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Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

theguardian.com

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Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#81

Post by mrobins »

mikeash wrote: post #64
reaperducer wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They take the devices away for some period, but if they’re securely locked, TSA won’t be able to get anything from them. It is well documented that there is no cell phone that cannot be unlocked. And once it's unlocked, who knows what the real goal is. On the surface, one suspects that it's to examine its contents. But other possibilities include sideloading spyware, or even targeted viruses. Some random NGO secret…

I’m not aware of anything better than brute force attacks for any vaguely recent iPhone.

To my knowledge this hasn’t been either verified or disproven, and no methods disclosed, but apparently CellBrite claims to be able to unlock iOS 11.

http://iphone.appleinsider.com/articles/18/02/26/cellebrite-...

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#82

Post by mulmen »

ghostbrainalpha wrote: post #5

I am TOTALLY ok with TSA reading my last text messages before I go on a flight. Those last few texts someone sends before committing a terrorist action, could send an extremely strong signal to authorities and possibly prevent a disaster. If the extra security results in a strange TSA agent getting to enjoy some surprise dick pics, well that's the price of freedom Jerry.

The price of freedom cannot be freedom itself.

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#83

Post by testvox »

derefr wrote: post #2

A devil's advocate argument, for people to have something explicit to rebut here: One of the guises state police operate under in America is the "highway patrol"—a force that searches for terrorists and drug trafficking and the like. And presumably, air travel is a privilege, not a right, just like driving a car is. (Or is it? Taking public transit is a right that can't be denied to someone unless they explicitly bre…

My city Boston will tresspass you from the subway and bus system if you refuse to submit to a search of your bags at the checkpoints they set up at certain stations. So I don't think you are correct about public transportation.

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#84

Post by kbenson »

chillwaves wrote: post #34
gowld wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's also a classic tactic against conservative groups. https://www.npr.org/2017/10/27/560308997/irs-apologizes-for-...

What a non story. The real story is that congress passes impossible to enforce legislation that cannot properly define which groups are political and which not. https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/liberal-groups-got-... > A federal watchdog has identified scores of cases in which the Internal Revenue Service may have targeted liberal-leaning groups for extra scrutiny based on their names or political leanings, a…

> "Classic tactic" for the gov't to target conservatives? You need to provide some real evidence or another example that pans out before making those kind of claims.

In case you didn't notice, that was a repeat of the exact words used in the comment that was being responded to. Unless you're planning to call out the initial comment in the same way, since it actually provided no evidence, whether you think it worthwhile or not, perhaps you should consider why out of the two statements, you felt compelled to respond to the one that actually provided some backing.

It's a little disturbing that I had to vouch for gowld since they were flagged and dead. I may not necessarily agree with them, but voting to oblivion and flagging them does not seem the appropriate response.

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#85

Post by [deleted] »

bibhjbdjbd wrote: post #39
ep103 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

hidden partitions, and/or storing all your important data off-device are the two pieces of advice that get suggested the most.

Most people access email through their phone. Giving up your phone also means they get a complete copy of your email. If you use a VPN to access company servers they will swoop up that information as well, and by extension all server side data your VPN credentials Grant access. They may not be doing all that, but it's only a matter of time and knowledge given their lack of constraints.

[deleted]

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#86

Post by onetimemanytime »

cryoshon wrote: post #65

idea: scrub all data and accounts from your electronics before flying. leave your phone unlocked, but primed with a goatse booby trap so that the agents get an unpleasant surprise that's totally legal and comes with total deniability -- hey, you just loved goatse so that's why it's on your phone and laptop. if the agent is offended, perhaps they should have minded their own fucking business.

>> so that the agents get an unpleasant surprise

YOU will get the surprise: if you're a US citizen they cannot deny you entry to the USA but they can make your life miserable by searching and delaying you every single time.

If you're not a US citizen and try to be a "smartass," they have all the power to deny you entry in the USA. No appeals.

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#88

Post by kbenson »

ajross wrote: post #56
gowld wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's also a classic tactic against conservative groups. https://www.npr.org/2017/10/27/560308997/irs-apologizes-for-...

Sorry, are you equating needless bureaucratic red tape in a non-profit's application for tax-exempt status to the seizure of a private citizen's phone and laptop?

I think they are equating "this kind of harassment through scrutiny" as stated specifically in the top level comment.

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#89

Post by mcherm »

ajross wrote: post #56
gowld wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's also a classic tactic against conservative groups. https://www.npr.org/2017/10/27/560308997/irs-apologizes-for-...

Sorry, are you equating needless bureaucratic red tape in a non-profit's application for tax-exempt status to the seizure of a private citizen's phone and laptop?

Sorry, are you equating a private citizen having their phone out of their sight for 10 minutes with over a year of delays in permitting an organization to accept tax-exempt donations from thousands of citizens?

Frankly, BOTH are unreasonable and the government should not be engaging in EITHER ONE. I think there is little to be gained by debating which is "worse" -- could we instead agree to cease doing both?

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#90

Post by ghostbrainalpha »

opportune wrote: post #51
jjulius wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>If the extra security results in a strange TSA agent getting to enjoy some surprise dick pics, well that's the price of freedom Jerry. I wouldn't say that someone has 'freedom' if they're being forced to possibly have their body visibly exposed to strangers against their will.

If regular people wanted freedom, they would just fly private!

This guy get it.
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