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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."
I would have liked to come and see NY, California, Washington and all your nice cities you have over there, but all this bullshit stuff you throw at normal people who would like to come and spend some money in your stores and restaurants an hotels just pisses me off.
And Europe treats foreigners any better? In fact, it's mostly the USA implementing the kind of customs Europe has had for decades.
You really ought to try it anyway: change your money to US Dollars and your eurofag-manpurse will just freakin burst.
Our customs control is a GOOD thing, brother. Customs keeps lots of bad stuff out of the US. If you have a gripe, deal with it politically. As for me, I'll take the good with the bad right now. Your "Orwellian dystopia" is very real in many of the other countries on this Earth. Many customs guards won't think twice about ransacking your stuff and detaining you indefinitely (unless you bribe them appropriately, of course).
Harassing people and making sure no crap enters your country to me is a better option that watching them get killed by a bomb blast and then appealing for calm - the way my country's incompetent politicians have been doing since ages.
When will you people in the US realize the nicety of not having a bomb go off and kill 100s of people in last 7 years?
Bitch Bitch Bitch. The only reason any of us have rights to take away is because we have rights.
--- Just say no to negativity.