Some have suggested that if questioned for the password, you can refuse to answer on grounds that you may incriminate yourself. Not sure if this holds, but it seems valid.

I thought about doing some simple renaming of system files from a bootable CD to prevent the machine from starting, but decided against it. If a customs officer can’t do a cursory check, I think that would increase the chances of having the machine confiscated for closer inspection. As would removing the battery, adding a BIOS password, and other methods of preventing a quick check.

Before I travel next, I’ll probably format an old laptop drive and install XP fresh, keep the default settings, put a campaign ad for McCain as my wallpaper, and fill my desktop with shortcuts to things like Window Live and Fox Sports and other things I would never use. I’ll wear sweat pants, Nikes, a football jersey, and a baseball cap with an eagle and a flag on it. I’ll talk really loud with a drawl and proclaim my joy to be back in the good ol’ US.

I’ll then encrypt my ‘real’ drive and put it in my suitcase with my dirty underwear.

Think it will work?

darkkosmos:
Using something like TrueCrypt on a laptop will work if you pick a long password plus a few files as the key. Private firms may be given a copy of the drive to decrypt but they won’t get anywhere with it.

and the encryption method doesn’t work, if you read the the bill the hard drive can be handled by private firms for decryption.

People will store the necessary data on the net, travel without their laptop and when they arrive they’ll connect and download whatever they need.

This will seriously encourage people to use the cloud and things like Google docs.

I just wonder – what will happen when the U.S. border guard discovers things like email and internet – will they examine every packet that crosses the border? What idiots…