can do, to make sure your Faraday Bag is working the way it is designed. It must block Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Radio Frequency, and Cellular connections. Before using my Faraday Bag, I would sync my smartphone with a Blue Tooth Speaker, and play music. If the music stops and the Bluetooth connection drops from the speaker when I secure my device in the Faraday Bag, then I know it is blocking Bluetooth signals effectively. You can check Wi-Fi effectiveness by watching your home Wi-Fi hub with your phone connected to the hub. Once you secure your device into the Faraday Bag, the device should drop from the network. You can also use your phone to call another phone, have the call active then secure your phone in the Faraday Bag. The call should drop, showing that cellular signals are also being blocked.

So, turning your device “off” and securing it into the Faraday Bag is the best way to travel with the device and have it immune to hacking and tracking. Choosing a reputable company to purchase a Faraday Bag from is fairly easy. Make sure the bag is tested and certified to block Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RF, and Cellular signals.

Now, for the operational aspect of Faraday Bags. I was asked to provide a blurb of how we used these operationally. I will speak in general terms to not give away any Tactics, Techniques, or Procedures. First, a new sterile device was issued for every trip involving permissive, semi-permissive or non-permissive travel. No personal data was stored on the device, and vanilla SIM cards were used for the country of travel. Batteries and SIM cards were removed before travel when possible, and the devices were always stored in a Faraday Bag. Once on the ground, the device was activated only when necessary, and when the device was not used, it was stored in the Faraday Bag.

During the course of travel, it was not uncommon to use several different vanilla SIM cards. If internet (Wi-Fi) access was required, it was always done at a public internet café or public Wi-Fi connection hub. No personal information was ever used (Social Media, personal email, etc.) and the SIM card was replaced after each Wi-Fi session, with the device immediately secured into the Faraday Bag.

Granted, this is not feasible for most people. Limiting the number of Apps you have on your device, storing your device in a Faraday Bag while moving, and always using a REPUTABLE Virtual Private Network (VPN) when accessing Wi-Fi networks is something that can be worked into your daily schedule. We live in the Global Information Age. It is prudent for everyone to protect themselves. Purchasing a Faraday Bag and using common sense tactics, is a sure way to fortify your information security.

— SENSITIVE but UNCLASSIFIED —

Unbranded for Anonymity

In clandestine operations, drawing attention is the last thing an operative needs.

This is why these Faraday bags, at the request of the NSA, come unbranded.

“NSA approves these for non-attributable procurement…. SMU use. We get them unbranded but they are the same.”

A nondescript appearance makes these bags inconspicuous, avoiding any association with government or military entities and reducing the risk of drawing attention or suspicion during sensitive missions.

RELATED – WE CHAT WITH A FORMER CIA ANALYST ABOUT EDC ESSENTIALS FOR MODERN-DAY THREATS

Conclusion

The use of Faraday bags in intelligence operations is a testament to the evolving nature of operational security in the digital age.

As electronic surveillance and detection methods become more sophisticated, tools like Faraday bags become crucial in maintaining the upper hand.

The endorsement of these bags by veterans of the military and intelligence communities and their approval for use by the NSA underscore their importance in modern espionage and covert operations.

For anyone involved in the field of intelligence, understanding and utilizing such tools is not just a matter of technological advantage; it’s a fundamental aspect of operational survival.