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Taking Your Laptop into the US? Be Sure to Hide Your Data

guardian.co.uk — Last month a US court ruled that border agents can search your laptop, or any other electronic device, when you're entering the country. They can take your computer and download its entire contents, or keep it for several days. So how do you protect yourself? By hiding your data.

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  • thedzigner, on 05/16/2008, -3/+198What on earth?? This is ridiculous!!
    Again, legislation to scare the crap out of the common guy, while terrorists and other legitimate 'bad guys' will never get caught, as they will take precautions. What's happening to this world, and who are the crack-heads deciding on all this?
    • ezzonguard, on 05/16/2008, -10/+47crackhead-in-chief
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush
    • uziko, on 05/16/2008, -13/+4saying that it's useless because they will take precautions is pretty stupid, that's like saying making a law is useless because the criminals will take precautions to not get caught
    • PdxPhoenix, on 05/16/2008, -1/+8What legislation? This was a court decision that says the US Border / TSA / DHS agents didn't do anything illegal when they searched thru someone's computer & said individual sued them for the breach of privacy.
      • vexingmodstwo, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3okay, good... I wasn't the only one who wanted to say this.
        • cawpin, on 05/16/2008, -1/+4Yeah, no *****. People don't even know what they're complaining about. This decision didn't CHANGE anything. It simply clarified a challenge. Also, I'm sure all countries do the same thing.
        • KibibyteBrain, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3It may be true other countries have similar policies as standard faire, but the United States was founded on the principles of ensuring liberties far beyond the status quo. The founders would be sick if they learned about all this absurd compulsory search and seizure without checks nonsense occurring in simple international travel to people who are clearly US citizens or traveling with the graces of their government with a legal passport.
    • blakeage, on 05/16/2008, -0/+10What right do they have to my data?
    • yuanzhoulu, on 05/16/2008, -1/+6exactly, i feel like computer data is almost like my brain data, my computer is an extension to myself and i have the right to remain silent, i.e. not divulge passwords to all my encrypted crap.

      i'm a US citizen and they have no right to arrest me without reason, if i don't give them my passwords.
    • JointVenture, on 05/16/2008, -1/+4Many countries do this, and some of them do it when you leave.
    • therightside, on 05/16/2008, -7/+1Kinda sounds like this article was written to help terrorists.
    • bretkuhns, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3What's ridiculous is that woman's hat in the striped shirt.
    • maninalift, on 05/18/2008, -0/+1Terrorists aren't always as clever as you think.
  • variaas, on 05/16/2008, -2/+78Let's start with the most important piece, the ruling itself: http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/6D ...

    I just did a cursory read of the ruling and have a couple questions:

    1) If there is company sensitive data on the laptop, what type of privacy is afforded there? For example, if some exec from Coca Cola is walking around with the formula to the syrup, is there any measure in place to prevent a border agent from retrieving the formula and publishing it? (And I know that Coca-cola execs don't walk around with the formula in the laptop. This is just an example of highly sensitive material on laptops.)

    2) The ruling doesn't mention anything about providing passwords and helping law enforcement, which the article points out. Could someone make a 5th amendment case against providing that information? The ruling does mention that when entering the border, we should expect less freedoms, but I would argue your rights are rights where ever you stand on US soil.

    3) This is my own lack of knowledge, but does this also involve shipments? If I ship my laptop home to me, do custom/border agents have the right to search the contents of the shipment, or just inspect the contents?

    The basic argument came down to two sides - the defendant who argues that hard drives are just an extension of your own memory, and the government who sees a hard drive as a modern day briefcase. I lean towards the former, but the latter can definitely make sense. I'm sure that my first question has already been answered, since before the days of computers businessmen carried confidential documents.

    I would really love to have that debate - is the hard drive more an extension of your being/memory, or is it just another container of personal contents like a briefcase?
    • assbeard, on 05/16/2008, -4/+3Here's the problem... when entering the country, you have no rights to privacy. Are they supposed to treat American citizens differently from, say, canadians entering the country? That would be a tough sell. So they treat everyone as if they are not american citizens, hence they have no freedoms under the constitution.

      I don't agree with it, but then again, I ain't an american citizen either.
      • mrsteveman1, on 05/16/2008, -3/+6"Are they supposed to treat American citizens differently from, say, canadians entering the country?"

        Yes....because they are AMERICAN CITIZENS.

        It isn't hard to prove you are a citizen, so your false problem doesn't exist.
        • assbeard, on 05/16/2008, -6/+3And it isn't hard to fake it If you're a terrorist or something either.

          Lets look at this another way. Timothy McVeigh was an american citizen. He was also a terrorist. Let's say our boy Tim goes down to mexico to visit some buddies of his (not likely, but whatever) and they give him some blueprints of the Federal building on his laptop. And then lets say there's some notes, whatever. He comes back into the states and his Laptop isn't checked at all because, hey! he's a US citizen! don't trample his rights. Then boom! innocent women and children get blown up.

          now lets say joe canadian does the EXACT SAME THING, but because he's not a US citizen, he gets stopped.

          Which scenario would you prefer?
        • mrsteveman1, on 05/16/2008, -1/+9I would prefer any scenario where civil rights aren't trampled under the guise of tighter security.

          The fact that you are ready to give up your rights as a citizen simply because some hypothetical terrorist might bring data on a laptop across a border, makes you a moron.

          Data doesn't kill people, you aren't actually stopping a terrorist attack by searching laptops, and if that was your main investigative method for stopping terrorism, your entire agency is ***** BROKEN.
        • assbeard, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1Well, seeing as how i'm not american, i have no rights as a citizen. But that wasn't my argument. I think it's absolute ***** that they're looking at laptops and taking data that could be confidential etc. It's a total abuse of power. My point was they do what they want to do under the guise of security and I was simply stating how they try to justify it. Of course, it won't do ***** but piss off travelers.
    • GothAlice, on 05/16/2008, -1/+20AFIK customs isn't US soil. It's a patch of Gestapo-land.
    • griz, on 05/16/2008, -10/+2"Could someone make a 5th amendment case against providing that information? "

