US customs can copy your hard drive

biko · 10-09-2009 6:56pm #1

Just a heads up for anyone planning to travel to USA. I travel there for business and will maybe have to start mailing myself sensitive corporate information now, or store it on a company server while travelling (probably a good idea anyway...).

The Department of Homeland Security in the US has just issued new guidelines confirming that it can seize and search through files and data on your laptop, mobile or PDA, whenever you pass through customs.

The guidelines go so far as to say that hardware and files can be taken from the airport, the contents copied and the information shared with other US agencies. In fact, border agents don't even need probable cause to do this. Thanks to a court ruling back in April, they can nab your equipment on a whim - although they do have to destroy any copied files if nothing out of sorts is found.

Interestingly, "correspondence contained in a sealed letter class mail" cannot be opened without a warrant - leading some to suggest you should just mail any data you'd rather not fall into the hands of US officials direct to your destination, and then pop it in your laptop when you arrive.

http://www.mobilecomputermag.co.uk/20080801763/us-customs-can-copy-your-hard-drive.html
http://www.nysun.com/national/customs-agents-copy-travelers-laptop-phone-data/80735/

Agent Smith · 10-09-2009 6:57pm

overheal is Just trying to get his hands on all our bank details.

Wibbs · 10-09-2009 6:57pm

Jesus, that's mad ted.

Turd Ferguson · 10-09-2009 6:58pm

USB fobs in the butt FTW!!

dr.bollocko · 10-09-2009 7:00pm

Turd Ferguson wrote: »

USB fobs in the butt FTW!!

I think I saw you on dragon's den. I think that Deborah Meaden looked interested. Bet she's mad in the sack.

jhegarty · 10-09-2009 7:02pm

This has been in place for over a year now.

Capt'n Midnight · 10-09-2009 7:03pm

Yes the CIA & co. have been involved in commercial spying on behalf of American companies before.

In the UK / US you can get done for refusing to reveal the password to encrypted files / disks if authorities request it (might need a warrant in the UK )

TBH both countries have ample bandwidth such that a traveller could download documents after they arrive , so won't stop anyone with something to hide and a few smarts.

Agent Smith · 10-09-2009 7:05pm

Turd Ferguson wrote: »

USB fobs in the butt FTW!!

feck that

copy to microsd card

Swalllow

travel

10-09-2009 7:16pm

If your laptop was in a sealed envelope with stamps etc on it(But you were carrying it) would that be enough I wonder?

10-09-2009 7:16pm

Agent Smith wrote: »

feck that

copy to microsd card

Swalllow

travel

or email to self and not ingest anything? :rolleyes:

Mrmoe · 10-09-2009 7:17pm

I think this guy has the solution

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=7112491&page=1

http://nbnl.globalwhelming.com/2009/03/20/man-uses-2gb-usb-flash-drive-in-place-of-amputated-finger/

Man uses 2GB USB Flash Drive in place of AMPUTATED FINGER.

It’s innovative, but, imagine having to stick your hand in a USB slot and waiting for the files to be transferred.
Or if your colleagues is around, guess what horror they will have to see you remove a usb drive from your finger.

You’ve heard of USB thumb drives, but you likely have not considered the real thing – a lost digit replaced by a USB Flash drive.

A Finnish programmer who lost his finger in a motorcycle accident has now replaced it with a prosthetic finger that has a USB drive built in. Jerry Jalava can now peel back his “nail” and reveal a 2GB “finger drive” for storing photos, movies and software.

alava had his left ring finger amputated last summer after crashing into a deer with his motorbike near the Finnish capital Helsinky. Given his profession as a computer programmer, the doctors treating him joked that he should have a USB “finger drive” and Jalava went for the idea.

Jerry Jalava’s 2GB USB finger looks like a normal finger, but it’s detachable and he leaves it inside his computer’s slot while using it. The Finnish programmer plans to “upgrade” his finger in the future with one that has a removable fingertip, an RFID tag and more storage space.

