Should customs search travelers' laptops?

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

If someone wants to hide something on their computer, it would take hours for a computer expert to find it. What chance does customs have?

At least hours. I'm sure if a terrorist was hiding something and trying to get through customs, they'd encrypt the data or something.

 

[MMDad]

you're comparing appes to oranges. when searching a càr, or your wallet or brief case, customs is searching for an actual item like explosives or drugs. that is not what they're searching for in a laptop.

So because it is data, we should just let it flow in unchecked? We shouldn't check to see if this Pakistani "businessman" is carrying plans for a dirty bomb? What about kiddyporn? It's illegal to bring in pirated software. Why shouldn't they be checking for it?

You may not be able to touch software, but that doesn't mean it isn't real and doesn't exist. The only difference between searching your wallet and your computer is that the storage medium for the same exact information is different.

 

[terbear1225]

Go turn on KO. The grownups are discussing grownup stuff here.

I can't believe i'm about to say this but:

he actually had a valid point and didn't say anything that would classify him as not a "grown-up"

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

you're comparing apples to oranges. when searching a càr, or your wallet or brief case, customs is searching for an actual item like explosives or drugs. that is not what they're searching for in a laptop.

(sorry for the typos, typing with a bandaid ain't easy)

No they're not. They're going throug personal information looking to find out if someone's a terrorist (as if they can't tell from the rag on the head).

 

[vegmom]

If someone wants to hide something on their computer, it would take hours for a computer expert to find it. What chance does customs have?

Exactly! If it's something they want to hide they've probably encryted the heck out of it. Would win the "Stupidest Terrorist" award if there was a shortcut to it on their desktop.

 

[Christy]

If this man travels as much as he professes to travel, he would be fully aware that this is done everywhere, not just the US. Some countries have been known to take several days to thoroughly look through your laptop, sometimes it is never returned to you.

You should NEVER travel with personal of sensitive information on your laptop.

 

[MMDad]

If someone wants to hide something on their computer, it would take hours for a computer expert to find it. What chance does customs have?

When customs does searches, they are almost always targeted. There is a reason they suspect something. It makes the task of searching a computer a lot easier if you have a good idea what you are searching for.

 

[ylexot]

So because it is data, we should just let it flow in unchecked?

What's the web address for internet customs? I mean, that data flowing in must be checked, right?

 

[MMDad]

I can't believe i'm about to say this but:

he actually had a valid point and didn't say anything that would classify him as not a "grown-up"

Methinks you spoke just a little bit too soon:

No they're not. They're going throug personal information looking to find out if someone's a terrorist (as if they can't tell from the rag on the head).

 

[terbear1225]

So because it is data, we should just let it flow in unchecked? We shouldn't check to see if this Pakistani "businessman" is carrying plans for a dirty bomb? What about kiddyporn? It's illegal to bring in pirated software. Why shouldn't they be checking for it?

You may not be able to touch software, but that doesn't mean it isn't real and doesn't exist. The only difference between searching your wallet and your computer is that the storage medium for the same exact information is different.

somehow I think there a lot more differences. f

or one thing, any joe schmoefrom off the street can search a wallet while it would take an expert to find and identify material on a laptop, especially if that material was in any way encrypted (which it most likely would be if it was illegal)

most people have the ability to search a wallet without significant damage while someone without the proper credentials could do irreversible damage to a laptop.

a wallet if it is damaged would not be terribly hard to replace in most instances while a laptop would cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

 

[ylexot]

When customs does searches, they are almost always targeted. There is a reason they suspect something. It makes the task of searching a computer a lot easier if you have a good idea what you are searching for.

That would be profiling

 

[terbear1225]

Methinks you spoke just a little bit too soon:

yes, apparently i did. i knew i was going to regret that ewven a I was typing it

 

[MMDad]

What's the web address for internet customs? I mean, that data flowing in must be checked, right?

Yes, a lot of it is checked. Are you not aware of the data mining activities that our government is involved in? Do you honestly think that anything on the web is private?

 

[Pete]

If this man travels as much as he professes to travel, he would be fully aware that this is done everywhere, not just the US. Some countries have been known to take several days to thoroughly look through your laptop, sometimes it is never returned to you.

You should NEVER travel with personal of sensitive information on your laptop.

Those mean old Canadians confiscated 2 pounds of ground beef and a pack of pork chops from my camper when I traveled across Canada.

 

[MMDad]

That would be profiling

There's no law against profiling. It isn't racial profiling, it is behavior profiling. If you travel to Pakistan, they look at you more closely when you come home than if you go to Britain.

If you go to Columbia, they will look more closely for drugs. It's not rocket science.

 

[MMDad]

somehow I think there a lot more differences. f

or one thing, any joe schmoefrom off the street can search a wallet while it would take an expert to find and identify material on a laptop, especially if that material was in any way encrypted (which it most likely would be if it was illegal)

most people have the ability to search a wallet without significant damage while someone without the proper credentials could do irreversible damage to a laptop.

a wallet if it is damaged would not be terribly hard to replace in most instances while a laptop would cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

That's why they have experts there to search for the data. It isn't Joe Blow the $10/hr. baggage screener. These are actually trained professional ICE agents.

Also, any damage that's done ICE isn't responsible for. They have to give you all the parts back, they don't have to be put back together.

They can take your car apart and give it back to you in 500 pieces. They rarely do, but it does happen, and there is nothing you can do about it.

 

[MMDad]

Those mean old Canadians confiscated 2 pounds of ground beef and a pack of pork chops from my camper when I traveled across Canada.

They ate it. John Candy was a Canuck. He probably got that big by eating stuff confiscated from Americans in campers.

 

[terbear1225]

That's why they have experts there to search for the data. It isn't Joe Blow the $10/hr. baggage screener. These are actually trained professional ICE agents.

Also, any damage that's done ICE isn't responsible for. They have to give you all the parts back, they don't have to be put back together.

They can take your car apart and give it back to you in 500 pieces. They rarely do, but it does happen, and there is nothing you can do about it.[/QUOTE]

thank you for pointing out one of the reasons i'm against it!

 

[ylexot]

Exactly! If it's something they want to hide they've probably encryted the heck out of it. Would win the "Stupidest Terrorist" award if there was a shortcut to it on their desktop.

If I was trying to hide files, I'd zip them into one file, encrypt it, and then split it into small pieces. Then I'd embed those pieces into the metadata of a bunch of vacation photos...that is, if I was smart enough to be able to do that. I know it can be done, but I don't know how to do it.

 

[chernmax]

If I was trying to hide files, I'd zip them into one file, encrypt it, and then split it into small pieces. Then I'd embed those pieces into the metadata of a bunch of vacation photos...that is, if I was smart enough to be able to do that. I know it can be done, but I don't know how to do it.

Or you could just get your buddy to email it to you once you're here in the states...