      Sorry, you are only .000001% inside the border, therefore, you only get .000001% of the constitution.
      Any other dumb questions?
      • rdoger6424, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2Dumb questions? What about dumb answers?
      • griz, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1Your sarcasm detector seems to be broken.
    • yojiffyskippy, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2RE: #2) I may be wrong but I remember hearing a recent "ruling" or case that says keeping a password from law enforcement isn't protected by the 5th. Does anyone remember the recent case? No surprisingly, I think it was a porn related case.
    • yuanzhoulu, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3it's an extension of your own memory. especially if you encrypt it. the keys to make the nonsense into information then lie in nowhere other than your brain, and i claim there is no requirement for me to have to answer their questions, if I am a citizen of the US.
  • voxtarri, on 05/16/2008, -0/+115How is this constitutional?
    • alphgeek, on 05/16/2008, -2/+47I think someone wiped their arse on that bit of the constitution...it's a bit hard to read now...
      • secleinteer, on 05/18/2008, -0/+1*cough*Bush*cough*Republicrats*cough*
    • tiuk, on 05/16/2008, -0/+37I think they stopped worrying about that a long time ago.
    • gweedo767, on 05/16/2008, -14/+2What part of the Constitution protects the rights of aliens entering our borders? Not saying it is right, but thing before you speak.
      • DiggyWiggy, on 05/16/2008, -0/+11You mean, thing before you type.
        • wedges, on 05/16/2008, -2/+5You mean "think before you type".
        • trappleton, on 05/16/2008, -3/+4So illegal aliens are free to steal and murder within our borders because they're not citizens?
      • wedges, on 05/16/2008, -0/+14Who says this is only relevant to aliens? From what I understand, U.S. citizens are also subject to search.
      • voxtarri, on 05/16/2008, -0/+9Who says they are all aliens? Many US Citizens travel outside the United States every year.
      • tidu, on 05/16/2008, -0/+8not to mention, the values of the Constitution apply to all people.
      • halleyscomet, on 05/16/2008, -0/+5Actually, most of the Constitution applies to anyone in the USA, regardless of nationality. Freedom of speech for example, is supposed to apply regardless of your nationality.
      • haterofps3, on 05/16/2008, -0/+6What about the bit in the constitution about all men being equal?

        Equality is not just for those with US soil under their feet. I am sure that the founding fathers wanted to create a land where freedom and justice was given to all(except those pesky blacks(I kid)). The reality is that for your constitution to mean anything it would have to apply to all people everywhere. I don't mean America has the right to tell other nations what to do but I mean the Ideal has to be applied to everyone.

        If the Ideals of the Constitution are just for the people of America then that piece of paper will truly mean nothing.
    • Amazetbm, on 05/16/2008, -1/+6It doesn't appear to be constitutional. But the gov will just argue that since they're searching the laptops of foreigners, they aren't protected by the U.S. Constitution anyway. It sucks.
      • PdxPhoenix, on 05/16/2008, -1/+7Not just the laptops of foreigners... & actually, the Constitution applies to everyone who's in the jurisdiction of the US. Hence why all (prisoners) must be treated the same...
        You can't mistreat a Mexican (for example) just because he's in the country illegally.
        You can't mistreat a Mexican (for example) inmate just because he's in the country illegally.
      • yojiffyskippy, on 05/16/2008, -3/+1Their bottom line argument is that you don't have to let them search it. But if you chose not to, then they'll chose not to allow you entry into the country. Entering the US isn't a right, it's a privilege. And I'm not saying it just applies to the US, it's that way for entry into any country. It's similar to the drunk driving sobriety tests. It's your choice, you can refuse to take a field sobriety or BAC test if asked .... and they'll just revoke your privilege to driving.
        • jdtx1980, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2"Entering the US isn't a right, it's a privilege."

          It damn well is a right if I LIVE HERE. I have a SS#, pay my taxes, and have a home to be returning to. You say I don't have a right to return home? Wtf right do they have to say I can't?

          I have a right to my home, my privacy, my belongings, and my person, and hell, maybe even a little pursuit of happiness. Aside from being convicted of some crime sufficient to invalidate any of that, there is no justifiable exception. Oh and ..innocent until proven guilty, can't forget that one. If I'm not being charged with anything, and not being proven guilty of any such charge ...by what authority do they think they have the right to to say I have none? Certainly nothing constitutional...

          And as much as I passionately loath drunks, I take serious issue with random sobriety checks too. If there is no probable cause, no warrant, etc ..then I don't deserve to be harassed. I deserve to be left alone. Period.
        • Amazetbm, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1jdtx1980jdtx1980, you mis-read skippy's statement. As far as entry into the US it is considered a privilege, if you're a foreign citizen. Being born in the US grants you constitutional rights and protections.

          But this kind of action can create issues for business. People on business trips can have things on their laptops that their company would considered trade secrets. It is the policies of a lot of corporations that traveling employees guard these trade secrets by limiting access to their laptops. Letting any one, including a government agency, search their machine without a warrant would be a breach of corporate security. I'm sure they could set up a liason program with corporations. But that's another layer of bureaucracy that is sucking up my tax dollars.
      • Krissam, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1Well if people wont be protected by the us constitution then they should, at the very least, be protected by their own.

        But it's good to know that they do that... imagine the scenery of having someone searching your harddrive and finding my anarcists cookbook :S.

        A foreigner with that book on his harddrive is going straight to guantanamo i guess :S
    • Sentinel, on 05/16/2008, -2/+12There is no true freedom in the land of the free
      • yojiffyskippy, on 05/16/2008, -5/+2STFU ..... That's me exercising my freedom to tell you to STFU.
    • MisterWormwood, on 05/16/2008, -0/+14Constitutional?

      How quaint.
    • unfilterthought, on 05/16/2008, -4/+4Until they let you in the country, the Constitution doesn't do anything for you.
      • RonBurgundy76, on 05/16/2008, -0/+6Wrong. It is meant to apply to all people that are in the jurisdiction of the U.S.

        Folks going through customs while entering the U.S. should logically fall into that category.
        • imontoya, on 05/17/2008, -1/+1Funny thing about immigration points of entry : you actually haven't entered the country yet, and as such the constitutional protections don't apply, at least not to foreigners. I would expect (and I might be wrong) that US citizens have extended constitutional protections from illegal search and seizures from an agent of their own government, even off U.S. soil. Foreigners don't have these same rights, as they are not in the country yet. Entering any country, you willfully submit yourself to a search of your person and property. You better make sure you have nothing that will incriminate you when you enter. It is always a privilege to enter a country (as a foreigner). Up to a point, you can always willfully withdraw your application to enter the country; I have before. A US border agent told me once that I needed to confirm my address in my home country before he could let me in (I was working on a VISA and there was a concern about my ties to my home country vs ties to the USA). He offered me a chance to turn around and go back, before he denied me. Basically, he told me its not a denial of entry if I withdraw, get the paperwork in order and return later. So I did, and it was not a problem later.
    • griz, on 05/16/2008, -0/+7The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

      (If only we knew what the founding fathers meant by unreasonable)
    • dupeduperson, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3Sir, is that legal? I will make it legal.
    • HeyArnold, on 05/16/2008, -1/+5Constitution? WTF's a "constitution"?? Go Bush!
      • JFeist, on 05/16/2008, -3/+1From what I can see this challenge was held up by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Ninth Circuit has a very high amount of judges appointed by Democratic/liberal presidents. So if you want to complain about someone on this issue, it isn't Bush.
    • yuanzhoulu, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3nobody gives a ***** about constitution anymore. welcome to the age of eavesdropping, censoring, tasering, and crappy foreign policies.
    • magus_melchior, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2"Reasonable searches and seizures", according to the administration, is anything that can tighten the President's grip on power, and what Cheney does when he has a heart attack.
  • saxreturns, on 05/16/2008, -7/+168As a UK citizen about to visit the US to see a friend, I was considering taking my laptop, but if this is the kind of reception I'll get then I won't bother bringing it. I love some of your citizens, I ***** hate your government.
    • MrWhite7, on 05/16/2008, -15/+29America isn't the only country that does this bucko.
      • CamperBob, on 05/16/2008, -2/+26The original idea, though, is that we're supposed to be better. That is why it sucks. Nobody would be surprised if this happened in North Korea.
        • JointVenture, on 05/16/2008, -5/+1North Korea?

