I read comments every now and then about how TSA officers at checkpoint and baggage locations can search the files on your laptop and can also confiscate your computer and copy your hard drive.This is not true. In fact, we blogged about it back in February of 2008.
Our officers might visually inspect your laptop and perform an explosives trace detection test, but that’s it. Our officers don’t even turn computers on during inspection.
So where are the reports coming from? They’re coming from people who have had their laptops searched by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). For more details on CBP’s mission, check out this post from the recently retired Deputy Commissioner at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Jayson Ahern.
So where is the confusion taking place? Well, many passengers often confuse CBP with TSA. Why? They have uniforms with the Department of Homeland Security patch and some people automatically assume they are TSA officers since they’re working in an airport capacity. TSA and CBP officers have different uniforms. The CBP uniform is navy blue, while the TSA uniform is more of a royal blue. You will only interact with CBP when you’re coming into the country.
Thanks,
Blogger Bob
TSA Blog Team
101 comments:
How can we learn more about the CBP searching computers? I've never heard of this and I am in and out of the country a few times a year.
Can they actually confiscate the memory or just search it/download it?
"The CBP uniform is navy blue, while the TSA uniform is more of a royal blue."
Silly us. How could anyone have ever mistaken these two?
Ah, blue uniform with badge. Got it.
Still, you should never talk to the police, or federal agents.
Might have reduced confusion if you did not add confusion with the current uniforms on purpose to trick people into thinking your TSO's are LEOs.
Question: Since the TSA can plant cocaine in your luggage as part of a training exercise can they also plant things on your laptop while visiting this blog?
Anonymous said...
Question: Since the TSA can plant cocaine in your luggage as part of a training exercise can they also plant things on your laptop while visiting this blog?
January 22, 2010 2:41 PM
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No they can not place things in your luggage as part of a training exercise and they also can't plant things into you rlaptop while visiting this blog. In fact TSA has never placed things in passengers bags as part of a test. That incident was one stupid employee playing a joke, he was not doing a mandated TSA test for security.
So why did you suddenly decide to post about this issue? The first link in your posting, while mentioning TSA in the title, is explicit in talking about CBP, not TSA. Exactly how many stories about "TSA laptop searches" have been circulating lately? And then you reference a 2-year-old blog posting?
This looks like a posting whose only purpose is to push down and remove the Philadelphia TSA drug-planting incident from being the "top story" on the blog!
Bob,
Why are you posting this story ahead of the information about "What Happened in Philadelphia?".. Are you trying to bury the story by putting up something else?
Might want to rephrase the end - CBP can also interact with you when you are departing the country. Would be nice to see a consistent, factual approach to communications.
Could you please inform your colleagues at CBP that the link to the PDF they have on their page that you linked to is broken?
Specifically:
http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/admissability/search_authority.ctt/search_authority.pdf
" The CBP uniform is navy blue, while the TSA uniform is more of a royal blue."
Blue is blue...if they want to make a distinction, then one should be blue and the other should be lime green or something...How do we know that the royal blue uniform didn't have a laundry accident and now looks more navy blue than royal blue.
Sheeesh!
Ed
To those commenting on the colors: Follow the links and look at the photos. They are quite different colors, even though both are shades of blue. Also note that CBP officers have arm-patches that clearly say "US Customs and Border Protection".
To Beth: Customs has the right to seize and inspect anything coming into the country if the suspect it to be contraband or otherwise illegal. This has always been the case, since long before there were computers or even airplanes. Some recent (if you consider 2006 recent) court cases have pointed out that this includes inspection of software if they suspect illegal content, like kiddie porn. This ruling is an extension of prior rulings that people entering the country (like objects) may be searched without probably cause, suspicion or a warrant.
See also CBP's page regarding laptop inspections, including links to policy and court decisions.
This isn't really new, but a few recent cases have brought these policies into the news.
TSOWilliamReed said...
Anonymous said...
Question: Since the TSA can plant cocaine in your luggage as part of a training exercise can they also plant things on your laptop while visiting this blog?
January 22, 2010 2:41 PM
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No they can not place things in your luggage as part of a training exercise and they also can't plant things into you rlaptop while visiting this blog. In fact TSA has never placed things in passengers bags as part of a test. That incident was one stupid employee playing a joke, he was not doing a mandated TSA test for security.
January 22, 2010 3:16 PM
.......
Why should anyone believe you?
Can the TSA search other personal effects, such as notebooks, wallets, books, etc, if there is no alarm or evidence of WEI? I have had the TSA search through personal papers, and read what was written on them. Is this allowed? Please do a blog entry on passenger rights, as it seems they are slowly being eroded as the terrorist hysteria grows.
