Do the TSA ever check Laptop Content ?
Feb 5, 2008, 8:22 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 413
Do the TSA ever check Laptop Content ?
How often will they make passengers fire up their laptop and check through all files on their computer ?
I haven't gotten anything illegal on my laptop but wanna know if i should remove all my bittorrent bookmarks, the odd porn site etc
I haven't gotten anything illegal on my laptop but wanna know if i should remove all my bittorrent bookmarks, the odd porn site etc
Feb 5, 2008, 8:45 am
#2
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
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I've never heard of the TSA doing that. Every once in a while you'll get one asking you to fire it up to "prove" it's not a bomb or something silly like that. I don't think the TSA legally has the authority to do any file snooping.
Customs agents, on the other hand...
Customs agents, on the other hand...
Feb 5, 2008, 11:32 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
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Customs agents, on the other hand...
Feb 5, 2008, 1:03 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 54
Just a note: It would be advisable to tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop. In the event that a laptop is left behind, and there is no name visible on the outside, TSA and/or Lost and Found may boot it up attempting to find some identifying information (stored login name, email name, etc).
Aside from that, I don't know of any situation in which TSA would need to turn on a laptop for any type of search. (I am a TSO, BTW - not *too* much hate, please
)
Aside from that, I don't know of any situation in which TSA would need to turn on a laptop for any type of search. (I am a TSO, BTW - not *too* much hate, please
)
Feb 5, 2008, 1:07 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Biloxi, MS (GPT)
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Posts: 1,278
I was subjected to a laptop content search, along with a complete car search, by Canadian customs at a border crossing (via car) into Canada this past November. They were basically looking at me for *any* criminal activity (solo traveler just on a "for the heck of it" road trip during Thanksgiving weekend triggered their suspicions, evidently) and when I inquired as to why they needed to view my laptop content, they said they were indeed looking for child porn. And nope, they didn't find any. 
Feb 5, 2008, 1:13 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,158
Just a note: It would be advisable to tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop. In the event that a laptop is left behind, and there is no name visible on the outside, TSA and/or Lost and Found may boot it up attempting to find some identifying information (stored login name, email name, etc).
Aside from that, I don't know of any situation in which TSA would need to turn on a laptop for any type of search. (I am a TSO, BTW - not *too* much hate, please )
Aside from that, I don't know of any situation in which TSA would need to turn on a laptop for any type of search. (I am a TSO, BTW - not *too* much hate, please
)
just playing with yaseriously, this is good to hear. =)
how come i haven't seen you much around here tho? i love hearing from tso's here - always nice to see a different perspective
Feb 5, 2008, 1:21 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 54
I signed up a year or two ago, posted some, and then pretty much forgot about it. Now with TSA's new blog, I'm kinda trying to get back into trying to help out with my perspective. Don't know how much good it'll do, but what the heck. Gotta have something to do on my lunch break
Feb 5, 2008, 1:22 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS and vicinity
Programs: Former UA 1P
Posts: 3,723
I don't recall any reports on FT of TSA pawing through laptop contents, but there have been reported cases of mileage runs where the airline turned an innocent passenger over to federal and local law enforcement who then pawed through the victim's laptop's contents:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=634740
If you are serious about protecting your privacy, encrypt your files and be prepared to refuse to turn over the password.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=634740
If you are serious about protecting your privacy, encrypt your files and be prepared to refuse to turn over the password.
Feb 5, 2008, 2:17 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,638
It'll be a sad day when our children can go on FindLaw and look up the SCOTUS decision that restores our constitutionally guarenteed civil rights.
Besides, there are devices where you can protect your laptop so you can't get access to it unless you have a login, password and a fingerprint. All the personal bankers' computers at Citibank were protected with this kind of thing. I'm sure many places where sensitive information is handled (law firms, investment banks, investment firms, consultancies etc) have this kind of thing on their laptops and computers.
Besides, there are devices where you can protect your laptop so you can't get access to it unless you have a login, password and a fingerprint. All the personal bankers' computers at Citibank were protected with this kind of thing. I'm sure many places where sensitive information is handled (law firms, investment banks, investment firms, consultancies etc) have this kind of thing on their laptops and computers.
Feb 5, 2008, 3:19 pm
#13
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The TSA is not allowed to review the contents of your laptop, personal papers, documents, daytimers, calendars, magazines, books or any other reading material or documents. Law enforcement (outside of a Customs search) is also unable to review this material without a warrant.
The only way they can do this is if you let them...so if asked, you must say NO!
The only way they can do this is if you let them...so if asked, you must say NO!
Feb 5, 2008, 3:25 pm
#14
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I read this report not long ago on FT of a laptop being searched for *.jpg:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...aptop+thailand
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...aptop+thailand
Feb 5, 2008, 3:30 pm
#15
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
More like your grandchildren. The extreme right-wing bench will be around for a long time.
Last edited by PTravel; Feb 5, 2008 at 3:36 pm