          Almost any country you go to has the right to look at your laptop.

          Not only when you arrive but when you leave.

          You need to get out and do some traveling.
      • goblindegook, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3Well, that makes it all alright then.
    • VeritasAequitas, on 05/16/2008, -6/+17I'm from here and I hate a lot of the citizens and the government. and before someone tells me to leave if I don't like it, I'm trying but my fiance doesn't want to leave her family. And I don't want to leave her :(
      • blazes816, on 05/16/2008, -2/+34Looks like you'll have to kill them.
      • RealmDown, on 05/16/2008, -10/+3Since you're a person who hates, then you are in the right place. Welcome to America, and I'm betting your divorced in less than 5 years.
      • yojiffyskippy, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3You should probably find another fiance although you should leave the kidnapping option on the table.
      • j0ker666, on 05/16/2008, -0/+4I hear you can buy chloroform pretty cheap these days.....
      • JointVenture, on 05/17/2008, -1/+2Name this promised land you want to move to.

        Ive lived in 4 different countries, eventually you realize how nice home can be, even with the warts.
    • Amazetbm, on 05/16/2008, -4/+31I feel your pain. But c`mon, man. How am I supposed to feel with those damn cameras on almost every corner in London? The last I heard, the guys monitoring the cameras can actually talk back to you if you litter.
    • DiggsOnlyJew, on 05/16/2008, -3/+31"But the US is not alone. British customs agents search laptops for pornography."

      You must "*****" hate your government as well...
      • JointVenture, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3All countries can do this when you ENTER or LEAVE.
      • HarryTruman, on 05/16/2008, -0/+6They would have a field day with my laptop. More likely than not, though, they would quietly thank me for my time and for the lovely evening of content I've just provided them with.
      • saxreturns, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1Correct. Have done ever since they got elected.
    • Erythroxylum, on 05/16/2008, -5/+11At least they got to elect their leader. We just got this unelected, dangerously unqualified, socialist (but I repeat myself) gurning simpleton Scottish robot who finds it painful to smile that showed up one day and just sort of...took over (and immediately went about running the country into the ground like all good socialists).

      Anyway, I'm not going to America any time soon because I can't afford it despite the relative strength of the Sterling (see: living under a repressive socialist government), but if I were, I wouldn't give a bucket of mouldly cat turds if they looked at my 'data' or not. I'm comfortable with my 500GB's worth of midget clown porn. Comfortable I say.

      • cubed2d, on 05/16/2008, -2/+4We dont elect leaders, we elect parties. labor won the general election, part of that was on the understanding that when Blair had finished with his last few policies he would step down. There was a leadership contest, but nobody stood against Gordon Brown. So yeas, be unelected, but so is every other prime minister.
    • wolferz, on 05/16/2008, -1/+11that's kind of odd since, you know, the uk also does this.
    • PdxPhoenix, on 05/16/2008, -2/+10I believe this is something we learned from the Brits, mate.
    • ADVIZR, on 05/16/2008, -2/+3RTFA

      Also, if you were unaware, the UK is about 100x more of a surveillance society than the US is in most places. Though we're headed your way...
    • OmegaWolf, on 05/17/2008, -3/+4I'm an American and I ***** hate our government too!
  • geegel, on 05/16/2008, -3/+98Let me guess. This is all in the name of protecting freedom.
    • Ghstfce, on 05/16/2008, -1/+10Of course, protect us from something that happened almost 7 years ago. Yup nothing happened since, just have to make sure to keep the ruse going. King George hard at work running this country into the ground.
    • RonBurgundy76, on 05/16/2008, -0/+13It's also probably for the children.
    • ninja0, on 05/16/2008, -0/+5Very good! Next they will be forced to invade your home and go through things to protect your freedom as well!
    • minorthreat, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2Yep, just so the so-called terrorist can their information on a remote machine... Copying foreigners data is about as useful as DRM.
  • aahpandasrun, on 05/16/2008, -3/+27This is the kind of stuff that the terrorists want us to do. Stop searching people's laptops and useless ***** like that and start infiltrating and breaking up cells!
    • manogamez, on 05/16/2008, -0/+12Pssst.....They don't exist. When was the last time you saw one being broken up on CNN or FOX?
  • shadowspawn, on 05/16/2008, -12/+2rdesktop/terminal services over a vpn. Nothing on your laptop, nothing to steal, nothing to lose. i really don't see the issue; most sales force automation people *NEVER* have sensitive data on their laptops. And they are in SALES.

    And why would anyone take sensitive data on a friggin laptop through the airport anyway? I carry a laptop plenty of times through airports, but it can get lost, broken, dropped, beer spilled on it in the terminal between layovers, stolen, anything.

    This is really a non-issue, people. Who cares? If they looked at my laptop all they'd see (depending on which roadwarrior i take) is a dry login with a vpn icon, or with nix a basic x shell anyway.

    And if you aren't an enterprise client you should be at least considering doing the same thing to your home computer over a simple router vpn and dyndns. If all you have is a laptop again I ask... why are you even taking it?
    • trer, on 05/16/2008, -1/+10...if the country really isn't free, don't advertise it as free.
      • RealmDown, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2If you're not lying, then you're not advertising.

    • Markers, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1TrueCrypt.
    • trdrstv, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3"And why would anyone take sensitive data on a friggin laptop through the airport anyway?"

      Because some of us work internationally, and on sensitive projects. Not all business travelers are in sales, I'm not sure where you work, but an executive with access to a company's most sensitive data and a laptop are not uncommon.

      My Laptop is encrypted (Twice actually) in the event it it lost. It has full system Encryption using a 256 bit algorithm. Then, there is a separate encrypted volume inside that using a different 256 bit algorithm and hash. Both have different complex passwords (plus it doesn't autoload).

