Comments on: Your laptop is a suitcase: How the U.S. government is searching computers, phones, and other electronics at the border http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:15:02 -0700 hourly 1 By: Danielle http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-25665 Danielle Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:41:26 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-25665 The 5th ammendment would have protected your rights before the patriot act. Anytime they think they need to "protect" the security of the country, regardless of ridiculous methods/reasons, your rights go out the window. You can be held as a member of a terrorist organization and they don't have to give you your phone call or let you speak to a lawyer. I have a friend that sat in jail for 3 weeks because of that. Lost his job, fell behind in school, couldn't pay his rent. They said "oops, wrong guy. our apologies" and sent him on his way. No compensation. It's seriously messed up. The 5th ammendment would have protected your rights before the patriot act. Anytime they think they need to “protect” the security of the country, regardless of ridiculous methods/reasons, your rights go out the window. You can be held as a member of a terrorist organization and they don’t have to give you your phone call or let you speak to a lawyer. I have a friend that sat in jail for 3 weeks because of that. Lost his job, fell behind in school, couldn’t pay his rent. They said “oops, wrong guy. our apologies” and sent him on his way. No compensation. It’s seriously messed up.

]]> By: Tired of secondary screenings? Change your name » Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-24438 Tired of secondary screenings? Change your name » Upgrade: Travel Better Mon, 15 Sep 2008 01:42:57 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-24438 [...] Related: - Blame Canada? U.S. no-fly lists (and their errors) travel north - No ID at security: Fast-track to a government “list”? Either way, why are we bothering? - Your laptop is a suitcase: How the U.S. government is searching computers, phones, and other electro... [...] [...] Related: – Blame Canada? U.S. no-fly lists (and their errors) travel north – No ID at security: Fast-track to a government “list”? Either way, why are we bothering? – Your laptop is a suitcase: How the U.S. government is searching computers, phones, and other electro… [...]

]]> By: No ID at security: Fast-track to a government “list”? Either way, why are we bothering? » Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-23024 No ID at security: Fast-track to a government “list”? Either way, why are we bothering? » Upgrade: Travel Better Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:12:07 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-23024 [...] update: Shorter no-fly lists; air cargo won’t be screened, “for your safety” - Your laptop is a suitcase: How the U.S. government is searching computers, phones, and other electro... - A handy guide for luggage inspectors - TSA wants to know who’s flying 72 hours beforehand - [...] [...] update: Shorter no-fly lists; air cargo won’t be screened, “for your safety” – Your laptop is a suitcase: How the U.S. government is searching computers, phones, and other electro… – A handy guide for luggage inspectors – TSA wants to know who’s flying 72 hours beforehand – [...]

]]> By: Milo http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20436 Milo Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:10:08 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20436 The Patriot Act allows federal agents to search e-mails and telephone records without a proper search warrant in looking for criminal and terrorist activities. However, the fact that it was passed by the Congress does not mean it is ok, or legitimate, although of course, that is for americans to decide. Many of the people I know have stopped going there because they feel outraged by the way they are treated at the airports. The Patriot Act allows federal agents to search e-mails and telephone records without a proper search warrant in looking for criminal and terrorist activities. However, the fact that it was passed by the Congress does not mean it is ok, or legitimate, although of course, that is for americans to decide. Many of the people I know have stopped going there because they feel outraged by the way they are treated at the airports.

]]> By: Daygan http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20420 Daygan Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:22:58 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20420 "rights are often waived in the name of security" ??? wow! when did that happen? I always thought they were <strong>"inalienable rights"</strong>. Since when did our rights become <strong>alienable in the name of security?</strong> what did that one guy say?? give me liberty or give me... ? have we truly fallen so far? “rights are often waived in the name of security” ??? wow! when did that happen? I always thought they were “inalienable rights”. Since when did our rights become alienable in the name of security? what did that one guy say?? give me liberty or give me… ? have we truly fallen so far?