This time, Jalava’s USB finger is not a hoax, unlike the story of the guy who surgically altered his thumbs two years ago for better use of his phone keyboard. To refresh your memory, that guy whittled his thumbs several times so that he could type faster on his Blackberry and then iPhone — and it proved to be just a PR stunt (or more of a Flat Earth News worthy tale).
[from PCWorld]

Turd Ferguson · 10-09-2009 7:19pm

Deleted User wrote: »

or email to self and not ingest anything? :rolleyes:

Pussy

Manic Moran · 10-09-2009 7:29pm

jhegarty wrote: »

This has been in place for over a year now.

I was about to say, it's not new.

There was quite the legal battle a while ago as to whether or not one could be compelled to reveal the password for encrypted files (or just to log into the computer) when entering the country. Can't recall which way the court ruled, there are very good legal arguments on both sides.

NTM

ScumLord · 10-09-2009 7:30pm

It's times like these I'm almost glad I'm not aloud to travel to the US.

10-09-2009 7:36pm

ScumLord wrote: »

It's times like these I'm almost glad I'm not aloud to travel to the US.

awh.. did you fail the spelling test at customs?

DublinWriter · 10-09-2009 7:36pm

Truecrypt people, Truecrypt.

ScumLord · 10-09-2009 7:38pm

Deleted User wrote: »

awh.. did you fail the spelling test at customs?

You don't need to be able to spell to enter the states, in fact literacy is frowned upon.

Donny5 · 10-09-2009 7:38pm

Turd Ferguson wrote: »

Pussy

That'd be a good place to hide it, too.

10-09-2009 7:38pm

touché scumlord

buynow · 10-09-2009 7:39pm

Does anyone know whether Irish customs are allowed to search hard drives entering the country?

This mentions indecent video recordings, so they must have the power to look at what is on it? http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/travel-and-recreation/travel-to-ireland/customs_regulations_for_travellers

Gummy Panda · 10-09-2009 7:44pm

Can't they download their own porn?

This reminds me of that film Johnny Mnemonic. I wish it didn't, that film sucked!!

procure11 · 10-09-2009 7:55pm

Magnus wrote: »

Just a heads up for anyone planning to travel to USA. I travel there for business and will maybe have to start mailing myself sensitive corporate information now, or store it on a company server while travelling (probably a good idea anyway...).

http://www.mobilecomputermag.co.uk/20080801763/us-customs-can-copy-your-hard-drive.html
http://www.nysun.com/national/customs-agents-copy-travelers-laptop-phone-data/80735/

At least they admit it publicly.Are you sure this has not being the case for a lot of countries for sometime?

I have nothing to worry about anyway!!...I am a legit Man!

Corkfeen · 10-09-2009 7:56pm

They'll have a might porn collection.

ScumLord · 10-09-2009 7:58pm

Did you ever see that Australian customs show, they actually do search peoples laptops for porn. :eek:

blubloblu · 10-09-2009 8:41pm

Get a hard drive full of random data. Pass the real data against it using XOR. Mail yourself one drive, bring the other. Both are useless alone.

Zillah · 10-09-2009 8:45pm

Some lunatics fly a plane into a building and a nation gives away its freedom.

Terrifying.

Corkfeen · 10-09-2009 9:04pm

blubloblu wrote: »

Get a hard drive full of random data. Pass the real data against it using XOR. Mail yourself one drive, bring the other. Both are useless alone.

Thats just making you look suspicous tbh.

biko · 10-09-2009 9:09pm

About how you close an open society to win control over the citizens
Godwin warning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFYZDVUVQ1U

Stephen · 10-09-2009 9:14pm

DublinWriter wrote: »

Truecrypt people, Truecrypt.

They can "compel" you to decrypt your stuff for them too.

Donny5 · 10-09-2009 9:14pm

blubloblu wrote: »

Get a hard drive full of random data. Pass the real data against it using XOR. Mail yourself one drive, bring the other. Both are useless alone.

Why not just bring a hdd full of random data by itself, even if you don't travel with a laptop. It'd be fun watching them try to decypher it.

Professey Chin · 10-09-2009 9:20pm

Turd Ferguson wrote: »

USB fobs in the butt FTW!!

What what in the butt?

US customs can copy your hard drive

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