      My concern isn't if it's lost or stolen, but if Border control can compel you to reveal its' contents and make copies.
      • RealmDown, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2Refuse to assist, but always be a twitter.
    • wedges, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2well i travel with my personal laptop. which has my personal things on it.
      not everyone has a "road warrior" laptop, and I would guess that most people don't have more than one computer at all. Sure I have my work stuff on my tower at the office, but that doesn't mean I don't value my personal info.
    • jamdogg, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Classic case of a common sense post on digg being dugg down. Shadowspawn gave you the way around this hassle. Okay so you can argue that they shouldn't be intruding etc...but they are and these are the tactics.
  • TheLoneWolf071, on 05/16/2008, -2/+65I've said it before and I'll say it again, TrueCrypt
    • duke_nate, on 05/16/2008, -0/+18And for a great explanation and How-To on TrueCrypt, check out Episode 41 of Security Now.

      http://www.grc.com/SecurityNow.htm#41

      They talk about making a encrypted drive inside of an encrypted drive, so even if they make you give up your password to the first drive, you can have plausible deniability or something like that to deny that your super serious data even exists in the 2nd one. Would be great for getting by these TSA morons at the airports.
      • mehan, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2TSA is not involved in this, it's Customs
      • amanoj, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1TrueCrypt is an excellent program, and the use of Plausible Deniability for encrypting your entire HD is excellent. As far as I know, M$ BitLocker cannot even accomplish this.

        Have been using TC for some time now. It does slow down the HD a little, but its worth it. (Great place for storing your p0rn!) :P
    • bubba9999, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3I'll be curious to see what results from the first guy who refuses to give a password to an encrypted file/disk when Customs discovers it and demands access to it.
      • ninja0, on 05/16/2008, -0/+4He'll probably be beaten until they finally get in to discover there's nothing on it then continue with their day.
      • mijelh, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2Why should he refuse to give "a" password? He will not give "the" password to the actual data, of course, but it's impossible for Customs to know. that's what plausible deniability is for: http://www.truecrypt.org/docs/?s=plausible-deniabi ...
    • djloekee27, on 05/17/2008, -1/+0then make your encrypted drive or folder an invisible folder. they can't ask you for a password to a drive/folder/encrypted file that they can't see.
      http://www.iambetterthanu.com/2007/10/09/create-an ...
      • djloekee27, on 05/17/2008, -0/+0^the 5 minute time limit to edit comments expired...

        you can still find invisible folders on a pc if you know how to sort/arrange files, ect... so it's not a 100% undetectable.
      • BriscoeJr, on 05/19/2008, -0/+0Or you could store it in your brain and disguise it as a medical implant. You might have to erase your childhood too make room for the data.

        MAYBE I DIDN'T WANNA REMEMBER!
  • buffyangel108, on 05/16/2008, -1/+77TrueCrypt: defending your constitutional rights since 2004
    • thanakar, on 05/16/2008, -7/+1And just which rights are those?
      • DiggyWiggy, on 05/16/2008, -0/+6I think we still have the 21st Amendment left...
      • buffyangel108, on 05/16/2008, -0/+15"Privacy of the person and possessions as against unreasonable searches" (4th Amendment) for one :)
    • Mootabolife, on 05/16/2008, -2/+5And what happens when they image your drive and put their supercomputers to work decrypting everything? You'll get a nice letter in the mail two weeks later telling you you're fined for music theft.
      • Firehed, on 05/16/2008, -0/+6Truecrypt-encrypted files (or anything else with equal strength and no backdoor) would take literally decades to bruteforce if you threw every computer in the world at them, provided you don't have a terrible passphrase.

        And it's not for copyright infringement that they'd be doing this, not that the presence of MP3s can prove a damned thing (unless you're in the middle of downloading them at the time I suppose).
  • chuckles08, on 05/16/2008, -9/+47just don't live in or go to america.
    • PdxPhoenix, on 05/16/2008, -1/+7It isn't just America doing this... Canada, the UK, & probably many others looking for stuff people "shouldn't" have in their possession.
      • hiPpymIck, on 05/16/2008, -0/+7its the worlds current No.1 security self delusion..

        that it
        - isnt just a lame exercise in mass hysteria
        - catches any serious criminals (who would be too smart)
        - doesnt just end up making everyones life that little bit more difficult than it really needs to be

        IMHO
      • cbd37, on 05/16/2008, -0/+11FACT CHECK: Canada dose NOT search or copy your hard drive when entering the our country.
      • ninja0, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3I don't think Canada is.. I probably would have heard about it by now. I live in Canada.
        • yingjai, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1me neither. but yeah, i hate going through customs. seems like they keep picking on me everytime i'm alone. not going down there anymore.
      • yojiffyskippy, on 05/16/2008, -4/+1Cuba doesn't do it.... oh never mind they JUST started letting people own computers.
  • usgovterrorists, on 05/16/2008, -11/+2Boycott the airlines until they stop!
    • dargon, on 05/16/2008, -0/+8it's not just the airlines, it's all border / customs checkpoints
      • usgovterrorists, on 05/16/2008, -2/+2No duh, it's the terrorist United States Government!
        Do you have an easier way?
        • Digger1218, on 05/16/2008, -1/+4Yes, its called voting for candidates who will protect personal freedoms and liberties.
    • Digger1218, on 05/16/2008, -0/+5And switch to what? Boats? Trains? This happens at customs, not just airports.
      • usgovterrorists, on 05/16/2008, -2/+1How long can the airlines afford not to fly?
        • Digger1218, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3That is irrelevant since boycotting air travel is not really a viable option. Business would continue to use airlines even through a massive public boycott, and there are plenty of international travelers who would not observe a domestic boycott. Besides, if it really came right down to it, the government would bail the airline out.
    • junaru, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1yah, right ...
  • mal1964, on 05/16/2008, -8/+2Carry 2 hard-drives.
    • WayOfTheIronPaw, on 05/16/2008, -0/+6Brilliant! Put a decoy hard drive in the laptop. Disguise your real data drive as a bomb so they won't try to copy the data when they spot it with the X-ray machine!
      • RonBurgundy76, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3Better yet, set it up to be triggered by the X-rays! Great success!
      • mal1964, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1I forgot about all the extra security entering through customs. It used to be, Do you have any fruit or animals. Enjoy your stay. Also I was only kidding, I really wouldn't care if they check my hard drive
  • BDOUG, on 05/16/2008, -1/+18Considering how many times i've seen TrueCrypt and PGP bandied about, no doubt Customs, etc, will figure this out, too. I'm not knocking the programs, they're great. Just beware that if you use them you may be setting yourself up for 'double secret detention' and maybe some water poured up your nose. Such is the state of our Big Brother administration here in the US. I for one have pretty much given up on travel considering what an expensive, hassle it is these days and how they treat us all like cattle to be processed. They are paranoid, lazy, and stupid and it's easiest for them to just intimidate us all into staying home. I guess they win, I lose. :-(
    • kupa, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1It would be but a simple thing to hide a truecrypt volume on a notebook, especially if the customs agents are uber geeks who are going to pick through every file on the notebook.