I just flew from LAX and was surprised to see the TSA folks in the older white shirts with the yellow embroidered logo rather than the blue shirts with the tin badges. Was I spoofed? Did I got through a bogus TSA checkpoint?
* Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Regardless of any judge's revisionist ruling(s), I don't see anything in the Fourth Amendment which would even imply "Unless Customs wants to take a peek, and/or copy what they want."
Nice job pushing the "powder planting" post down. But it's your blog, so fair enough.
Now why can the TSA take pictures of my daughter naked and CBP has the right to search passengers' laptops for the exact same pictures?
Isn't that a little bit like a joke that will get passengers detained is just a "kick in the gut" (but no further consequences) for the TSA?
I mean why is it ok for the government to do a thing that's not ok for a citizen to do?
You guys are the one who switched from white to blue and started wearing metal badges. If you stuck with white, you probably wouldn't have people confusing TSA with CBP. You wanted the additional "respect" you thought would come with blue police-style uniforms. You say you don't want the TSA to be confused with the other airport-based blue-uniform-wearing gold-badge-wearing luggage-searching DHS agency. Somehow, I don't really believe you.
I travel to and from Toronto from the US a few times a week. I have been observing the TSA's knee jerk reactions to past events with total disbelief and annoyance. As you may know by now, one of the latest pieces of security theatre perpetrated on travelers is the 3rd "checkpoint". This new checkpoint actually happens after you pass the Xray machine/metal detector when boarding an inbound flight to the US. You are meant to be patted down and thoroughly searched to make sure you don't havy any super secret explosive toothpaste or some other nefarious device. In Toronto international Airport this is how the search went today: A security agent checked my boarding pass and motioned me to another agent who politely asked me to empty my overcoat pockets and my pant pockets. The agent then pats me down and checks the things I removed from my clothing. Satisfied, the agent puts a mark on my pass and motions me to another short line within the same checkpoint. I stand in that line for a while then put my my gloves that where in my coat into my briefcase and take my iPhone from the case and put it in my coat pocket. I did not do this even remotely covertly but completely in plain view and methodically. I waited for my turn and then another agent asked me to put my bag on a table where they searched it thoroughly and asked me to turn on my laptop. I informed them that the laptop was out of battery and the agent had a dumbfounded look on his face. He said I would have to have it Xrayed and I reminded him it was made of aluminium and full of other metal and had obviously already been through the machine as it would have never made it through the metal detector on my person. He thought about this a bit further and then simply let me through. A few obvious problems with this extra security checkpoint that requires all this time and money around the whole world to maintain. First, I am allowed to move items from an "unsecured zone", my briefcase, to a "secure zone", my person. Second, why ask everyone to turn on their cellphones and laptops when the only thing needed to thwart this is a depleted battery? That said, how is a powered electronic device make me safer? If there where explosives packed in the laptop then would the powered laptop not represent a perfect triggering device? I asked the head of the security outfit about these two discrepancies only to hear that it was working exactly as intended and the fact that I was able to transfer items during the check was of no consequence because "I had already been through the other checkpoint". The most valuable thing I have in my life, is time, and it is being wasted for absolutely no reason what so ever.
Before someone says that it was not the TSA but the Canadian security let me remind you that these measures are by directive of the TSA. Before someone says that the directive is sound but the execution is not I proffer that even if it where a good directive, which it is not for many many reasons, it is pointless to presume that the TSA could get every other government to secure their checkpoints properly. Anyone that has traveled within the 3rd world knows this to be true.
Bob,
If you're trying to crowd out the "What happened in Philadelphia" story, why not run a story explaining "What happened in Detroit"? You can find the video at http://www.obscuredtruth.com/.
The question I'd like to have answered is, "Does photographing, video-taping or just watching TSA employees at a gate area constitute 'suspicious behavior'?" If yes, please explain why such perfectly legal behavior is 'suspicious' to TSA and detail what other legitimate, non-disruptive, legal behaviors TSA regards as 'suspicious'. If no, please explain why the gentleman in question was detained, questioned, followed and harassed.
Thank you.
T-the-B at flyertalk
These blogs by the TSA are almost as weak as their security. "I read comments every now and then." Where are the comments coming from, who is writing them? I mean they could be coming from a fairy tale princess for all we know.
So the reports are coming from people who have their laptops searched. If I infer here, the TSA keeping data on those who (A.) post blogs, and (B.)laptops which are searched by CBP.
