Laptops and crossing borders.
 

What do you US guys, do to protect yourself across borders (non--Canada), ala-Sleazy scare?

I deal alot in the gay market, so thats even more of a scare to me... because of all the bigots out there.

I plan on backing up everything via DVD, and deleting off the HD prior... anything else?

Im going to Central America next month (not porn related).... need to take a laptop for photo editing while Im down there.

Should I be worried at all?

I'd deffinately take everything off the HD, just incase. I've never had a big issue crossing the borders with my laptop. It becomes a different story completely when we start shipping gear over for tradeshows - always had issues with that.

Worried for what? Having gay porn on your computer?

No doubt, this is the fucking US Im talking about here.

oh wait thats true hehe

I don't clean anything up. I had tons of gay porn, mp3's, whatever on my laptop when I travel. They don't go through your computer. I really think they can't see what's in your computer with their xray thing.

I've not had a problem anytime I've travelled with a laptop. I guess its just your luck. Do you look like a person who would have something to hide?

Thats basically what they look for. They check you out all the time and if they don't like the way ya look you get pulled over.

Just take it off. You don't need the hassle trying to get back in. They have never tried to start up my laptop but why push a point.

You mean THE land of the free?

Buy a Mac, They dont know how to operate that and you can play dumb! Sorry sir, I don't know, I just know my Mac ;-)


No seriously, they never asked me to even open my PowerBook but you know, there is RSA encryption of private directories home on a MAC that is default with 1 click of a mice button, so the wise thing is to use a default travel account so if they asked you to look around, they can see you are a simple exchanger.

Putting a Gay Anal Desktop Image or a folder called Extreme Fucking and things like that is drawing unnessery attention to you.

but if they confinscate it they sure can.. customs officers are assholes.

I think I've solved the problem. =)

Im gonna get a new laptop, that has an easily removable HD.

When I travel, I'll use my backup HD, that has nothing but normal programs.

When Im at home, I use the beefy HD with my other stuff on it. =)

WOOOOT.

Just hide your files somewhere wicked. I don't think they'd spend too much time browsing on your files anyway! Goodluck!

clean the machine.

If I were you I would format it before you leave. You never know and its better to be safe than sorry.

When I entered Mexico with my flatscreen monitor they demanded I turn on my "laptop":1orglaugh

:1orglaugh That's a good one.

Save somewhere else! Safest way out!

Save somewhere else! Safest way out!

What do most of you do for email when you're on the road? Leave it on the server and check via a web service or download it when you check it and have it on your laptop while you travel?