      For instance, if you were to name your encrypted volume similar to, say, the pagefile on a windows system, or do something as simple as "hiding" it, and reverting the options to show hidden files. You could probably also name it something like Ubuntu-Disc-1.iso or whatever.

      I don't know about you, but if I had a notebook going through something like this, I wouldn't just offer up, hey, btw, I use truecrypt! Truthfully I'd probably have TC on a flash drive, so it doesn't even show up on the notebook. I'd much rather the agents see some funny lolcats pictures =P
    • mijelh, on 05/16/2008, -0/+4Just use the plausible deniability property of trueCrypt (and others): http://www.truecrypt.org/docs/?s=plausible-deniabi ...

      You can give them a password to the "main" partition with non-confident data, and have another password to the "hidden" partition with the actual data. It is impossible to prove whether there is a hidden volume or not.
    • orph3us, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2partition your hard drive into two partitions. Don't mount the second partition and only mount it when you need it. Keep your confidential stuff on there. I'm sure most people wouldn't even think of looking in a place like that. You can even encrypt the stuff on the second partition for increased security. Hide it first, protect it second :P
    • djloekee27, on 05/17/2008, -1/+0just make your encrypted drive or folder an invisible folder.
      http://www.iambetterthanu.com/2007/10/09/create-an ...
      and if they still find it... just tell them that it's your porn folder and your wife/girlfriend/mistress will delete your porn if she finds it...

      you can still find invisible folders on a pc if you know how to sort/arrange files, ect... so it's not a 100% undetectable.
  • thespi007, on 05/16/2008, -4/+46cheap @$$holes want to steal free porn
    • ronaldinho, on 05/16/2008, -4/+4what better way than to do it as a Customs officer? It's fully justified. *****. Dude this is violating our Constitution
  • danjal, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3anybody recommend a good Linux crypter? for an eeePC
    • TremorX, on 05/16/2008, -2/+30LOL, eeePC! Just put a Fisher Price or "Baby's First Laptop" sticker on it and they won't take a second glance at it.
      • Genma, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3hey they might be cracking down on those, considering there have been reports of people phishing atms with them in other countries.
      • yingjai, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1try bringing in an OLPC laptop and see if they will search it. maybe they'll pass it off as a toy.
    • amanoj, on 05/16/2008, -0/+0TrueCrypt works for Linux!

      http://www.truecrypt.org/
      • mrBitch, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1Actually, TrueCrypt works better on Linux and OS X than it does on Windows :
        " ... to prevent Windows from automatically creating the 'Recycled' and/or the 'System Volume Information' folders on TrueCrypt volumes (in Windows, these folders are used by the Recycle Bin and System Restore facilities).

        However, there are some disadvantages. For example, when you enable this option, the 'Computer' (or 'My Computer') list will not show free space on the volume (note that this is a Windows limitation, not a bug in TrueCrypt). "
  • BaudiIROCZ, on 05/16/2008, -5/+56WELCOME TO THE LAND OF THE FREE!
  • ashwinmudigonda, on 05/16/2008, -22/+7I find the article a bit lame. If you have nothing to hide, then go through the (few minutes) rigmorale to satiate them. As if searching people was not enough, border agents would definitely not want to sit and see your entire file structure. Deleting client emails, web cookies? This sounds more like Disk Cleanup to clear your hard disk space when Photoshop is crashing rather than a border security prevention measure. If you do have sensitive data, then you are ***** one way or the other. The Airforce has started its new cyberforce and they will hunt you down one way or the other. I got stopped at Frankfurt when I was carrying my camera kit and I had to spend an extra 5 minutes as they ran tests on my equipment. This article essentially is saying, next time, I should stick my SD card up my ass and delete "unnecessary" pictures from it, just to be safe.
    • SquireToad, on 05/16/2008, -2/+12It isn't what border agents might "want" to do. It's what they _can_ do .. and that's make a copy of your entire hard drive, keep your system for as long as they, etc. Therein lies the rub.

      I would dearly love to make an example of this. Get some POS laptop, approach the Customs desk. They insist on examining the laptop. I smile sweetly, back away from the desk, smile at the media cameras (oh yeah, gotta have media) .. drop the laptop on the floor, and jump heavily on it several dozen times.

      Then reapproach the Customs desk and hand them the shattered remains. "Feel free, boys."

      Yep. Screw Customs, screw the Homeland Security Gestapo. I suppose they'll next want full cavity searches before I can return to my own country?
    • bjs3171, on 05/16/2008, -0/+15if my porn was unnecessary, I wouldn't have downloaded it in the first place.
    • afloyd60, on 05/16/2008, -2/+6satiate them at the cost of your further eroding freedom? no thanks. the 'if you have nothing to hide' argument is lame. legalize the constitution, vote for ron paul.
    • CamperBob, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2So what happens when they demand to search your colon for illegal SD cards? Still going to sit there and mewl, "If you have nothing to hide, then why not just do whatever they say?"
    • wolferz, on 05/16/2008, -1/+6I wish I could bury you multiple times... or better yet, bludgeon you to death with a gold plated copy of the constitution. I'm sure if our founding fathers were alive they would be happy to join in.
    • dimizzz, on 05/16/2008, -1/+7If you have nothing to hide you should have nothing against being searched.
      Because you know, it's done to protect the children.
      And to fight the people who hate our liberties.

      Actually, the last line, while it has been ridiculous from the very start, becomes with time more and more ironic.
    • sandman979, on 05/16/2008, -0/+7Security:
      "I'm sorry but he have to cavi-search you even deeper. We have to use the longer finger"

      You:
      "Well I have nothing to hide, go ahead I suppose. I'll do it for the children"

      Dude use your head. They are treating you like you are guilty of something. They are not supposed to treat you like that. Do you really think this is about terrorism? Thousands die each year by car accidents alone in USA. Are they going to prohibit cars too?
    • taradisiac, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1"if you have nothing to hide".
      Another person who misses the point. Learn2 hide your data better.
  • kr0n0s82, on 05/16/2008, -6/+0I guess us criminals must be too stupid to ever think of uploading all that pr0n to ourselves.
  • Deodar, on 05/16/2008, -3/+2Ummmm, This was on the front page like 2 weeks ago and the article was better.........
  • howyoudosir, on 05/16/2008, -13/+5This is a good approach to capturing more Arab/Muslim terrorists.
  • djchester, on 05/16/2008, -2/+12Last time I went to U.S. I got a German shepherd up my crutch. This seems more technologically advanced.
    • yojiffyskippy, on 05/16/2008, -0/+7Did you have to pay extra for that?
  • wrenchone, on 05/16/2008, -5/+5Not that it makes doing it here in the US any better, but as it says in the second paragraph of the article, many countries in Europe have been doing this for some time already. Don't just rage against the US here.
    • Kontra8, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3And yet there's no reference to it mentioned. How i love 'there are reports on the internet' types of phrases quickly followed by between the lines 'You don't believe me? Go look for yourself'. Yeah like i'm expected to go check facts out myself as if i'm the one writing the article.
    • mijelh, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3[Citation needed]
      Well, I have been traveling across Europe for some years now, and nobody ever asked me (or someone I know) to show them my computer's files. If this was happening on "many contries in Europe" it would be strange that I never met someone who had this problem.
      If nobody mentions a realiable source on this I must conclude it's false
  • davebg8r, on 05/16/2008, -4/+35Welcome to the new world order.

