The new laptop seizure rules add to a piece of tinfoil I've worried about for a while

[jmowreader]

I originally thought this might be something they'd try by hacking your computer over the Internets, but now they can seize your laptop for an "indefinite period of time"...

What would stop these maniacs from taking your computer, while they had it for an "indefinite period of time," and copying a CD full of child pornography onto it? This would be the perfect way to dispose of their political enemies: your computer had kiddie porn on it, we say it was there when we took it, you're going to jail for ten years for owning Over 100 Pieces Of The Sleaziest Child Porn and you have to register as a sex offender everywhere you go. And TRY proving otherwise. "Gee, he always seemed like such a nice man. Who knew he was a pervert?"

I'm not as worried about what they might take off as what they might put on. God, we need rid of this administration.

[donco6]

1. They could do that before.

And it makes you wonder . . .

[DJ13]

2. With programs now out that let you access your home PC from any laptop

......and they run from any USB portable storage device, I can see a growing business for laptop rentals at the airport after this ruling.

Why risk your own $1,000 laptop?

[chemp]

4. what to stop them from doing it to you?

They install peripheral software to access your computer from a distance.
I wouldn't put it past 'em.

[EFerrari]

7. That's a really good idea. Or, near the airport like car rental places.

[chemp]

3. is this only airport security?

My family and I are driving to Ontario next week. We plan on using the laptop as a DVD player to keep the kids sedated. Is border security also able and willing to abduct our computer?
Should we buy a portable DVD player and return it when we get home?

[Liberal In Texas]

14. Return it? Good grief, you can get a pretty good one for under

a hundred bucks. I have 3 of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Coby-TF-DVD7107-7-Inch-Portable-Player/dp/B000EN8A7S/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=audio-video&qid=1217705486&sr=1-5

(And lot of time they go on sale for even less.)

[file83]

15. Yes, they can take it at the border. Absolutely.

Get that portable DVD player, and if you don't have a home phone, leave at least 1 cell phone at home because that's an "electronic device capable of storing digital or analog data" which means they can take that too.

It's a brave new world, eh?

[jmowreader]

19. NO you shouldn't return it!

The portable DVD player is, by far, the best tool in the world to keep your kids from screaming their little lungs out at the store. Just load up a DVD they like, stick the kids in the cart, and you'll never hear a peep out of them. Every parent needs one.

[arikara]

23. Sorry, but...

that's just not right. Buying something, using it then returning it. They can't sell it as new anymore after hours of use and a little kid's mucky hands all over it.

If you buy it and use it, then just keep it. If you can't afford it then don't buy it in the first place. Colouring books work too.

[MJW]

5. bg brother is watching us

and it gets more scary every day. Our only hope is to throw the scoundrels out and start over

[NightWatcher]

6. get a good backup hard drive and wipe your computer before you travel

I carry mine for work, but it is always throughly wiped before I leave the house. Any other info that is secretive that I need, I park in out of the way safe spots where only I know to look for them online.

[EFerrari]

8. Is there a way you can prove you wiped your machine

before you arrived at the airport? Some way to print out a record?

[NightWatcher]

9. you mean to show TSA, "look I'm clean"? I dont think so. But I dont fly, I drive

I have too many work toys to carry with me on a plane. Plus checking a gun isnt as easy as it used to be.

[EFerrari]

12. I was thinking more about having a record that shows

the machine was clean when it was confiscated.

[Clovis Sangrail]

10. use truecrypt

it can make hidden encrypted partitions
truecrypt.org

Essentially, create an encrytped hidden partition. Install your programs on and keep your files (email, etc etc) on *that partition.

TSA wont know it's there.

If you ever go through an airport and they *do take your laptop out of your sight you should assume they've installed spyware on it and blow it away when you get back.

(if you're using a hidden encrypted partition your data should be fine and you'll be back up and running pretty quick)

[file83]

16. Won't help you if they simply want to inconvience you...they'll still take your laptop.

If you somehow rub the security people the wrong way or you end up having a name that sounds similar to a name on the terrorist watch list, they can take your laptop just for the fun of it.

And an IT expert can still identify the existence of those partitions with the their equipment.

Truecrypt will fool non-IT people, but it won't fool the experts.

[Clovis Sangrail]

21. I'm one of those 'IT people'

and I can tell you most IT professionals wouldn't be able to tell if there was a hidden truecrypt partition, especially the type of 'IT' at the TSA.
They are going to be looking for (and probably copying) some routine stuff. PSTs, .docs, browser cache, etc
I agree this wont help with the harassment factor, but it will keep some security flunkie from reading your emails or seeing your files.

If you've got somebody doing actual forensic work on your computer... then them finding that hidden partition is probably just the tip of your problems. Even then, however, it's unlikely they're going to get into that partition without your help.

This isn't like Partition Magic hiding partitions.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

11. I know someone...

They did just like that. They seized his computer, said child porn was on it, brough charges, delayed for two years, never presented the porn, then bargained him down to a 9 month sentence.

They have since fired or transferred everyone out of that prosecutor's sex crime unit. Quietly.

[EFerrari]

13. If they're going to randomly take machines, you'd think

there would be a way to make TSA pay for having your machine checked by a pro to make sure it hasn't been loaded once you get it back. There's no reason to trust what strangers do with your computer. :shrug:

[leftofthedial]

17. kiddie porn is one of the state's favorite ways to both imprison and discredit

their enemies

those who don't commit "suicide," that is.

[tblue37]

18. After all, cops are known to plant drugs in cars stopped for

traffic violations (which are sometimes not even real violations to begin with) and in homes. And our soldiers (and cops) are allowed (I think encouraged) to plant weapons on unarmed people they have gunned down. They even have a name for such weapons--I think they call them "throw down guns." When something has a familiar name like that, it means the thing is common, familiar, and generally accepted in an organization.

Fascism comes in different versions. Just because our form of fascist police state doesn't look precisely like Hitler's, that doesn't mean it is not dangerous, or that it won't get even worse. I am astonished that so many people, even prgoressives, are so complacent.

[Pavulon]

20. Whole disk encryption is your friend

pgp makes a great tool that does this. AES256 is stout enough for all but the best. And Those guys dont care about your laptop..

[Clovis Sangrail]

22. exactly

the tools for doing it have become pretty easy, but most people still shy away from it.