A good case for BitLocker....

re: A good case for BitLocker....

kai axford — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:27:06 GMT

Good idea Chris. The real concerns shouldn't necessarily be about entering the U.S. as a U.S. citizen, but it should be a concern when traveling to areas where they typically "frown" on personal encryption technology. As a matter of fact, it is very possible the customs agent of that country could simply demand that you not only provide the drive, but also the cryptographic keys for any encrypted drive you may have. You can either surrender the laptop, the keys, or get back on the plane. Best practice is simply don't travel with any data you aren't willing to part with.

I don't think flying between Seattle and Montana you will face this issue. :)

- Kai

re: A good case for BitLocker....

mkleef — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 02:16:37 GMT

Kai,

...but what other country demands to do this? Ive travelled a lot and no other country has ever said there was a risk they would do this. To be honest though I havent been asked to do that here either and I cant imagine them wanting to screen every laptop that came into the US - can you imagine just how long that would take?

Im amazed that its even allowed. Without being any sort of legal expert, I thought the fourth amendment (constitutional law) disallowed this kind of thing?

re: A good case for BitLocker....

Keith Combs — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:43:07 GMT

I have a good friend that just traveled to China for the Olympics. His family is very well off and I told him not to even take a laptop. He was surprised by that so he said he was going to check with the security detail that travels with them. His OOF message indicates he didn't take a laptop. Draw your own conclusions...

re: A good case for BitLocker....

kai axford — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:56:21 GMT

Kleefy,

The U.S. DHS is not mandating that every person that crosses our borders sacrifice their personal laptop. It's only for persons with "reasonable cause" for suspicion. Trust me when I tell you that other countries due this as well. If I'm a known "person of interest" by the Chinese government, for instance, you can darn sure bet I'd be pulled aside and the contents of all my personal belongings, laptop included, searched. Some nicely...some not so nicely.

Trust me. I work closely with several people who deal with this daily, and it is truly a a major concern. If you're not being pulled aside, consider yourself fortunate and enjoy your travel. If you are, be prepared to be detained, or deported, if you fail to comply. The U.S. is not doing anything any other country is doing....you're just hearing about it because it makes news here.

- Kai