    But these practices can only continue to exist if you go along willingly. You must refuse clearly and repeatedly.
    • jorisb, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Are you detaining me?
    • OmegaWolf, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1I wish more people would! It's time for the common man to rise up against the oppressive dictator! What will it take to cause a revolution in this dying country?!
  • aaron117, on 05/16/2008, -2/+7The world is going to hell.
    Small signs everywhere.
  • silicon, on 05/16/2008, -4/+52I think everyone should rick roll the TSA
    • xtremesniper, on 05/16/2008, -1/+19Yeah, why not? Just have it so your laptop plays a rick roll video right when it comes back up from sleep, and then yell in their face "RICK ROLL'D!!!!!". That'll get you on the plane and on your way much quicker.
      • griz, on 05/16/2008, -0/+10Get it on video and you will be an internet hero for a day.
      • DevilInPgh, on 05/16/2008, -0/+9Yeah, it'll get you on a plane...one that's bound for Gitmo!
    • mfc5200, on 05/16/2008, -0/+20Put a video called Jihad_Osama_mission.avi on your desktop, let it be a rick roll. I would be more than willing to get miss my flight if someone in front of me did something like that.
      • Krissam, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1haha i was thinking more something like
        Guy.On.Horse.7.XVID.TrUePR0n.avi

        but yours was sooooo much better :)
    • AzureRise, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2Or try this if truly have guts. http://koolestone.blogspot.com/2007/02/if-you-are- ...
  • AdamaObama, on 05/16/2008, -18/+9I can't wait for Obama to become President.
    • vexingmodstwo, on 05/16/2008, -3/+13I can't wait for you to explain what Obama becoming President has to do with the article...
      • jd87, on 05/16/2008, -2/+1I can't wait for you to explain what explaining what Obama becoming president has to do with the article has to do with people posting comments on Digg...

        If you're trying to make a point about the fact that this was a court decision, just say it next time. Use teh Internet for good, not for being a jackass.
        • vexingmodstwo, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3Okay, I'll explain. This person made a comment that, to any intelligent person, makes no sense in relation to where the comment was made (i.e. in the comment section of an article about a court ruling). Instead of inferring a potentially inaccurate meaning behind said comment, I asked this person to explain themselves and used their own words in order to make it crystal clear which part I would like them to elaborate on, jackass.
    • RealmDown, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Nooses are easiest, but guns are quicker.

      It's a pity you don't have the patience to wait. You'll be missed, of course.
  • Harrison88, on 05/16/2008, -2/+26Yet another reason not to visit the US. Canada/Australia/New Zealand here I come.
    • ninja0, on 05/16/2008, -0/+4:D I find it amazing the differences between Canada and the US... not just this, but everything! We're just a border above them too..
    • yojiffyskippy, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3Dugg up for encouragement to leave the US. If you have any offspring, please take them with you.
    • AzureRise, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Alrighty, what languages do I have to learn? mangolanguages.com for anyone else interested.
  • sweetlamar, on 05/16/2008, -1/+42this has nothing to do with security. it's about control. we are slowly losing our freedom.
  • rootbeerinacan, on 05/16/2008, -2/+20I don understand why they search for porn... isn't it legal?
    • wolferz, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3In the US... yes. Apparently not in the UK.
    • PdxPhoenix, on 05/16/2008, -0/+6some of it isn't... think about it.
      and in some places, none of it is
  • uziko, on 05/16/2008, -1/+4actually it's pretty simple, simply unplug your hard drive when going through the checkpoint, if they try to plug it in say it's your property and they are not allowed to tamper with it
    • stevex0r, on 05/16/2008, -0/+4Then lose your laptop when they confiscate it for not complying with their rules.
    • SlimeyBooger, on 05/16/2008, -1/+0You would that they wouldn't be allowed to search your drive in the first place.
    • yojiffyskippy, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2Just remember to kiss it bye when you unplug it because that'll be the last time you see it.
    • docbob84, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2A lot of times they'll make you turn electronics on with the pretense of "it could be a bomb". My mom almost got in trouble because her laptop has "dead battery" syndrome. She was running late and forgot to put the cord in her case, so when they wanted her to turn it on and she couldn't, they got pretty mad. One of the people she was traveling with, though, happened to have a cord for her (similar) computer so after a few minutes everything was ok, except my mom who was pretty scared of the TSA people. But yeah, try going through customs with a non-functional laptop and let us know how many fingers they use for that cavity search. >
      • OmegaWolf, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2Tell your mom to file a complaint with the TSA for harassment.
  • whitecranberry, on 05/16/2008, -2/+34Fascists.. Look it up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism .. everyday the US gets one step closer to meeting that definition. As for protecting your data, best thing to do is leave the laptop at home or don't goto the US.
  • kc9ews, on 05/16/2008, -1/+22The terrorists win ......
  • afloyd60, on 05/16/2008, -3/+26Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure. Ratified 12/15/1791.

    The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

    all laws contrary to the Constitution are null and void. legalize the constitution, vote for ron paul
    • PdxPhoenix, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3'cept this wasn't a law... it was a court decision.
      I would agree that the 4th amendment _should_ apply, but sadly they decided it doesn't. But the next lawsuit might change that.
      • OmegaWolf, on 05/17/2008, -0/+3Next thing you know, the Fourth Amendment will be ruled null and void in our own homes too. Within the next 30 to 40 years, we will have no real privacy at all. Cops will probably even have keys to our houses.
  • Sautechef, on 05/16/2008, -7/+11Carry a blank laptop and get some storage space on a server somewhere. That way you'll have your data available anywhere you go and you won't have to worry about customs getting access to it.
    • taradisiac, on 05/16/2008, -1/+5Why is he being buried? How could this not work?
      • antdude, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2What if they want to look at the OS? :P
        • taradisiac, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1And find what, my saved games of solitaire while traveling on the plane?
    • Yage2006, on 05/16/2008, -2/+4Dunno why he is getting buried because its one of the only useful comments in this thread and the only solution.
  • wallyhartshorn, on 05/16/2008, -0/+25Here's the part that caught my attention: "keep it for several days". WTF?! Snoop on my data, fine, I don't like it, but whatever. But TAKING my laptop and KEEPING it for SEVERAL DAYS?!
    • ganus, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3Agreed. What if you are only visiting for a few short days and they aren't done with it by the time you leave. Are they going to ship it back to you? I don't know about this article it all seems to be anecdotal evidence without any concrete proof of policies or rulings.
      • wolferz, on 05/16/2008, -3/+1It also seems that no one is bothering to try and understand the article and just reading one or two lines out of it then jumping to conclusions. In this case if you read between the lines you realize that while they are AUTHORIZED to keep it for several days that doesn't mean that will be the NORM.
    • nightwing2000, on 05/16/2008, -3/+2This is the point. they're border patrol. Technically, you're not in the USA and they can do what they want.

