GotMex?
$623,493,674,868,715.98 in Debt
+193|7020

http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/10/24/b … 4road.html

Apparently, at the US borders, your laptop can be inspected for any reason. No need for probable cause or anything. There goes another bit of our privacy in the USA. What do you guys think of this??

I'm personally not a big fan of this. I don't like anyone using my user account because they always tend to screw something up, or change some setting or something. But that's just a pet peeve, I get over it. But an INS agent meddling through my stuff? Hells no. For starters, I use the same logon password as I do with many services I use. If anyone finds out this password, they've got free access to my stuff. I also keep files with personal data such as CCard #'s, SSN, etc. Another no, no. And finally, quite simply, I don't want anyone going through my files at all, period.

Supposedly they are looking for terrorism related material, but I've read stories of people with child porn getting caught then and there. I may not have child porn, but I do have some "borrowed" software from Adobe and other companies, as well as 2000+ mp3 songs (and I only have 10 legal cds, +300 legally bought songs, do the math for where the rest came from). What's to stop them from one day fucking people over for that.

That being said, I'm taking a trip this weekend, so I was thinking of making some folders on my desktop with names like "Bomb plans - If you're INS agent please don't open, thank you", or "TerroristContactInformation.zip". Sure they'd detain me for a really long time, and I'd probably be scared for a while... but how I would laugh about that 10 years from now.
unnamednewbie13
Moderator
+2,053|7029|PNW

Make a false contacts list with as many Korean and Arab names as you can possibly think of, then jot down notes pertaining to an attack plan vaguely sharing features with Wonderland and the Land of Oz. Then make a folder called "My 1,000,000 Illegal MP3's." The latter will probably raise more alarm.

Better yet: remember the "way to keep an idiot occupied for hours" internet flash game? The looping red/green button? If you have some flash skills, you could keep someone busy for awhile.

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2006-10-25 21:49:12)

RandomSchl
|\/|€|\/|߀|2
+52|6701|California

unnamednewbie13 wrote:

Make a false contacts list with as many Korean and Arab names as you can possibly think of, then jot down notes pertaining to an attack plan vaguely sharing features with Wonderland and the Land of Oz. Then make a folder called "My 1,000,000 Illegal MP3's." The latter will probably raise more alarm.
lol +1
GotMex?
$623,493,674,868,715.98 in Debt
+193|7020

unnamednewbie13 wrote:

Make a false contacts list with as many Korean and Arab names as you can possibly think of, then jot down notes pertaining to an attack plan vaguely sharing features with Wonderland and the Land of Oz. Then make a folder called "My 1,000,000 Illegal MP3's." The latter will probably raise more alarm.

Better yet: remember the "way to keep an idiot occupied for hours" internet flash game? The looping red/green button? If you have some flash skills, you could keep someone busy for awhile.
Haha, I could do folders that loop into themselves. Or circularly referenced folders. Then the actual files all spawn a msg with "Are you sure you want to open this" and you can't click yes since it moves around the screen.

Last edited by GotMex? (2006-10-25 21:51:59)

duk0r
Administrator
+306|6925|Austin, TX

Yeah, this is not about catching terrorists. It has everything to do with conditioning us to be submissive to the government. All of our rights are being stripped right before our very own eyes under the "terrorism" pretext. The real terrorists are in the white house and the ones allowing these rights to be stripped and the constitution burned. Before you know it they will be putting Americans in jail concentration camps for dissent. *sigh*
https://bf3s.com/sigs/a3a6d1102d14bf2f7e266fba7f728dc2cc38b316.png
Seaneroo
Member
+12|6915

GotMex? wrote:

http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/10/24/business/24road.html

Apparently, at the US borders, your laptop can be inspected for any reason. No need for probable cause or anything. There goes another bit of our privacy in the USA. What do you guys think of this??.
There is no reasonable expectation of privacy when crossing from one country into another.  You wanna come into the US, we have a right to know what you're bringing into the country. 

Traveling to another country?  You'll see how many countries don't give a rat's ass about your privacy.

People being caught with child porn?  You think that's a BAD thing??

