Comments on: Having your laptop searched at the US border – legal or intrusive?

By: Kaizoman

Kaizoman — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:47:00 +0000

Nameless… Give it up. You've made your point to the people that need the point made to them and people who wont understand the point no matter what, well you can't convince them.

Be happy in that I understood everything you said and agree.

"If you argue rankle and contradict, you may achieve victory sometimes; but it will be an empty victory because you will never get your opponents good will." -Ben Franklin

By: Kaizoman

Kaizoman — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:47:00 +0000

Nameless… Give it up. You’ve made your point to the people that need the point made to them and people who wont understand the point no matter what, well you can’t convince them.

Be happy in that I understood everything you said and agree.

“If you argue rankle and contradict, you may achieve victory sometimes; but it will be an empty victory because you will never get your opponents good will.” -Ben Franklin

By: Cuidado ao levar o portátil para os States! « mb|Weblog v.2

Cuidado ao levar o portátil para os States! « mb|Weblog v.2 — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:01:03 +0000

[...] mas se estão a planear uma viagem aos EUA e pretendem levar o vosso portátil, o melhor é lerem este post no Geeks Are Sexy. [...]

By: Ghost

Ghost — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:22:00 +0000

The border patrol do NOT have top secret clearances! At best, they might have a secret. Most of them could not flip burgers competitively at the local burger joint. That's why they are called welfare workers. Only 20 % are doing the work while the rest read (if they can read) the paper. My laptops are encrypted and you need the dongle. Three try's is all you get, after that it's a paperweight.

By: Ghost

Ghost — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:22:00 +0000

The border patrol do NOT have top secret clearances! At best, they might have a secret. Most of them could not flip burgers competitively at the local burger joint. That’s why they are called welfare workers. Only 20 % are doing the work while the rest read (if they can read) the paper. My laptops are encrypted and you need the dongle. Three try’s is all you get, after that it’s a paperweight.

By: nameless guy

nameless guy — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:49:00 +0000

Maybe some of you folks missed where airport security was confused by a Mac Airbook. http://www.michaelnygard.com/blog/2008/03/steve_j... http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/03/10/macbook.ai... Then there is this: http://www.natch.net/stuff/TSA/ But what were are talking about is not turning on a machine to prove its not a bomb. What we are talking about searching the contents of laptops, thumb drives, ipods, and other media and the privacy concerns therein. Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. - Ben Franklin How you will you answer "What's your security clearance, citizen?"

By: nameles guy

nameles guy — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:31:00 +0000

I'm a twat because I understand people want to protect their data for both personal and legal reasons? Why would my family be messed up because I am aware of privacy concerns?

And no, I don’t trust the border personal to thwart anything but the most obvious security threats.

One of the realities of life is that if you allow people to snoop they will. In order to parse out the 'bad stuff' you have to look at all the stuff. Sometimes this will be done with the aid of tools that search for particular criteria; sometimes it will be done by hand. And some things learned cannot be unlearned. You cannot trust border guard with the personal details of peoples lives or with information that is legally confidential and would require a court order to obtain. Lawyer/Client correspondence and trade secrets are fine examples.

And once data is copied it can be freely copied again. Your border personal may lose his laptop or add the files to his personal collection. Once your data is copied you have no control over how it will be distributed and do not know who’s hands it shall fall into.

There is nothing unreasonable about wanting your private data to remain private. Outside of legal requirements, It is normal for human beings to be guarded with their intimate details. Surely you have no shared every dark thought you have ever had with another human being. You have not made publically available your childhood love letters, have you? And what about the privacy of others? Maybe those naked pictures of your girlfriend were only to be viewed by you, and not the border guard and his pals?

If the technology was available, would you be ok with the border guards being allowed to read not only your current thoughts, but your memories without a warrant? What makes out written thoughts any different?

I am a twat who understands that if you want something to remain private you encrypt it and obfuscate it and take measures to ensure the data is never placed in a position where others can access it. Right and wrong, legal and illegal make no difference. The forces in power do as they wish and pay no attention to these details.

By: nameles guy

nameles guy — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:31:00 +0000

I’m a twat because I understand people want to protect their data for both personal and legal reasons? Why would my family be messed up because I am aware of privacy concerns?

And no, I don’t trust the border personal to thwart anything but the most obvious security threats.

One of the realities of life is that if you allow people to snoop they will. In order to parse out the ‘bad stuff’ you have to look at all the stuff. Sometimes this will be done with the aid of tools that search for particular criteria; sometimes it will be done by hand. And some things learned cannot be unlearned. You cannot trust border guard with the personal details of peoples lives or with information that is legally confidential and would require a court order to obtain. Lawyer/Client correspondence and trade secrets are fine examples.

By: Krizzz

Krizzz — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:24:00 +0000

Can't you see that THEY are using all your fear of terrorism ( the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes)as an excuse to take all your liberties and your so beloved freedom and no one cares ??! If that piece of news would be about Russia you all would be saying how bad this is for democracy. So wake up…

By: Krizzz

Krizzz — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:24:00 +0000

Can’t you see that THEY are using all your fear of terrorism ( the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes)as an excuse to take all your liberties and your so beloved freedom and no one cares ??! If that piece of news would be about Russia you all would be saying how bad this is for democracy. So wake up…

By: matt

matt — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:18:00 +0000

ok well nameless guy you are a twat, you want them to protect you and presumably what ever mess you call a familly, but you wont trust them to turn on your computer?

you think they are going to sit there and read through all your personall files? you may have nothing better to do with your time but these guys do

and what are you so desperate to hide?

if it is only for "work" reasons then is this untrained security goon going to recognize remember it understand it and memorise it so that he can sell on to your competitors who i bet are just itching to know you're every thought

By: matt

matt — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:18:00 +0000

ok well nameless guy you are a twat, you want them to protect you and presumably what ever mess you call a familly, but you wont trust them to turn on your computer?
you think they are going to sit there and read through all your personall files? you may have nothing better to do with your time but these guys do
and what are you so desperate to hide?
if it is only for “work” reasons then is this untrained security goon going to recognize remember it understand it and memorise it so that he can sell on to your competitors who i bet are just itching to know you’re every thought