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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

#161

Post by Mithorium »

neuland wrote: post #101
skrowl wrote: post #87

Remember the 5th Amendment applies to passwords. No law enforcement officer may EVER compel you to log in to a device with a password / pass code / unlock pattern, for any reason.

This is the way things should work. But, there was a widely reported case recently where a man accused of possessing child pornography has been held in jail for a long time [0]. From what I can tell, he's been in jail for contempt of court for nearly 2 and a half years! [0] https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/man-jailed-indef...

If it's been 2 years, can they even prove that he can still remember the password? He hasn't had to use it for over 2 years, it would be entirely probable his memory of it has faded.

How about this theoretical situation: I place an encrypted file in a hard drive belonging to someone I dislike, and then frame them circumstantially with the likely possession of contraband data on said hard drive. Since he owns the device, he may be so unlucky as to have the authorities believe he knows how to decrypt the file despite him claiming he has no knowledge of how the file came to be or how to decrypt it. If they will not accept that argument, this seems like a good way to place a political opponent in jail indefinitely by someone with the means to craft such a scenario

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

#162

Post by gumby »

benmmurphy wrote: post #138
lisper wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would strongly recommend the latter. Hidden partitions are trivial to find. I recommend one of these: https://www.amazon.com/MyDigitalSSD-480GB-SuperSpeed-Portabl... Keep it encrypted and in your pocket.

The bigger problem with hidden partitions is the TSA agent asks you if there is a hidden partition and then if they are able to find out they you have lied you have committed a crime.

> TSA agent asks you ... and then if they are able to find out they you have lied you have committed a crime.

Not sure that's the case: TSA agents are not police or any other law enforcement any more than the gate agent is,and can't make arrests or anything like that. Pretty sure you can say what you like (though please, be polite!).

I once pulled out my phone to photograph the badge of an agent who was particularly obnoxious, not just to me but to others. I planned to fill out the complaint card. He freaked out, told me photography was not allowed, grabbed me by the arm and called for the cop. The cop came over and told him in no uncertain terms to let go of me, that photography is fine, asked me if I got a clear photo and made sure I got a photo of the badge. And handed me a complaint form. I assume he already knew that the TSA guy was a jerk.

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

#163

Post by oh_sigh »

pdkl95 wrote: post #99

I guess they didn't read Riley v California[1]. In the opinion of the SCOTUS: > Modern cell phones are not just another technological convenience. With all they contain and all they may reveal, they hold for many Americans “the privacies of life". The fact that technology now allows an individual to carry such information in his hand does not make the information any less worthy of the protection for which the Founde…

> the same requirement must also hold for Terry stops and simple safety inspections.

You must show your work here.

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

#164

Post by codezero »

lisper wrote: post #30
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.

I would strongly recommend the latter. Hidden partitions are trivial to find. I recommend one of these: https://www.amazon.com/MyDigitalSSD-480GB-SuperSpeed-Portabl... Keep it encrypted and in your pocket.

Does this provide a layer of security outside of say, adding a strong password to your phone and keeping it powered off, assuming my phone's data is encrypted?

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

#165

Post by lisper »

dharmab wrote: post #141
lisper wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would strongly recommend the latter. Hidden partitions are trivial to find. I recommend one of these: https://www.amazon.com/MyDigitalSSD-480GB-SuperSpeed-Portabl... Keep it encrypted and in your pocket.

TSA makes you empty your pockets when going through security.

Hm, good point. I forgot about that because I have pre-check.

So maybe one of these instead:

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-microSDXC-Adapter-MB-MC256GA-...

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

#166

Post by lisper »

codezero wrote: post #164
lisper wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would strongly recommend the latter. Hidden partitions are trivial to find. I recommend one of these: https://www.amazon.com/MyDigitalSSD-480GB-SuperSpeed-Portabl... Keep it encrypted and in your pocket.

Does this provide a layer of security outside of say, adding a strong password to your phone and keeping it powered off, assuming my phone's data is encrypted?

Yes. It provides protection against monkey wrench attacks.

https://xkcd.com/538/

Of course the TSA is not so unsubtle as to actually hit you with a wrench, but they have other ways of making your life miserable.

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

#167

Post by oh_sigh »

lisper wrote: post #30
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.

I would strongly recommend the latter. Hidden partitions are trivial to find. I recommend one of these: https://www.amazon.com/MyDigitalSSD-480GB-SuperSpeed-Portabl... Keep it encrypted and in your pocket.

They're not exactly trivial to find - but they are trivial to use. Why not use one if you are concerned?

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

#168

Post by benchaney »

derefr wrote: post #23
jMyles wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Presumably, air travel is a privilege, not a right, just like driving a car is. Freedom of movement is a privilege, not a right? What can you possibly be talking about? Did I miss a memo? The United States (and other common law societies) have a long history of enshrining freedom of movement as a fundamental right. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_movement_under_Unit... Also, be reminded that the USA voted…

Freedom of movement no more guarantees your right to purchase a ticket aboard a private, commercial flight, than freedom of speech guarantees your right to post to a private, commercial forum. What freedom of movement does guarantee, to be clear, is that you're: 1. allowed to own your own plane; 4. allowed to fly said plane over pretty much any American airspace, other than specific little zones cordoned off by the m…

> Freedom of movement no more guarantees your right to purchase a ticket aboard a private, commercial flight, than freedom of speech guarantees your right to post to a private, commercial forum.

It is the government that prevents you from flying on the private commercial airline. Not the airline owner. If the government was preventing people from posting certain messages on private commercial form, that would certainly be a violation of the First Amendment.

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

#169

Post by nunrandom »

chillwaves wrote: post #110
kbenson wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "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 worthwhi…

People who make outrageous claims need to be prepared to defend them. There is enough disinfo out there already.

Then apply the same standard to all, including members of your own tribe.

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

#170

Post by lisper »

oh_sigh wrote: post #167
lisper wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would strongly recommend the latter. Hidden partitions are trivial to find. I recommend one of these: https://www.amazon.com/MyDigitalSSD-480GB-SuperSpeed-Portabl... Keep it encrypted and in your pocket.

They're not exactly trivial to find - but they are trivial to use. Why not use one if you are concerned?

> They're not exactly trivial to find

I guess it depends on your definition of "trivial", but I wouldn't want to bet my privacy on the TSA's inability to locate a hidden partition any more than I would want to bet it on their basic honesty and respect for my Constitutional rights.

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