As for your music piracy, I hope you get caught.  Only a moron would try to go through customs with a laptop loaded with stolen music.
unnamednewbie13
Moderator
+2,053|7029|PNW

Seaneroo wrote:

GotMex? wrote:

http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/10/24/business/24road.html

Apparently, at the US borders, your laptop can be inspected for any reason. No need for probable cause or anything. There goes another bit of our privacy in the USA. What do you guys think of this??.
There is no reasonable expectation of privacy when crossing from one country into another.  You wanna come into the US, we have a right to know what you're bringing into the country. 

Traveling to another country?  You'll see how many countries don't give a rat's ass about your privacy.

People being caught with child porn?  You think that's a BAD thing??

As for your music piracy, I hope you get caught.  Only a moron would try to go through customs with a laptop loaded with stolen music.
The reason people are raising a stink about violation of electronic privacy is that as the government edges further and further into our personal lives, we will be left barren of any privacy whatsoever. Any search will become a reasonable search, and a warrant will become obsolete. It's a slippery slope, so the old saw goes.

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2006-10-25 22:09:01)

GotMex?
$623,493,674,868,715.98 in Debt
+193|7020

Seaneroo wrote:

There is no reasonable expectation of privacy when crossing from one country into another.  You wanna come into the US, we have a right to know what you're bringing into the country. 

Traveling to another country?  You'll see how many countries don't give a rat's ass about your privacy.

People being caught with child porn?  You think that's a BAD thing??

As for your music piracy, I hope you get caught.  Only a moron would try to go through customs with a laptop loaded with stolen music.
I understand your points, but here's the problem though. I'm a citizen of the USA. I got my citizenship a while back, when these sort of things weren't common place (I would've thought about it more now...). The whole premise of being a USA citizen is that you have certain rights which are un-revocable. I thought this was something valued highly in this country. But now, little by little, these basic rights are being taken away as Dukor says, in the name of "Terrorism". I am having second thoughts now about this choice because of issues like this. I don't want to be part of a country that treats me like a criminal whenever I come home.

As for the child porn thing... those people are fucking idiots for even having the stuff and they deserve to be caught. But this is where it starts. First they start looking for child pornography. Then they move to regular pornography and try and get you for lewd or obscene material. Next thing you know, your email conversation with your friend about how much weed you smoke on weekends is the incriminating piece of evidence at your trial for drug use.

And for other countries, at least I know that Mexico would never go through the contents of my laptop when I go back just because they feel like it. Sadly, that was what I used to say about the USA, but not so much anymore.

Quick addition. In Mexico, while driving across states, they have set up these police check points. They are supposed to stop drug/weapons trafficking. As such, they have the legal power to inspect all the contents of your vehicle without any probable cause. Who is to say that they spot your prescription medicine and give you a hard time about it unless you pay them off. In the USA, this is supposed to be illegal, and a police agent can only inspect your car if he/she has probable cause. To me, this is an incredible right that USA citizens have, since it gives you a great amount of privacy not known to many countries. The way things are going now, I don't think these rights will last for much longer.

That's why this angers me.

Finally, illegal music, I can only imagine how many morons cross the border every day with at least 1 illegally downloaded mp3 song. Yea, ok, it's wrong, but I hope we never see the day where Customs agents waste assets with this sort of stuff.

Last edited by GotMex? (2006-10-25 23:23:11)

Seaneroo
Member
+12|6915
GotMex, maybe at a later date, I'll come back and address your individual points.  In the meantime, all I can say, is if you think things are better in Mexico, vaya con Dios.
Seaneroo
Member
+12|6915
One more comment, then I'm done for now.  I am a lawyer, and I can tell you, all this talk of unreasonable searches, probable cause, etc. is irrelevant.  They simply do not apply to border searches.
Deadman
Member
+34|6699|England
Whats the point in checking someones laptop? Everything thats on any computer can be sent across the net.
If they're concerned about the stuff mentioned above, then monitoring the web is where its at, not on some dude laptop, surely?
GotMex?
$623,493,674,868,715.98 in Debt
+193|7020

Seaneroo wrote:

