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Securing Your Notebook Against US Customs
Nethemas the Great points out a piece from Bruce Schneier running in the UK's Guardian newspaper with some tips for international travelers on securing notebook computers for border crossings. A taste of the brief article:
"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. ... Encrypting your entire hard drive, something you should certainly do for security in case your computer is lost or stolen, won't work here. The border agent is likely to start this whole process with a 'please type in your password.' Of course you can refuse, but the agent can search you further, detain you longer, refuse you entry into the country and otherwise ruin your day."
You can bet that before I type my password for a customs agent, I'm going to talk to my company's legal department. And I'll wait in the customs office as long as it takes. Or simply forfeit the laptop and put it in the trash.
The IP on my laptop is easily worth 10x more than the value of the laptop itself.
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$tar -xvf
The problem is, this isn't the security check to get on a plane, it's the customs people when you enter the country. When you fly into the US, and assuming you are flying on to another destination, you get off the plane, get your bags, and go through customs. These people have an incredible amount of power over you and you probably have little legal recourse, even if you're an American citizen.
I find the contrast sad... when I recently flew into Amsterdam, I grabbed my bag, the guy stamped my passport, and I walked through a door out into the real world. No questions, no forms, no inspections, no going through my bags. And this while I'm coming from the "land of the free" to one of those wacky socialist European countries.
Add me to the list. The Grandparent poster and the rest of the country can sit back and watch their rights drain away if they want to sit in the corner with their security blanket, but I won't.
;o).
I'll be the guy raising a fuss and throwing a fit. It'll happen at the border, then in court. And if someone wants to slap one of those "letters of security" on me, they may as well send me right to jail... 'cause that letter won't keep me quiet regarding any injustice placed upon me.
If standing up for my rights "ruins" my life, then that "life" wasn't worth jack to begin with.
I suppose it helps that I'm religious, too... those religious fanatics got that right, at least. When you're looking forward to a long eternity, the time spent here isn't worth getting your rights trampled over.
That being said, I don't imagine it'll be too long before the black suit guys show up for me