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US checking laptops and hardrives when returning
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tgrear2008



Joined: 14 Apr 2010
PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 9:55 am    Post subject: US checking laptops and hardrives when returning Reply with quote
Do customs officials go through computers and external hard drives and such things when you return from abroad? Just curious to see if my downloaded movies and music will put me in the slammer. (Before anyone says anything, I'm not talking about porno). Should I delete all my files?
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runthegauntlet



Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Location: the southlands.
PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 12:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
No, of course not.

But since you're so incredibly paranoid, yes, wipe your hard drives clean. Or else!
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rainism



Joined: 13 Apr 2011
PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 12:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
the police state of AmeriKKA 2011 reserves that right, but won't bother until/unless they suspect you of some far more nefarious stuff than having (illegally) downloaded files.
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plchron



Joined: 26 Feb 2011
Location: Korea
PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 3:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
i was coming into LAX in April and got sent to secondary inspection for electronics. there were other people being screeened at the station also. I think that they are looking for illegal porn or something, but they will probably roll you for illegal downloads like movies and tv shows also.

My stuff actually didn't get checked because the process to get to the front of the line after baggage claim took so long that when i got there I told them that i was about to crap in my pants and my stomach was making wierd noises. so the guy at secondary waived me through.
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tgrear2008



Joined: 14 Apr 2010
PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 7:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
@runthegauntlet Have you been to the US, do you know what is happening there? They, are the paranoid, and they don't care about rights or a constitution, so yes, I assume they would search my files.

Looks like I'll just pack up the hard drive and mail it back with a box of clothes and other items. I figure that is the way to avoid the search.
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SeoulNate



Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa
PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 8:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
tgrear2008 wrote:
@runthegauntlet Have you been to the US, do you know what is happening there? They, are the paranoid, and they don't care about rights or a constitution, so yes, I assume they would search my files.

Looks like I'll just pack up the hard drive and mail it back with a box of clothes and other items. I figure that is the way to avoid the search.


Lol, it that a joke?

How the hell are they going to prove that the stuff on your HDD is illegal?

customs officer: "Where did all these AVI files come from?"

You: "I ripped them from my DVD collection so I could watch them on my trip."

customs officer: "okay"
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danielcraig



Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Location: Indiana, USA
PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 9:18 pm    Post subject: Encrypt Reply with quote
I wouldn't be too concerned, but if it would make you feel better use TrueCypt to encrypt your media folder. TrueCrypt also enables you to create a hidden encrypted folder, which works well if you are compelled to provide a password. You provide the dummy password that lets them in, but does not give access to the hidden folder.

TrueCrypt is free and relatively easy to use.
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sirius black



Joined: 04 Jun 2010
PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 9:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
runthegauntlet wrote:
No, of course not.

But since you're so incredibly paranoid, yes, wipe your hard drives clean. Or else!


Not true. Customs can and will check computers. I was on another forum for Thailand when I was planning my vacation to there and some reported that customs checked their laptops as well as digital cameras. The customs can do pretty much anything they want. The constitution comes into effect AFTER you get out of customs. Before, anything they want to do is pretty much up to them including frisking, taking xrays (for drug couriers).

You may not have it checked from Korea. But they have the right to. Their reasoning for checking and its almost always men, is basically for child pornography. Since Thailand (as well as Cambodia) are reputedly where many pedos go they will randomly or if they think you look suspicious, check your laptop.

As far back as 2008 its been done.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/may/15/computing.security

Last month a US court ruled that border agents can search your laptop, or any other electronic device, when you're entering the country. They can take your computer and download its entire contents, or keep it for several days. Customs and Border Patrol has not published any rules regarding this practice

The only way around it is if you have a diplomatic sticker on it.
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northway



Joined: 05 Jul 2010
PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 9:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Is it actually illegal even if the copies are TV rips? As long as you're not sharing I'm not sure they can roll you for anything, considering you easily could have copied it from your TIVO.
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tgrear2008



Joined: 14 Apr 2010
PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 10:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'll check out true crypt, thanks!
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akcrono



Joined: 11 Mar 2010
PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 11:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
tgrear2008 wrote:
@runthegauntlet Have you been to the US, do you know what is happening there? They, are the paranoid, and they don't care about rights or a constitution, so yes, I assume they would search my files.

Looks like I'll just pack up the hard drive and mail it back with a box of clothes and other items. I figure that is the way to avoid the search.


The logistics of checking everyone with a laptop (or PMP, thumb drive, etc.) are just impossible. Even if they do, the burden of proof is on them, as they have not caught you behaving illegally (unlike downloading online where they HAVE caught you sharing) and cannot trace the origin of the files (in most cases). I, nor anyone I've known has even been checked. I doubt anyone'es every been caught, but Google would be a better place to look than Dave's IMO.
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