3 ms·

I'll just overwrite that partition with random garbage and use the Windows honey-pot OS for the duration of my visit, restoring when I get home. Well I might. O

I'll just overwrite that partition with random garbage and use the Windows honey-pot OS for the duration of my visit, restoring when I get home. Well I might. Or I might not. Plausible deniability anybody?

MichaelApproved 14y ago
Once they decide to investigate further, you won't have time or ability to wipe out the drive.
- LiveTheDream 14y ago
  The point is that they cannot distinguish the encrypted partition from random garbage.
jeza 14y ago
Maybe it'd be safer to swap out the hard drive with a brand new one before crossing the border? :)
winter_blue 14y ago
The random garbage will probably get you in deeper trouble than the encrypted data -- they'll think that it is encrypted data, and ask you to decrypt it. Since it's garbage, you won't be able to; and then... I'll leave the rest to you imagination ;) Overall, it's probably better to just give them your encrypted data. If you're not doing anything illegal, you don't have much to worry about. In my case, my data consists of software projects, personal diary/e-mails, etc. Nothing incriminating. In principle what they're doing is wrong (violating your privacy and searching you without a warrant), but in the long run it'll probably just save you time to comply. Unless you're doing anything illegal, giving them your data shouldn't really be a problem. If they "accidentally" share / release NDA'd corporate data (never heard of this happening), you can always take them to court. Heck, you can even take them to court for searching you without a warrant.
- bigiain 14y ago
  "Heck, you can even take them to court for searching you without a warrant." Not at a border crossing - at least not for a non-US resident.
  - jorgem 14y ago
    Actually you can be searched by federal agents inside the US within 100 miles of any "edge" of the border, even if you are not crossing... http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2008/10/aclu-assails-10/ http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2008/10/aclu-assails-10/

MichaelApproved 14y ago

Once they decide to investigate further, you won't have time or ability to wipe out the drive.

LiveTheDream 14y ago
The point is that they cannot distinguish the encrypted partition from random garbage.

jeza 14y ago

Maybe it'd be safer to swap out the hard drive with a brand new one before crossing the border? :)

winter_blue 14y ago

The random garbage will probably get you in deeper trouble than the encrypted data -- they'll think that it is encrypted data, and ask you to decrypt it. Since it's garbage, you won't be able to; and then... I'll leave the rest to you imagination ;) Overall, it's probably better to just give them your encrypted data. If you're not doing anything illegal, you don't have much to worry about. In my case, my data consists of software projects, personal diary/e-mails, etc. Nothing incriminating. In principle what they're doing is wrong (violating your privacy and searching you without a warrant), but in the long run it'll probably just save you time to comply. Unless you're doing anything illegal, giving them your data shouldn't really be a problem. If they "accidentally" share / release NDA'd corporate data (never heard of this happening), you can always take them to court. Heck, you can even take them to court for searching you without a warrant.

bigiain 14y ago
"Heck, you can even take them to court for searching you without a warrant." Not at a border crossing - at least not for a non-US resident.
- jorgem 14y ago
  Actually you can be searched by federal agents inside the US within 100 miles of any "edge" of the border, even if you are not crossing... http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2008/10/aclu-assails-10/ http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2008/10/aclu-assails-10/