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(then back up your data, ship the computer device with an insurance policy, and give the border crossing another shot)
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Option 1: "No, I left my phone at home." Option 2: If you're at the US border and a US citizen, "Sir, I'm an American citizen and just want want to get home" -- citizens can't be blocked from re-entering at the border.
"Okay, then please give me your Facebook and Twitter usernames and passwords." If you lie, and then they do a search and find you, then you're going to be in bigger trouble.
You should be able to create two passwords for all devices. One, your password, would allow you to use the device normally, the other, your lastword, would start a silent erasure of the device. The device could even present a fake successful authentication, like dumping you to some fake desktop, while it erases your data.
While in this case it would not really benefit someone in situations like US border crossings who have almost no rights, I think it would be very effective at discouraging attempts to force people to divulge their passwords, as the person entering the lastword would effectively be informing the device that it was under attack. With something like this I would think that questioning people for their passwords would be pointless.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you are asked to produce the contents of your property and provide access to a subset of that property, that will be interpreted as either hindering official action or lying to a federal agent. Lying to a federal agent is a felony. From the customs agent and legal point of view, there is no distinction between hiding a secret compartment in your luggage and a device.
> there is no distinction between hiding a secret compartment in your luggage and a device Is it really illegal to have a secret compartment in your luggage? I mean, I have no doubt it's highly risky and that they will make the case you've done something wrong, but have you inherently done something illegal by merely having a secret compartment? Maybe only if you've explicitly represented that there are no other comp…
In many cases, the customs people have discretion to not admit you for a variety of reasons. There's a tension between the process around physical goods and digital data that isn't clearly understood by the law. Until the law is more firmly established, you're better off not carrying stuff you care about.
This might have been suggested before, but I think it's novel enough to repeat: You should be able to create two passwords for all devices. One, your password, would allow you to use the device normally, the other, your lastword, would start a silent erasure of the device. The device could even present a fake successful authentication, like dumping you to some fake desktop, while it erases your data. While in this ca…
As said in other threads, the solution is not technology.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
How do you do that with an Android phone? With iOS this seems pretty easy
I have used the Android development tools to make backups over USB and it is fast. You can install just the command-line tools from https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html#downloads and use: adb backup -apk -shared -all -f backupname.ab adb restore backupname.ab
Notably, if you use google authenticator for 2FA, it won't backup and you'll restore a device that will no longer work as your second factor.
This might have been suggested before, but I think it's novel enough to repeat: You should be able to create two passwords for all devices. One, your password, would allow you to use the device normally, the other, your lastword, would start a silent erasure of the device. The device could even present a fake successful authentication, like dumping you to some fake desktop, while it erases your data. While in this ca…
If it became commonplace, providing such a password to law enforcement would likely be criminalized.
The simpler way to deal with it that doesn't involve the potential of breaking laws is to carry a travel device and straightforwardly identify it as such if asked. Or don't carry any device at all.
Until you're detained for not having a phone to turn over. I'm only half joking.
My "only half joking" premonition is that in a few years you're going to need a permit to travel outside the US. And I don't mean a passport. I mean an application that is either approved or denied each time you want to go somewhere. And if you dont stick to the approved itinerary (or you dont come back), feds come bring you back and charge you as a felon. Each one of these border issues (phone passwords, checkpoints…
Just like during communism in Poland. My parents told me such stories. I think they wouldn't believe me if I said them that it looks like it will be implemented again in USA.
Once customs and border patrol is holding you is there any way to back out? Could you say something like "Uh... I think I'm just not going to enter right now."? (then back up your data, ship the computer device with an insurance policy, and give the border crossing another shot)
Don't try shenanigans at the border.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>Immigration has very broad powers, but even then this sort of case would be difficult to make IMHO. I agree. But who has the time and money to defend themselves in court against the unlimited resources of the government?
That's the purpose fulfilled by advocacy groups such as the ACLU.