This And That
FRIDAY
2008-02-15 23:16Small business people don't travel without laptops. On July 24, 2006, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decided that US Customs and Border Patrol Officers had the right to search and seize a person's laptop computer, computer discs and other electronic media (iPods and more). Personal and proprietary data is at risk, as is your notebook itself (some are not returned). The EFF has recently filed a suit demanding that Homeland Security disclose information on why it chooses to inspect some laptops and other electronic devices at the borders. On the government side is the argument that these search and seizures are aimed at and are helping prevent child pornography.
Most astounding to laptop owners is that the number of searches is increasing but intelligible reasons for the searches remains almost nil. If your machine is searched, expect no justification or details on what they were looking for or what they downloaded. Rummaging through a computer's hard drive, the government says, is no different than looking through a suitcase.
According to ComputerWorld, border agents need no evidence to seize your notebook computer, can search anything and can keep your machine for days or weeks or more. How can a small business owner who likely keeps a lifetime of work on a notebook travel safely anymore?
Insignia photo frame virus much nastier than originally thought -
feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/235839594/
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