GotMex, maybe at a later date, I'll come back and address your individual points.  In the meantime, all I can say, is if you think things are better in Mexico, vaya con Dios.
I didn't say they were better in Mexico. I said that the USA had things that I found valuable, such as the amount of privacy rights that are given to it's citizens. I made the comparison because Mexico (and many other countries) are plagued with many issues like these. I became a citizen for many reasons, including my respect for those values. Sadly, these are all being taken away little by little by the Bush administration. Hence my problems with any news of these rights being taken away.
HeimdalX
Member
+37|6908
Yes add those files to your computer while they can detain you for as long as they want for suspicion of "terrorism" and your citizenship will become worthless until they decide to let you go. Maybe they'll deport you, they can do that now.
Fenris_GreyClaw
Real Хорошо
+826|6776|Adelaide, South Australia

GotMex? wrote:

For starters, I use the same logon password as I do with many services I use. If anyone finds out this password, they've got free access to my stuff. I also keep files with personal data such as CCard #'s, SSN, etc. Another no, no. And finally, quite simply, I don't want anyone going through my files at all, period.

I've read stories of people with child porn getting caught then and there. I may not have child porn, but I do have some "borrowed" software from Adobe and other companies, as well as 2000+ mp3 songs (and I only have 10 legal cds, +300 legally bought songs, do the math for where the rest came from). What's to stop them from one day fucking people over for that.
SHHH! You're not supposed to tell them!
JahManRed
wank
+646|6885|IRELAND

GotMex? wrote:

I'd probably be scared for a while... but how I would laugh about that 10 years from now.[/color][/b]
You wouldn't be laughing as you leave Gito in 10 years time with no trial or legal representation during your stay. If your white then scratch what I just said.
RDMC
Enemy Wheelbarrow Spotted..!!
+736|6822|Area 51
Though I don't own a laptop, and don't come to the USA and probably will not go there so fast on a holiday, still I think it absolute bullcrap, because you could also store a file that contains Terrorist actions on your friggin iPod, god they would be busy for a entire day just to check the personal stuff of one plane, I say that security on anti terrorism is all good but they're are taking it to serious, I mean c'mon there are like a millio ways of getting any sorts of plan on terrorism into that country, maybe somebody would have sms'ed the plans! Well folks bring out the mobile phones..

Last edited by RDMC(2) (2006-10-26 03:58:28)

max
Vela Incident
+1,652|6824|NYC / Hamburg

i agree. the us has steadily changed for the worse in the last years, all in the name of terrorism prevention. dont get me wrong, i have no problem with the people of the us, but what they are doing on the borders is just insane.  when scanning for terrorist, use your common sense. even though it may not be politically correct, we all know what the terrorists look like, and they should be scanned and not some mother with like 2 children. how high is the chance that i am hiding explosives in my shoes (dammit, they xray them separately every time i was in the us in the last years)?

on my lappy i also have some stuff which i dont want the government to see. my mp3 collection is close to 20GB big, and maybe i bought 10 songs or so. do the math. also i have lots of borrowed software.
but soon i will be finished at university with my law studies and what will they do if i have client data on my pc. they might be allowed to scan my stuff but definitely not client data (at least if they still give a tiny shit for things like the constitution)

as for things being especially bad in the us: i travel a lot by plane inside europe (1 or 2 return flights per month) but also about 3 times a year to the us. while inside europe, all they do is metal detector tests on me and xray my stuff thats it. but when i go the us (or leaving is even worse) its much worse. they examine me (it it were some nice girl i wouldn't really mind, but usually its some bald shaved, ear ringed dude that really freaks me out), xray all my stuff separately and ask all sorts of questions which are absolutely none of their business. now they are going through my pc data? good by America, i wont me traveling there any time soon anymore
once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot  xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.
Meltdown-56
Member
+30|6744
Funny scenario:
Some guy will get his laptop inspected and they'll be looking through 'My documents' then find one that says 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb' then later realise it is just U2's latest album that he'd put on his laptop
De_Jappe
Triarii
+432|6784|Belgium

Was going to make a 'you don't want them to discover your porn files' but then I noticd this is debate and serious talk.

Anyway, encypt your harddisk and don't provide your password. That's not illegal I think. Then it would take a couple of years to bruteforce it and I doubt they will take it for that long.
elmo1337
Banned
+186|6816|The real world
Change your windows password before you over the border? Hide all the files you dont want them to see?
CrazeD
Member
+368|6930|Maine
This is why they make encryption.
IG-Calibre
comhalta
+226|6999|Tír Eoghan, Tuaisceart Éireann
Thats why god invented virtual online harddrives

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