How to Protect Yourself From Phone Searches at the US Border

Cyr, from Amnesty International, also stresses that a real burner phone would be a “stupid” phone, which could not execute applications for encrypted communications. “The advantage that we all have with smartphones is that you can communicate in an encrypted way,” explains Cyr. “People must be aware that any unacysed communication is less secure than a telephone call or a message on an application as a signal.”

Although a travel device does not need to use a prepaid SIM card purchased in cash, it should not share your normal phone number, because this number is probably linked to most if not to all of your digital accounts. Buy a SIM card for your trip or use only the device on Wi-Fi.

Travel with your main phone

The other approach you can adopt to protect your device during passage on board is to modify your main smartphone before traveling. This involves deleting old photos and messages and storing them elsewhere, cleaning non -essential applications, and completely withdrawing certain applications or saving them with your main accounts and withdrawing with travel accounts.

Mohammed Al-Maskati, Director of Digital Safety Assistance at RIGHTS Group Access Now, says people should consider this type of cleaning before traveling. “I’m going to look at my device and see what applications I need,” he says. “If I don’t need the application, I delete it.”

Al-Maskati adds that he suggests that people particularly remember to delete dating applications and everything related to LGBTQI communities, especially if they consider themselves a higher risk of facing a device search. And generally, this approach is only sure if you are particularly diligent to eliminate each application that could expose you to the risks.

You can use your own phone as a travel phone by saving it, wiping it, building a travel device with only the applications you really need while traveling, making your trip, then as you have back to back when you go home. This approach is feasible but takes time, and it creates more opportunities for operational security errors or what is called “OPSEC fails”. If you try to delete all your old unwanted applications, but miss one, you could end up exhibiting an old social media account or another historical service that has forgotten data there. Messaging applications can have easily available archives by going back to years and can Automatically save photos and files Without you realizing it. And if you save all your data to the cloud and remove it from your device, but you are always connected to the Cloud account underlying other services (such as your main Google or Apple account), you may be asked to produce cloud data for inspection.

However, if you assess that you are at low risk of dealing with a meticulous examination during a border crossing or if you do not have access to an additional device for travel, the modification of your main smartphone is a good option. Just be careful.

What to do, if nothing else

Given all of this, you may be excited and ready to throw your phone into the ocean. Or maybe you think there is no way to hell that you take the time to deal with all of this. For those of this last camp, you have come so far, so do not click. If you do not want to take the time to make a lot of changes, and you do not think that you are particularly at risk during border passages (although keep in mind that your risk may be higher than you think), there are still a few easy things you can do to protect your digital life that is better than nothing.

First of all, as mentioned above, print a paper boarding card and any other document you may need. Even if you do not turn off your phone and do not store it in a bag for your entire entry or output process, you can put it in your pocket and have your paper ticket and other ready documents while interacting with the agents. And taking basic steps in digital hygiene, such as updating your phone and deleting applications and data you no longer need, can go very far.

“We must all recognize that the authorities can examine your online presence, including the activity of social media and the publications you have published,” explains Danacea Vo, founder of Cyberlixir, cybersecurity supplier For non -profit organizations and vulnerable communities. “Since people were more vocal on social networks, they are very worried about it. Some have even decided not to risk traveling to or from the United States this year.”