      See the article in NYTimes about the Italian visiting his girlfriend in the US frequently. They hauled him into the back room because they were curious why he was visiting Amerika so often. Apparently after several hours, he demanded to see someone from the Italian embassy; so in retaliation, they made up a story that he was talking about claiming asylum (from Italy???), threw him into the jail, and deported him.

      They can do what they want. If you piss them off, the only thing that can save you is if you are An american citizen (they can't refuse you entry, then) and have absolutely NOTHING they can nail you for in your luggage. Once deported, the paperwork to ever again be allowed in is pretty tough.

      Any talkback will earn you a guaranteed insteresting time. Ditto for "I don't have to tell you my password". The moral - when the border cops ask anything, you smile, be cooperative, and give them what they want. So the article is right. Encrypt your data, disguise it - don't have a file called "encrypted data.iso"; if you need the disk program, have a decoy encrypted disk that you can show them instead (you know, like something with your "dear diary", little black book, and -clean- photos of other girlfriends on it.)

      I suppose if they are done with your laptop, they will send you a registered letter telling you to come pick it up. If you are allowed into the USA, you can make a special trip to your port of entry to pick it up. If not, unclaimed material may be auctioned after 90 days, at a private auction attened only by the TSA.
    • saisumimen, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2"the only thing that can save you is if you are An american citizen (they can't refuse you entry, then) and have absolutely NOTHING they can nail you for in your luggage"

      Because no one has _ever_had evidence planted on them -_-

      If these guys are as corrupt as your OWN POST shows, what makes you think they won't make up some ***** story about you trying to smuggle heroin/cocaine/whatever into the US?
  • ganus, on 05/16/2008, -0/+6"British customs agents search laptops for pornography." Why do they want to know what kind of porn people are watching. I can't see any legitimate reason to do this other than to prevent child porn dissemination, but it just says they search it for any pornography.
    • CarnivalOfDust, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2Them: "Sir, you appear to have some porn here. Care to explain yourself?"
      Me: *Shrug* "Meh, I likes to fap."
      Them: "Ah, touché."
    • flashmat, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1They probably want to know what kind of pornography to make sure you're not illegally carrying imagery of a legal activity taking place between two consenting adults. ( http://is.gd/91y )
  • eagle200363, on 05/16/2008, -0/+0This same topic was up a week or so ago. I said it before, i will say it again. Set up a dual boot with Linux, comment out the boot option that has whatever you want to hide, and keep the option that is clean, when you then boot up your computer you will have one option, and they wont find anything.
    • wolferz, on 05/16/2008, -0/+4Unless they look at your partition tables. This can be done in windows and in Linux with no special software.
    • HarleyQuinn, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2This only stops a casual observer. Don't be surprised if the border agents don't use some sort of USB / Boot device to override your settings. Forensic tools are partition/OS agnostic.

      You method would make sense if you disable your USB ports (which they can re-enable in the BIOS) and you remove any optical/boot drive.
  • usgovterrorists, on 05/16/2008, -4/+37The real terrorists are the United States Government!

    Wake up!
  • sodoh, on 05/16/2008, -0/+5This story just keeps coming up and up. Short answer is if you don't want your private data taken then don't bring it through customs.

    Long answer is that yes you can do some of the stuff they suggest but customs will just take the laptop off you, throw you on a no-fly list and possibly detain/deport you depending on how much you manage to piss off the customs guy.

    Customs people may not be elite hackers but they are not stupid. The second the machine looks like its been wiped or your cagey with your answers and your going to draw attention to yourself more. That is why they ask you questions like what programs do you use most frequently and where do you store your documents (even if they don't look at them).
    • RonBurgundy76, on 05/16/2008, -0/+6Note to U.S. government and related entities, etc:

      It's none of your ***** business what programs I use most frequently or where I store my documents. It is none of your concern what websites I visit, nor is it your business what porn sites I like to look at. It is none of your business what is on my laptop, period. Default to treating us all like terrorists with no valid reason at your own eventual peril.

      The only document that our government need concern itself with is the Constitution.

      Sincerely,
      The citizens of America
    • taradisiac, on 05/16/2008, -0/+0Ill say: "I keep my laptop clean and I mostly use notepad and solitaire". Whatever they do, I'll legally fight it.
  • Betrayal, on 05/16/2008, -5/+149/11 was set up to exactly do that. Blame on terrorists and then invade other countries to control oil supplies and take away freedoms domestically in order to "protect" freedom. Everyone defending the constitution will be a terrorist.

    Nothing new here. Ask Adolf.
    • vexingmodstwo, on 05/16/2008, -5/+3Any credibility you had in opposing this ridiculous ruling went out the window when you implied that 9/11 was something other than a terrorist attack.
      • RonBurgundy76, on 05/16/2008, -0/+8You don't get it.
        It doesn't matter WHO did it.
        Bush/Cheney/ all got what they wanted regardless of who actually did the deed.
      • cmapes2, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1You fool.

        Look up the facts and make your own decision other then the one fed to you by the government and main stream media.
    • ninja0, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1www.loosechange.com
  • airj1012, on 05/16/2008, -1/+9Thanks for the advice but it's a shame it's come to this. Guilty until proven innocent.
  • grimfandango, on 05/16/2008, -0/+24How long before border control check your software licenses to ensure you're not bringing in pirated software? or viruses? or an application that's on the countries black list?

