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US border forces are seizing Americans' phone data and storing it for 15 years

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Re: US border forces are seizing Americans' phone data and storing it for 15 years

#461

Post by gmadsen »

randomdata wrote: post #451
gmadsen wrote: post #444

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Again? No, you obviously have a different definition of power, one that is abstract and in practicality useless. I'm trying not to be disparaging, but your comment is so absurd that I can't think of any situation where it would be appropriate outside of a college freshman poly sci class.

Please, let your disparagement run free. It allows us to understand that your motivation is to protect your emotional state, not to simply convey information as has been the nature of discussion up to this point. As I have no emotional attachment to the subject, I'm not bothered by it and am able to learn that you are not here in good faith. Contradictory information is welcome, encouraged even, but I am not sure you…

You are saying millennials hold the power, like it's an axiom. There is no on topic when you build your premise on that. They do not hold the power by any reasonable definition.

Re: US border forces are seizing Americans' phone data and storing it for 15 years

#463

Post by buildsjets »

jjtheblunt wrote: post #367
macrolime wrote: post #227

Even if you are a person who will never in your life end up as any kind of person of interest for the government, handing over data in this way could still be quite dangerous. Phones will often contain data that can facilitate theft and fraud if ending up in the wrong hands. If they're able to copy everything, including private data from all apps that could be quite bad. For example many countries now use apps to log…

> to some account in Nigeria. It must be awkward to be an honest Nigerian on Hacker News, since the country is famous for obvious online scams.

Looks like Dare@MSFT does have an account on HN, altho unused for many years. He's a genuine Nigerian Prince! Well, at least he's the son of a genuine Nigerian warlord/dictator.

https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=Carnage4Life

Re: US border forces are seizing Americans' phone data and storing it for 15 years

#464

Post by [deleted] »

jung_at_heart wrote: post #232
tablespoon wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I give them the password to unlock it (otherwise they would seize the phone) IIRC, I've read they can only hold your phone for 30 days or something like that, then they have to return it to you. They can delay an American citizen, but they can't deny entry. Ever since then, I travel with a travel phone, make sure my photos are backed up when I cross a border, and shut it down before I go through border control. If…

I had this basic thing happen in 2014 -- I refused to give access. I was detained for a while, part of it in a cell, and Canada did explicitly deny me entry. They never gave back my phone or laptop, though I didn't fight too hard for the hardware.

[deleted]

Re: US border forces are seizing Americans' phone data and storing it for 15 years

#465

Post by vkou »

saiya-jin wrote: post #416
macrolime wrote: post #227

Even if you are a person who will never in your life end up as any kind of person of interest for the government, handing over data in this way could still be quite dangerous. Phones will often contain data that can facilitate theft and fraud if ending up in the wrong hands. If they're able to copy everything, including private data from all apps that could be quite bad. For example many countries now use apps to log…

Why the hell would anybody sane, especially with all knowledge average HN user has about government overreach and greed, hacks, 0days, bugs etc. ever put such a critical item as banking app on their phone? Apple vs Android is irrelevant in this, there is no truly safe mainstream phone in 2022, period. Are people really that lazy? I do manage quite a few financial things but for none of those phone apps is crucial and…

>ever put such a critical item as banking app on their phone?

Because my PC isn't meaningfully more secure.

Because in the overwhelming majority of situations, if that security is compromised, my bank will eventually cough up my money.

Also because I also expect neither Google, Apple, my carrier, nor the dab gum gubment is likely to rob me by...

*checks notes*

Compromising the banking app on my phone. Or my PC. Or my router. Or any of the other non-100% secure devices and processes I use to get through my life.

There's basic security precautions, and there's living in fear and paranoia, brought on by a misunderstanding of the threats you are facing.

Re: US border forces are seizing Americans' phone data and storing it for 15 years

#466

Post by 00deadbeef »

robocat wrote: post #420
ekianjo wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Non removable sim? Who wants that?

If any company you depend on uses your phone number for 2FA, then SIMless is useful. A SIM can be removed and put into another phone to receive authentication txts. Mostly relevant if your phone is lost or stolen, or perhaps even if criminals are directly threatening you. For example, I worry about bank accounts when I travel to some countries because criminals would be highly motivated to steal from me - the only th…

This is why you should enable the PIN code feature for your SIM. It will be disabled after a few incorrect attempts. It protects you from the scenarios you describe.

Re: US border forces are seizing Americans' phone data and storing it for 15 years

#467

Post by jazzyjackson »

jrockway wrote: post #382
nilespotter wrote: post #376

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For my part I don't trust PRISM partner Apple to secure anything from the government, enclave or not.

Were any of the companies listed on the PRISM slide consensual partners? My understanding is that the NSA tapped the internal network in an era where mTLS wasn't rolled out. Everyone then saw the slides and rolled out mTLS.

read "when google met wikileaks", tech giants are more than happy to help with national security

Re: US border forces are seizing Americans' phone data and storing it for 15 years

#468

Post by afarrell »

churchill wrote: post #394
jjtheblunt wrote: post #367

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> to some account in Nigeria. It must be awkward to be an honest Nigerian on Hacker News, since the country is famous for obvious online scams.

Nigerian here. At some point it gets old and you just get used to it.

A Nigerian and a Florida Man walk into a bar. They order drinks and nachos and have a reasonable conversation that concludes in a legitimate business deal.

Re: US border forces are seizing Americans' phone data and storing it for 15 years

#469

Post by browningstreet »

markus92 wrote: post #219
browningstreet wrote: post #207

On my last trip back from Europe in June, when I re-entered the US, US Customs & Border Control didn't ask for my passport. No one did. They did wave a webcam connected to a computer in front of my face, and then a moment later, called out my name and said I could enter. Same with everyone coming through the international border area. I think that's just as weird a development and worthy of "WTH?" as this topic.

Do you have global entry?

No, but I do have TSA Pre, and this was the open entry point for all US citizens.

Re: US border forces are seizing Americans' phone data and storing it for 15 years

#470

Post by browningstreet »

marcosdumay wrote: post #265
browningstreet wrote: post #207

On my last trip back from Europe in June, when I re-entered the US, US Customs & Border Control didn't ask for my passport. No one did. They did wave a webcam connected to a computer in front of my face, and then a moment later, called out my name and said I could enter. Same with everyone coming through the international border area. I think that's just as weird a development and worthy of "WTH?" as this topic.

Were you on the illusion that they didn't have your biometric data? Or that they didn't have the passenger list with your name in it? Those two are pretty transparent (and honestly, not a big deal).

I think federal facial recognition feels like a pretty big deal. But I also realize the egg's been cracked.
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