]]> By: Janine http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20403 Janine Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:04:03 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20403 That's insane! It's an invasion of privacy. That’s insane! It’s an invasion of privacy.

]]> By: i like my privacy http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20055 i like my privacy Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:47:10 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20055 Edit: it appears Customs has the right to ‘confiscate’ your laptop if you fail to provide the password, similar to their ability to confiscate your suitcase if they cannot open it. So I would suggest using Truecrypt to create a Hidden Volume, directions on the Truecrypt home page. Edit: it appears Customs has the right to ‘confiscate’ your laptop if you fail to provide the password, similar to their ability to confiscate your suitcase if they cannot open it. So I would suggest using Truecrypt to create a Hidden Volume, directions on the Truecrypt home page.

]]> By: i like my privacy http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20054 i like my privacy Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:40:15 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20054 A few options pop into mind, as this is a serious breach of what I feel to be my 'mind' or the very least my personal ideas. For others that feel the need to protect their business ideas etc, I have a few suggestions. For those of you using a laptop running windows, with work and or personal files you wish not to share. I suggest Truecrypt (www.truecrypt.org), a free solution to Full Disk Encryption (FDE). FDE can be setup to use AES encryption, making your laptop extremely safe. I do not however know what legal implications there are to saying “I forget” when asked for a password. (Please donate to this great project if you decide to use it, that is the best way to make sure it continues to exist) For those of you with smart phones, those running mobile windows, Sprite Software (www.spritesoftware.com [I am not affiliated with them, just use their product]) offers a combo of backup and wipe software. It allows you to backup your phone’s contents to a laptop (including any memory card in the phone), and wipe the phone of all data. The wipe function is designed for loss or theft of the phone, but would make a clean phone to walk though customs with. After customs the phone could be restored using the Sprite backup software. For those of you carrying a laptop on travel for email etc, or those that do not want to leave traces on a computer there are a plethora of Linux live distributions available that will do what you need. I will recommend one in particular that I use, namely because it has TOR built into the distribution, and wipes all temp files before closing. It is called Incognito and the latest distribution can be found at LiveDistro.org, (http://www.livedistro.org/release-announcements/gnu/linux-releases/incognito-live-cd/usb-i686) -author not related to any of the products/software listed here, I use them, and thought others might find them useful. A few options pop into mind, as this is a serious breach of what I feel to be my ‘mind’ or the very least my personal ideas. For others that feel the need to protect their business ideas etc, I have a few suggestions.

For those of you using a laptop running windows, with work and or personal files you wish not to share. I suggest Truecrypt (www.truecrypt.org), a free solution to Full Disk Encryption (FDE). FDE can be setup to use AES encryption, making your laptop extremely safe. I do not however know what legal implications there are to saying “I forget” when asked for a password. (Please donate to this great project if you decide to use it, that is the best way to make sure it continues to exist)

For those of you with smart phones, those running mobile windows, Sprite Software (www.spritesoftware.com [I am not affiliated with them, just use their product]) offers a combo of backup and wipe software. It allows you to backup your phone’s contents to a laptop (including any memory card in the phone), and wipe the phone of all data. The wipe function is designed for loss or theft of the phone, but would make a clean phone to walk though customs with. After customs the phone could be restored using the Sprite backup software.

For those of you carrying a laptop on travel for email etc, or those that do not want to leave traces on a computer there are a plethora of Linux live distributions available that will do what you need. I will recommend one in particular that I use, namely because it has TOR built into the distribution, and wipes all temp files before closing. It is called Incognito and the latest distribution can be found at LiveDistro.org, (http://www.livedistro.org/release-announcements/gnu/linux-releases/incognito-live-cd/usb-i686)

-author not related to any of the products/software listed here, I use them, and thought others might find them useful.

