5 Data Device Security Tips for International Travel

Last month, a United States court ruled [PDF] that border agents have the right, without cause, to search your data devices as you enter the country. If your device is encrypted, you have to hand over your encryption key.

The US government has the right to download the entire content of your laptop or data device, and to keep it indefinitely. And according to security expert, Bruce Schneier, these types of searches are happening at the borders of many countries. There has been a major backlash to this from every corner, including from civil liberties groups and from the business community.

Business travelers who carry sensitive information may have to expose this information – aside from breaking confidentiality, it can also result in a data breach incident. Copied and seized data may be subject to breach notification laws, since such data has been exposed and can no longer be accounted for. If you want to take action against this violation of digital privacy, you can learn more here.

5 Data Device Security Tips for International Travel

1. Hide Your Data

Bruce Schneier is advising one solution: hide your important data in a second encryption on your drive. Programs like PGP Disk or Truecrypt will allow you to encrypt a portion of your hard drive with a strong password, and you can hide the icon for added protection. The data would be invisible upon inspection, though smart forensic software could find it. Take note that if asked by security officials if there is an encrypted partition, you are legally required to answer truthfully.

2. Limit Your Data

This is the easiest solution – if you don’t have data, it can’t be found. Delete any un-needed information (old emails, photos, confidential information) with a secure file erasure program. Delete your browser’s cookies, cache and browsing history before heading through security. Also, IT administrators using Computrace can use its Data Delete function to securely erase files. And turn your computer off before heading through. Clean out your other devices in the same way.

3. Use a VPN

Some companies are issuing laptops for travel that are “clean” of any pre-existing data. Once the traveler is at the destination, the data can be downloaded over an encrypted virtual private network. The data can be re-synced before exiting the country, and the laptop wiped clean once again.

4. Ship It

Put sensitive data onto an encrypted drive or card and let FedEx get it to your destination for you.

5. Store It Online

If you don’t have a VPN set up to download information onto a clean laptop, you can set up a similar system on your own. After deleting what information you don’t need, Chris Sogholan of CNet recommends encrypting the data and uploading it to one or two secure places on the web such as Amazon S3. Then make your laptop clean with a secure file erase.

Sources: guardian, gizmodo, eff, cnet, info week, us politics, idg
Photos: morguefile by pdell, ppdigital, somadjinn
Tags: data security, border, laptop, laptop security, border search, business travel, security, it security, business security