Recent TSA Experience

[pr surfer]

So they arent allowed to confirm it's a working laptop? Or they are supposed to have you present when they do? or...??

They are not allowed to turn on my laptop. Once it has passed through the metal detector and it is shown not to be a threat to aviation security that is where the extent of their legal power ends.

They are just part of the illegal dragnet that has been pushed at aviation security checkpoints.

 

[pr surfer]

(Although, as others have mentioned customs agents may have you log in to a computer to verify it was not purchased abroad)

If they want to ask me where I purchased it for the purpose of collecting import duties (which the laptop may not qualify for), that's ok. However, I'm honest, so if I were to buy a laptop overseas, it would be in my customs declaration.

If they want to turn it on, I generally comply, as I personally have nothing to worry about. I just feel leery since I tend to have confidential materials in my laptop for work, generally displaying product information and release dates for items not on the market (I'm in advertising), as well as confidential artwork for the ads, etc. If they ask me to surrender my laptop for inspection that can't be done on the spot, I'll be asking for a supervisor or calling my attorney.

 

[Lewisc]

If they want to turn it on, I generally comply, as I personally have nothing to worry about. I just feel leery since I tend to have confidential materials in my laptop for work, generally displaying product information and release dates for items not on the market (I'm in advertising), as well as confidential artwork for the ads, etc. If they ask me to surrender my laptop for inspection that can't be done on the spot, I'll be asking for a supervisor or calling my attorney.

Read the Washington Post article I previously linked. Also check he eff website.
http://w2.eff.org/effector/21/15.php

You can ask for a supervisor or call your attorney but they'll tell you the appeals courts have already given customs not the TSA the authority to take your laptop for inspection.

You may want to leave your confidential information on your server and access through the internet.

 

[pr surfer]

Read the Washington Post article I previously linked. Also check he eff website.
http://w2.eff.org/effector/21/15.php

You can ask for a supervisor or call your attorney but they'll tell you the appeals courts have already given customs not the TSA the authority to take your laptop for inspection.

You may want to leave your confidential information on your server and access through the internet.

I've read it. If encountered either would be a stall tactic or a confusion tactic in hopes that the CBP guard fears consequences and leaves me be.

I tend to access work and dump it on the server, doing a quick HDD clean before landing back in the US.

 

[Lewisc]

I just feel leery since I tend to have confidential materials in my laptop for work, generally displaying product information and release dates for items not on the market (I'm in advertising), as well as confidential artwork for the ads, etc. If they ask me to surrender my laptop for inspection that can't be done on the spot, I'll be asking for a supervisor or calling my attorney.

I've read it. If encountered either would be a stall tactic or a confusion tactic in hopes that the CBP guard fears consequences and leaves me be.

I tend to access work and dump it on the server, doing a quick HDD clean before landing back in the US.

One your posts is 100% false.Either you keep confidential material on your laptop or you do a HDD clean before returning to the US. Either you plan on wasting time calling your attorney or you hope you can stall.

There are no consequences, customs is allowed to take your laptop. The only consequneces is to the passenger who objects in the wrong way.

Edited to add, I don't agree with the policy but the courts have upheld the rights of customs to take a laptop. Suggesting a passenger ask for a superivor, or call their attorney, isn't very helpful. JMO but it's only a matter of time before someone decides to have customs check for pirated software, movies and music. I'm pretty sure there is a forensic program that will automatically do just that.

 

[pr surfer]

One your posts is 100% false.Either you keep confidential material on your laptop or you do a HDD clean before returning to the US. Either you plan on wasting time calling your attorney or you hope you can stall.

There are no consequences, customs is allowed to take your laptop. The only consequneces is to the passenger who objects in the wrong way.

Neither one is false. By HDD clean, I mean I clear all temp files/caches and wipe my free space. All confidential files that remain on the hard drive due to inability to dump in a server (or if I choose to work on the plane and bill those hours), reside inside a truecrypt directory or in an encrypted USB drive in my pocket.

Running ccleaner is literally the last thing I do before I shut the laptop down prior to landing.

Thankfully, I've never been asked by Customs to even show the laptop, much less boot it, but I am prepared.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

The TSA, in spite of the constitutional boundaries its officers obliterate every day, does NOT swab for swine flu or DNA as a component of the airport security checkpoint process.

Swabs are conducted to rule out the presence of compounds and elements used in the production of explosive devices. YMMV.