]]> By: Abedelaziz Mohaisen http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20037 Abedelaziz Mohaisen Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:33:57 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20037 Once again. There might be a reason why they check the contents of the laptops but this goes tiring for somebody who is just bothered and considered for extra checks just because of his color or nationality. I hope things change to the better but seemingly it goes from bad to worst. Once again. There might be a reason why they check the contents of the laptops but this goes tiring for somebody who is just bothered and considered for extra checks just because of his color or nationality. I hope things change to the better but seemingly it goes from bad to worst.

]]> By: Abedelaziz Mohaisen http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20036 Abedelaziz Mohaisen Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:29:29 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20036 To encrypt stuff and decrypt them again, over and over whenever one wants to go to USA just to avoid that kind of things is impractical. What does the immigration officer needs from my company's or institute's privacte information (this can typically be something that the officer does not understand; like research results and documents or so). Other than that, I've said that he was interested in seeing my kids' photos on my external hdd. I believe the best way is to avoid brining laptops on travel. To encrypt stuff and decrypt them again, over and over whenever one wants to go to USA just to avoid that kind of things is impractical. What does the immigration officer needs from my company’s or institute’s privacte information (this can typically be something that the officer does not understand; like research results and documents or so). Other than that, I’ve said that he was interested in seeing my kids’ photos on my external hdd. I believe the best way is to avoid brining laptops on travel.

]]> By: crystalattice http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20023 crystalattice Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:39:16 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-20023 So, set up a virtual OS (think VMWare) and do all your confidential stuff on that. That way, if they want to look at your browser history or other stuff, it's not immediately available. If you put the virtual system on an external drive, you have the opportunity to put it in your checked bag or otherwise have it separate from you when you go through customs. That way, there is absolutely no way they can look at it. Or if they do get it, they won't be able to look at the virtual systems without the correct virtual server. Additionally, consider using TrueCrypt. Not only will it let you encrypt files and drives but you can create encrypted, hidden areas that simply aren't visible. Therefore, you can create a bogus encrypted partition with some fake files in it but still hide "the good stuff". Each encryption password is different so you can give up the "fake" encryption but they will never know the other one is there. So, set up a virtual OS (think VMWare) and do all your confidential stuff on that. That way, if they want to look at your browser history or other stuff, it’s not immediately available.

If you put the virtual system on an external drive, you have the opportunity to put it in your checked bag or otherwise have it separate from you when you go through customs. That way, there is absolutely no way they can look at it. Or if they do get it, they won’t be able to look at the virtual systems without the correct virtual server.

Additionally, consider using TrueCrypt. Not only will it let you encrypt files and drives but you can create encrypted, hidden areas that simply aren’t visible. Therefore, you can create a bogus encrypted partition with some fake files in it but still hide “the good stuff”. Each encryption password is different so you can give up the “fake” encryption but they will never know the other one is there.

]]> By: Abedelaziz Mohaisen http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-19957 Abedelaziz Mohaisen Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:21:21 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/07/your-laptop-is-a-suitcase-how-the-us-government-is-searching-computers-phones-and-other-electronics-at-the-border/#comment-19957 This has been happend with me recently. The problem is that the officer also asked me to give him a cable to connect an portable HDD. after almost 30 minutes of searching (or pretending to search), he asked me: what drive is the external HDD. When I moved to his desk to help him, I came to know that he pluged the cable in the wrong port. Well, this would be cool if they hire somebody who know even how to check things. All in all, I won't agree that somebody breach my privacy in that rude way that is why I am not going to bring my laptop with me! This has been happend with me recently. The problem is that the officer also asked me to give him a cable to connect an portable HDD. after almost 30 minutes of searching (or pretending to search), he asked me: what drive is the external HDD. When I moved to his desk to help him, I came to know that he pluged the cable in the wrong port. Well, this would be cool if they hire somebody who know even how to check things. All in all, I won’t agree that somebody breach my privacy in that rude way that is why I am not going to bring my laptop with me!

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