    This is a worrying trend that can surely only get worse.
    • docbob84, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Good point. Wonder how much MS, etc. would pay our starving-for-funds government to do that? Or, even more plausible, the RIAA/MPAA. I hate conspiracy theories...
      • OmegaWolf, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1I wouldn't put it past them. Customs will search our laptops and MP3 players for pirated MP3s because you know, those are an imminent danger!
  • grimward, on 05/16/2008, -4/+9This article is crap for many reasons 1) it advocates you allow your content to fall into enemy hands, 2) it suggests you can be secure by "wiping" sensitive files, that's pure *****. Not even the famous guttmann wipe which is 35 passes can do that, in fact it's recommended by security experts that you do not let any harddrive that has at one point contained sensitive materials to fall into enemy hands. The reason is that even if you "securely wipe" your harddrive, it's possible to find the information via forensic examination. Somebody above me mentioned using a VPN to negotiate with an offshore server, that is a hell of a lot more secure provided of course, your company knows what the hell it's doing when it comes to VPN tunnels. And 3) it advocates encryption as a first line of defense, when it should be your last.
    What I'm saying is : Buried as inaccurate. And yes, I view any government that snoops in my private files as the enemy.
    • dimizzz, on 05/16/2008, -0/+0Wiping works, no need to get that paranoid. VPN plus wiping is a good solution.
      Encryption with hidden volumes (TrueCrypt style) is a much worse solution, but still orders of magnitude better than the "dual boot with linux" ideas that keep popping up.
      • grimward, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1I'm sorry but research says otherwise, google peter guttmanns article on data deletion and memory retainment and you'll see what I'm talking about is true. Encryption in this case wouldn't serve anybody as they'd just refuse your laptop entry into the country if you couldn't prove that your encrypted area didn't contain any malicious information. (apparently just having the encryption present will make them raise a red flag) The dualboot scenario is laughable too and just another flossboy propaganda stunt.
    • nightwing2000, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Hmmm... I have yet to hear of a case where a well-wiped machine was recovered. in fact, the classic case would be Moussaoui's Kinko PC. They couldn't get anything off of it because the machines were reformatted every few weeks. (Not even Guttmanned). Most cases in the news are people who just hit the delete key, and didn't realize they left an easily recovered file behind.

      If the CIA wants to know so badly that they will spend millions on it, maybe they can recover you data. But for the average simple offender, they can't and don't. If all they have is your hard drive, it's not worth prosecuting anyway. Making an image copy when you go through customs won't pick up anything except deleted unwiped files.
      • grimward, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1If they make an image which goes all the way down, yes they will most certainly recover your data. And I was in a discussion yesterday with a pretty high up boss in a company about this situation, and he mentiond that their company was in the stages of making a draft for a policy to not allow any sensitive information to be shipped through US customs as they couldn't affort trade secrets to possibly leak out. The proposed solution was a VPN tunnel as well, but after doing some thinking I've realized that it's not secure either. Pretty much the only secure solution to avoid eavesdropping would be to ship the computer and the harddrive separate into the country and assemble them again afterwards to protect said secrets.
  • stevex0r, on 05/16/2008, -2/+1It's all about encrypted micro SD cards hidden elsewhere in your luggage. That and encrypted hidden directories on ipods. If you go through a check point and they askto look at your laptop and you have full disk encryption and refuse to give them access you are asking for trouble. I don't have anything interesting to look at anyway but it's just the principal of it. It's easier and faster just to comply with the ***** they put you through then to fight over opening an encrypted directory full of porn, your resume, and bank information.
  • JKap, on 05/16/2008, -3/+2Al K. Duh loves to hide their data and hates our freedom.
  • britblogger, on 05/16/2008, -2/+15this is no better than the yellow-jacketed douche standing at the door of Best Buy asking for my ***** receipt.

    what happened to innocent until proven guilty? there's little wonder we're so pissed off.
    • OmegaWolf, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1I haven't see that done for a few years now.
  • AtomB, on 05/16/2008, -1/+4Why is that girl wearing one of those lamp shade china hats?
    • RonBurgundy76, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Because she can.
    • yingjai, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1thanks for bringing that to my attention. that's freaking hilarious.. and that pose.
  • themonkman, on 05/16/2008, -1/+22What the *****? No, I shouldn't HAVE to hide my data to protect myself from illegal search and seizure. I'm a god damned American citizen, and unless there is probable cause to search the protected data on my laptop, I will simply not give out my password. If they don't like it, they can file charges and I'll take it all the way to the US Supreme Court to have it ruled as unconstitutional.

    Besides, I wonder how companies who fly their employees around with sensitive intellectual property data feel about this.
    • cheesefan, on 05/16/2008, -0/+4Yeah... They would most likely subpoena your password. If you refuse that they throw you in jail for contempt until you give them it.
      • themonkman, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2Who's to say that I didn't forget the password due to the trauma that the unreasonable search and seizure has caused in my life. I will then turn around and sue the Government for causing mental anguish which has led to the failure of my recognitive capacities which caused me to forget the password to my very important data, thus leaving me with real material loss.

        I would then sue the living bejesus out of the Government for wrongful imprisonment on unconstitutional charges and for violating my 5th Amendment rights. The ACLU would have a hay day with that case.
      • cmapes2, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1Thats why TrueCrypt is your friend.
    • jamdogg, on 05/16/2008, -0/+7I used to think that this was the attitude of most Americans. If it were you would really have a free country.
    • Raphae1, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1they can charge you of being an enemy combatant, put you in jail without a trial and waterboard you until you give them the password.
  • WayOfTheIronPaw, on 05/16/2008, -0/+7Encrypting entire partitions may attract unwanted attention. Likewise encrypted files.

    Perhaps a better approach is to hide data encrypted in the slack space between files. Note that "the man" may take a disk image to examine at his leisure.

    Hiding data under Linux:
    http://www.linuxsecurity.com/content/view/117638/1 ...

    Hiding data under Windows:
    http://www.metasploit.net/research/projects/antifo ...

    I find it laughable that some of the online rhetoric about anti-forensics says that there is almost no valid reason to hide data, and that such behaviour is the hallmark of a criminal. At a personal level, people have a right to privacy. At the level of business, businesses from outside the US have a right to protect their trade secrets from disclosure to their US competitors by officials of the US government. It happens.
    • nightwing2000, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3The real question is, if I had a PGP disk or Truecrypt, how easy is it for someone to eventually crack it? IIRC, one point is that they don't leave a "signature". It is impossible to examine a file and say it IS an encrypted disk. You can, however, use a fancy scan program to look at, say, Transformers.ISO and say "this is definitely NOT an iso of a DVD". But, it could be corrupt... Plausible deniability. Just have a real PGP disk with relatively unobnoxious content so you can explain why you have the program installed.

      My fear is more paranoid - if they scan my disk, figure out my logon to Digg and other chats, then Google my comments - will they get hostile based on my free expression of opinions? If my email contains a ton of Bush jokes and cartoons, will they deny me entry to the USA? 10 years ago, I would have laughed at the thought. Today, I'm not so sure.
      • WayOfTheIronPaw, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1I'm with you on the paranoia. The point of hiding stuff in slack space is that they don't know that there is anything there. So, being encrypted, it just looks like random crap. Nobody will ask for the key because there are no files, no partitions, nothing obviously being encrypted.
    • Yage2006, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Pointless either way they will ask you for the key.
      • WayOfTheIronPaw, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1They can only ask for the key if they know there is encryption being used. If the encrypted data is outside the file system, (and encrypted data looks like noise), then they won't be asking for the key.
  • 3leggedHorse, on 05/16/2008, -3/+2 Or stick a different hard drive in your laptop with ***** all but an OS on it while you are in transit. And put your real hard drive somewhere else luggage or hand baggage. If you get searched and it is found, guess you are unlucky.
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