NotebookForums.com › Forums › General Notebook Discussions › Notebook News › Travelers Beware the TSA Wants Your Laptop
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Travelers Beware the TSA Wants Your Laptop

post #1 of 20
2/7/08 at 7:32pm
Thread Starter 
U.S. Agents Seize Travelers' Devices
Quote:
Originally Posted at http://washingtonpost.com
"I was assured that my laptop would be given back to me in 10 or 15 days," said Udy, who continues to fly into and out of the United States. She said the federal agent copied her log-on and password, and asked her to show him a recent document and how she gains access to Microsoft Word. She was asked to pull up her e-mail but could not because of lack of Internet access. With ACTE's help, she pressed for relief. More than a year later, Udy has received neither her laptop nor an explanation.
Just an FYI for those who do alot of travelling
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 20
2/7/08 at 7:39pm
Interesting. And a bit troubling.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 20
2/7/08 at 7:44pm
"sir, it appears that you have 3,168 images of cats with absurd messages superimposed on them.........you wanna explain this?"

"what exactly is a lolpotumus?"

i can has constitutional rights?
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 20
2/7/08 at 7:44pm
"I have a cat fetish?"

"Oh, that's alright then."
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 20
2/7/08 at 7:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by darthmorgoth View Post
"sir, it appears that you have 3,168 images of cats with absurd messages superimposed on them.........you wanna explain this?"

"what exactly is a lolpotumus?"

i can has constitutional rights?
the proper response would be, "it's caturday". and then quote from the cat bible.

oh shit, i just realized i'm not in OT anymore.

*follows yellow brick*

*singing "i'm off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of OT"*
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 20
2/7/08 at 7:49pm
dont tase me bro, its caturday!
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 20
2/7/08 at 8:03pm
Were the hell is this?
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 20
2/7/08 at 8:07pm
you're dreaming darq. go back to sleep and when you wake up you'll be safe and sound back in OT.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 20
2/7/08 at 8:28pm
The TSA is the most incompetent group of people that I have ever come across. And, unfortunately, I have to deal with them on a regular basis. Their policies are ridiculous, and their employees are poorly trained, and, well, for the most part, stupid.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 20
2/8/08 at 12:39am
So, they're copying the Chinese security and scrutiny techniques now?
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 20
2/8/08 at 12:49am
Encrypt encrypt encrypt

http://www.truecrypt.org/
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 20
2/8/08 at 2:41am
they'll just hold you until you give them your passwords........or just keep your stuff indefinitely. the best bet is probably to install a dead switch as a user mod and tell them that you think their x-rays killed it.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 20
2/8/08 at 3:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by darthmorgoth View Post
they'll just hold you until you give them your passwords........or just keep your stuff indefinitely. the best bet is probably to install a dead switch as a user mod and tell them that you think their x-rays killed it.
Actually you can create a hidden partition that isn't visible unless they know what to look for. And then you can create a hidden partition inside that hidden partition, so they think you gave them something. A red herring if you will. Either way, the key is that you get both plausible deniability ("Huh, what encryption? I don't know what you're talking about.") and actual security ("You can't get at what's in there unless you rubber hose me"). A court recently ruled that not revealing a password is equivalent to taking the 5th amendment.

Also, if that laptop is ever removed from your sight, I recommend you wipe the drive completely when you get it back and open it up and make sure no keyloggers were installed.

The people here know far more than I about ways to get around this idiotic policy, it's mostly three fold: plausible deniability, appeasing them with red herrings, and computationally impossible to break encryption. http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/08/02/07/1412229.shtml
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 20
2/8/08 at 9:58am
i dont have anything to hide...
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 20
2/8/08 at 3:46pm
i don't have anyting to hide either, but i don't want the CHANCE that they might (purposely) misinterpret anything to be possibly dangerous and haul my ass away. they're getting overzealous with this anti-terrorism thing, if you ask me...
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 20
2/8/08 at 4:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ILoveAlienware View Post
i don't have anyting to hide either, but i don't want the CHANCE that they might (purposely) misinterpret anything to be possibly dangerous and haul my ass away. they're getting overzealous with this anti-terrorism thing, if you ask me...
I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but when the government is looking at people's private info, a little paranoia can be a good thing. I wouldn't want something I said on IM or posted as a joke to be taken seriously.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 20
2/8/08 at 6:10pm
Dude, all I ever post are jokes.

I am so dead.
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 20
2/9/08 at 1:16am
"Sir, what is this obscene picture of a bomb?"

"Oh, that's a Team Fortress 2 screenshot."

"Well, this looks pretty threatening. We're going to have to hold you for further questioning."

"But..."

"This is terrorist material! Guards! Take him away!"



Exit scene.
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 20
2/9/08 at 3:24pm
"bring Forth The Salad Tongs And Wooden Pickle"
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 20
2/10/08 at 9:44am
DB?

Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Notebook News
NotebookForums.com › Forums › General Notebook Discussions › Notebook News › Travelers Beware the TSA Wants Your Laptop