I’ll admit:
While I’m not too “gung-ho” over privacy wonks and how obsessed people are with it (I already take my chances and know the risks) this seems like an escalation.
Okay, I’m all ears:
I’m a Communist Party member so how do I make sure this doesn’t happen? Any other ways?
Yeah you have no rights at international border crossings.
So, several ways to do this:
Pros:
Cons:
Pros:
Cons:
I also should offer an aside. If you are backing up to your encrypted laptop that you are bringing with you as well, you must set the password or some element of it to something you do not recall. Have a friend keep it (even can be half of a password so they don’t know the whole thing but you remember the other half) and only send it to you once you message them at your destination and tell them you are safe, not under duress, not being held, etc. If customs stops you and insists on you decrypting the laptop you inform them it is for business purposes and you do not have the means to decrypt it. Many legitimate companies enforce border crossing policies like this so you won’t be that unique. They can hold you and make you miss your flight at worst but cannot prevent you from re-entering or leaving and must let you go after 72 hours max. Since you’re letting them search your phone they’ll probably let you through.
Pros:
Cons:
3 is maximum protection but also with maximum sacrifices. 2 is easiest and least hassle with cloud backups or even local encrypted laptop backups. 1 is more hassle than 3 in many ways but does have its own perks.
I’m not going to mention the possibility of them implanting malware on your device while taking it to another room to examine it as unless you’re very high profile they probably won’t and unfortunately they have other ways of doing that Over the Air without having to physically access your device if you’re a high priority target tasked to NSA or whatever. So best to assume it’s possible your device can be compromised at any time and yet you have to live in the era you live in which means using a phone and minimizing risks to comrades which means not allowing them selective collection of your data at border crossings as on the whole that’s likely the only way they’ll know what you’re up to.
Damn.
Effort-post.
You make it look easy.
I should take note.
Happy to help comrade. It’s an area of expertise for me so it really does just flow out of me.
noice!