oOoOoOo...

If this isn't a good reason to start encrypting stuff, I don't know what is...

US agents can seize travelers' laptops


BillV

BillV,

I'd read the article earlier (can't remember where I found the link) and I really don't like this development. From what I've read and understand the change (or confirmation) seems very broad and fairly open to abuse.

I'm travelling to the states later this year, as a result of this I am no considering both leaving my laptop at home but also having a fairly long and boring flight as I leave both iPod and handlheld consoles either home or in my luggage in the hold.

Personally I can't see how this is going to improve safety. Surely any 'terrorist' (seems to describe everyone at the moment...) is not going to walk through customs with a laptop full of call-signs and building schematics? Or anyone that does probably doesn't have the intelligence to do any real damage anyway (like the muppets that succeeded in setting themselvs alight whilst trying to attack Glasgow (Scotland, UK) airport a while back.... (Wikipedia article)

I'd agree with Kev, those that don't complain about these developments deserve everything they get from an Orwellian (or worse) government, unfortunately we seem to be sleep-walking into 1984.

I agree, and have similar setups as standard.

In similar discussions others have suggested taking a blank install and collecting all data via a VPN once passed the border. Whilst this and similar precautions can help protect data, it doesn't do much good if you're hardware gets seized for an 'unspecified time period'.

Unfortunately I don't currently get paid enough to buy a new machine every time I cross the border

As a result I am now seriously considering leave my machine at home for my upcoming tour of the States, glad to see we are beating the terrorists...

Here is my take on the whole thing. I have nothing to hide an will cooperate as much as reasonably can be expected. I do not think that seizing a laptop is going to make us any safer. I think like you pointed out role, that travel is going to become even more tedious than it already is in the name of security. Will I still travel with my laptop? Yes. Will I argue with customs and border patrol? Yes. Will it really do any good? No.

that takes me to my next favorite travel topic. Air travel. Has any one else noticed the lack of service or is it just me? Have the friendly skies stopped being friendly all in the name of security? Do any of us really feel safer flying today than we did pre-Sept 11? I know that I don't. Oh, well, enough of my rant. Thanks guys.

Agreed, there seems to be a difference between 'scientifically provable' and 'logical' when it comes to the mechanics of flight. I've been fortunate to fly several small planes in my time and am always scared by how simple and basic the whole process is.

Back to the main point of the topic I'm hoping that the announcement of seizures being legal is going to be little more than red-tape. With most customs/borders agents either: not knowing they can, not caring enough to have the argument or have enough common sense to know better. With luck this may just blow over with a bit backlash and security theatre, leaving the process of flying/passing customs more or less as is.