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With Immigration and<\/span> Customs Enforcement agents deployed to more than a dozen<\/a> airports across the U.S. and border device searches<\/a> growing increasingly common, it\u2019s more important than ever to consider your digital security before you travel.<\/p>\n The risks are real. Customs and Border Protection agents have the authority to examine travelers\u2019 devices. In June, for instance, federal agents denied a Norwegian tourist entry to the U.S. after looking through his phone. (Authorities claim they turned him away for admitted drug use; he says it was over a meme depicting Vice President JD Vance as a bald baby<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Immigration and Customs Enforcement have already started targeting travelers, with agents in plain clothes forcefully detaining<\/a> a mother in front of her young daughter at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday after a tip<\/a> from the Transportation Security Administration.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re flying, take these steps to reduce the likelihood that your sensitive information is compromised at the airport.<\/p>\n The only surefire way to keep your devices from being searched and seized is to simply not bring them with you on your trip. If you can\u2019t leave them at home, consider mailing them to and from your destination.<\/p>\n Another option is to leave devices that contain sensitive information at home and instead bring throwaway travel devices you\u2019re willing to have searched or confiscated. This doesn\u2019t need to be an expensive proposition. You can reformat and repurpose an old phone<\/a> or tablet, or purchase refurbished older models that are comparatively cheap. Then buy a temporary SIM card or eSIM so that you\u2019re not using your usual number. Remember to let contacts know that for the duration of your trip you\u2019ll be reachable at a different number.<\/p>\n Create a travel account for these devices. You can do so by starting a fresh account in the App Store or Google Play. This should ensure that if you\u2019re forced to log into your device by authorities at the airport, the only information they\u2019ll find is data you\u2019ve put on this specific piece of hardware. CBP agents are supposed to<\/a> only be able to look at data that\u2019s local on the phone.<\/p>\n If you have anything sensitive in your accounts (say, emails from confidential sources) or anything you believe federal agents could consider damning (such as party pics or memes), be sure not to sync your apps, files, and settings onto your travel devices.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Regardless of whether you opt to bring your usual devices or specialized travel burners, take these steps to lock down your devices.<\/p>\n First and foremost, disable any biometrics, like using your face or fingerprint, to unlock your phone. Instead, set up a unique and random alphanumeric passcode; eight characters consisting of random digits and numbers is a good start. Be cautious of entering your passcode in open view of surveillance cameras. Use one hand to shield your screen, and the thumb of your other hand to put in your passcode. Consider using privacy screens on your devices to further diminish the chance of wandering eyes noticing things that are none of their business.<\/p>\n Be cautious of entering your passcode in open view of surveillance cameras.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n When going through security checkpoints, turn your devices completely off. Don\u2019t just put them to sleep \u2014 fully shut them down. Though having a locked device is better than having it be unlocked, turning it off is best, as this makes it much harder for data to be forensically recovered from your devices.<\/p>\n That means you\u2019ll need to print out paper copies of boarding passes, rather than rely on digital versions stored in a device wallet or via your airline\u2019s app.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re asked to unlock your devices, you can say \u201cno.\u201d But doing say may result in being delayed and hassled, and your device could be confiscated. You should receive paperwork attesting to the confiscation and establishing chain of custody (this is called CBP Form 6051D, or a custody receipt for detained property). As the Electronic Frontier Foundation points out<\/a>, it may be months before your devices are returned \u2014 or even for an indefinite period of time if agents believe there is evidence of a crime.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nDon\u2019t Bring Your Usual Devices<\/h2>\n
Disable Biometrics and Power Off<\/h2>\n
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