Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

I'm a college student, and was studying in the middle east this past summer. This was the fourth time i've been there, and my passport is absolutely tatooed with stamps from various arab countries. The last three times i've returned to the States, i've had no problems getting in, ans haven't been subject to any kind of questioning etc...
However the last time a came back, a few weeks ago, i got grilled. I had to go to some room in the bottom floor of logan airport, and got all my luggage ripped apart, and was questioned for over an hour. at the end of my questioning the authorities said they needed to check out my laptop. they vanished with my computer for over an hour.

I'm not the paranoid type, and actually have no problem with being respectfully questioned after returning from months in the middle east. Unfortunately the current times call for such measures. My question is, could they have "bugged" my computer, or anything like that? i know very little about computers, and dont really even know what the aformentioned would mean, i'm just kind of curious.

For the record, i'm "American as apple pie" Mother of christian descent, father of jewish descent.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Re: Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

From the technical standpoint, it certainly would be possible for them to install come kind of spyware that will report back to them periodically over the internet. It is also conceivable that they could put in some kind of hardware device to do so. However, I think that most likely they did neither. My guess is that they simply copied your hard drive, so that they could examine it for anything incriminating at their leisure.

If you're really worried about it, you could reformat. That would probably disable any spying software, but probably wouldn't affect a hardware "bug".

Re: Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

why did you give them permission?

I would back up any important data and reformat.

Re: Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

[ QUOTE ]
why did you give them permission?

I would back up any important data and reformat.

[/ QUOTE ]

If it's a customs inspection, they don't need permission.

Re: Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

they can look at your computer, but I don't think they have the right to go through your files.

Re: Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

Thanks for insight gentlemen.

[ QUOTE ]
why did you give them permission?

I would back up any important data and reformat.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd been awake for about 30 hours, and wanted to get out of there asap. additionally, sitting on a table in the room i was being questioned in were vaseline and rubber gloves. I didn't want to give them any excuse to use them. And i'm pretty sure customs is allowed to search anything they please, and i don't have any kiddie porn, or the like on my computer. None the less, i may look into this reformatting business.

Re: Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

Why do you hate freedom?

oh, and you're responsible for all the wars of the world.

Re: Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

[ QUOTE ]
Why do you hate freedom?

oh, and you're responsible for all the wars of the world.

[/ QUOTE ]
Oh my god. Are you a CTH gimmick account?!

Please, if people copy this trend in the future, at least try to be funny.
-Sam

Re: Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Why do you hate freedom?

oh, and you're responsible for all the wars of the world.

[/ QUOTE ]
Oh my god. Are you a CTH gimmick account?!

Please, if people copy this trend in the future, at least try to be funny.
-Sam

[/ QUOTE ]

When I saw that I was tempted to make a "Zero Wing" acct and say "All your <Freedom? Passport? Laptop? Orifice?> are belong to us", but fortunately had a moment of clarity. (and no, I'm not the mel gimmick creator)

Re: Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

Next time encrypt your whole hard drive and see what happens.

After all , you are a student. Think of it as a thought experiment. Doing experiment, whatever.

Best case you could sue and get some money. If you are able to travel overseas you probably have access to the courts, eg, able to afford a lawyer or get one pro bono from some rights group.

Re: Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

Sorry the situation happend to you.

They have a hard job, and one that tends to attact exactly the type of person who shouldnt be doing it.

Its unlikely that they installed anything, but I would be parinoid too.

and yeah.. they pretty much can do whatever they want at customs.

Re: Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

[ QUOTE ]
they can look at your computer, but I don't think they have the right to go through your files.

[/ QUOTE ]
Okay, I'm not a lawyer, but I know at customs they can look throught you luggage, etc. without a warrant or permission. I assumed that also applied to looking at data in your computer, but I could be wrong.

Re: Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

I would bet that your whole house is bugged. Look carefully at the flies flying around they could be cameras. I would also burn your passport as that is surely bugged. As for you computer. I would bet that every single keystroke is goes right back to the NSA. If they strip searched you they might have put bugs into your clothing. In closing, There is nothing to worry about unless you are breaking some laws. I would get the tin foil out and put it over your windows today.

Re: Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
they can look at your computer, but I don't think they have the right to go through your files.

[/ QUOTE ]
Okay, I'm not a lawyer, but I know at customs they can look throught you luggage, etc. without a warrant or permission. I assumed that also applied to looking at data in your computer, but I could be wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]

They can, here is a related thread, i read the story somewhere else before but this was the first link on it i found from a quick search today:

http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/...7005501831/p/1

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In U.S. v. Romm, No. 04-10648, the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit ruled that customs officials can seize and search the contents of anyone’s laptop computer, even in the absence of a search warrant or probable cause.


[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]

He was mistaken. His actions had merely deleted the pointers to the cached files—the files themselves remained on the laptop. Using special software, customs officials were able to find 42 images of child pornography on the laptop’s hard drive. These images were subsequently used to convict Romm of knowingly receiving and possessing child pornography in violation of federal law. Romm appealed, but the 9th Circuit upheld the border search and the conviction.


[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

Damn! I would have liked to be wrong about that one.

Re: Bizarro, \"Black Helicopters\" type question
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
they can look at your computer, but I don't think they have the right to go through your files.

[/ QUOTE ]
Okay, I'm not a lawyer, but I know at customs they can look throught you luggage, etc. without a warrant or permission. I assumed that also applied to looking at data in your computer, but I could be wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, and I could be too, but if someone where carrying a corporate laptop with sensitive info, I doubt that they have the right to look through it and copy it at will.

If they could take it, they probably wouldn't say "we need to look at your laptop" they would take and and leave with it.

I would at least want to be in the room when they looked through it, but if I were actually in that spot I would probably be shatting my pants and have them do whatever they want.

And I am actually a repblican, but this is the crap that I really did not want to happen. Nuke who ever the hell you want, but leave the citizens alone.