TSA is adament about the difference between uniform colors, but they share data on searches. I find this highly unlikely.
How does "Bob" know all this? Why should one believe what Bob says?
This TSA blog is a bunch of fluff. If they really wanted to do their job they would actually check your identity with a verified boarding pass. The TSA agents before you go through security cannot check to make sure your boarding pass is legit. You can have a falisfied boarding pass that matches a real ID. As soon as you are through security, all you have to do is switch out the false boarding pass with the real one and nobody checks your ID when you get on the plane. Whay-La, you beat TSA.
And you're both part of the DHS.
It's wrong to search someone's data. Bob, you better make sure TSA is never so cavalier about violating people's righ... oh, right, forgot who I was talking to there for a moment.
Bob, are you for real? I am a regular reader of this blog and I cannot recall a single instance where a commenter has criticized the TSA for searching laptops. The only reference to the non-existent "myth" that you have set out to debunk is in the headline of the article that you linked. The article itself, by the way, makes no reference to TSA, though the headline does. Did this erroneous headline appear in the New York Times? No. The Washington Post? No. Time Magazine??!!??! Nope. Bob has sighted as his singular inspiration for this obviously superflous post an article from gamepolitics.com. That's right, gamepolitics.com, which is to say a website that is completely inconsequential. Y'know Bob, I've seen a lot of good questions on you very own blog that you have ignored for a very long time-- so tell me, why respond to a meaningless critic at this point? You wouldn't want to bump posts regarding embarassing incidents off the front page, would you? Of course not, because that would be dishonorable-- like a man who lies for a living.
st of all, this "article" isn't from the New York Times, The Washington Post, or even the Philadelphia Inquirer: it is from gamespolitics.com,
No one asked you about this. Kindly answer the numerous questions that you have ignored, please.
Is there a way to be sure that all information on my laptop is safe from damage while going through the xray process? I'm a photographer and often on return from jobs away from my base city of Boston, the hard drive on my laptop Is the only place where the job resides. Is there any danger, and if yes, what can I do to protect my data?
One trip a couple of years back I was flying out of DFW and saw a passenger who was walking to a gate turn around and yell at the pilot heading to the same gate. The passenger thought the pilot was working for TSA and following him. The genius wasn’t even smart enough to tell the difference so I am not surprised that many people are not smart enough to tell whether it is TSA and CBP searching their computer.
But apparently TSA can search wallets, read every piece of paper & credit card therein, and read every piece of paper in your briefcase.
I've seen it done at DCA.
Bob, there's really no difference between reading computer files and emptying and reading stuff in a wallet.
Despite the denials here, it sure seems that TSA is intent on running a dragnet and invading privacy.
So, Bob, if TSA can't read files on a computer or confiscate the computer, then why did your agents do just that with Steven Frischling?
How about answering a question that is actually relevant: are we or are we not permitted to film TSA employees. Or are we permitted to film them only as long as we're willing to be detained and endlessly harassed?
Bob
You guys might not be permitted to search the files on a laptop, but you appear to be allowed to search for Arabic/English flash cards, and then detain and eventually arrest the student carrying them.
Are flash cards a threat to aviation?
Jannis said...
“One trip a couple of years back I was flying out of DFW and saw a passenger who was walking to a gate turn around and yell at the pilot heading to the same gate. The passenger thought the pilot was working for TSA and following him. The genius wasn’t even smart enough to tell the difference so I am not surprised that many people are not smart enough to tell whether it is TSA and CBP searching their computer.”
I heard a similar story from one of our regular pilots here at SMF. He is a southwest pilot. Maybe, it was the same person?
Tim
TSA Blog Team
Someone anonymously asked:
"are we or are we not permitted to film TSA employees. Or are we permitted to film them only as long as we're willing to be detained and endlessly harassed?"
There doesn't seem to be any law stopping us from doing so, but in practice, TSA staff make up policy on the spot, so doing so is likely to get you harassed, if not jailed and accused of things you did not do.
For more on this, see TSA's March 31, 2009, blog post, "Can I Take Photos at the Checkpoint and Airport?". In it, Bob informed us that TSA doesn't "prohibit public, passengers or press from photographing, videotaping, or filming at screening locations" and that we "can take pictures at our checkpoints as long as [we're] not interfering with the screening process or slowing things down". He first told us that TSA requests that people do not film or photograph TSA computer monitors. Later, he said such photography was not simply discouraged, but prohibited. Despite numerous requests for him to do so, he never backed his later assertion with citation of any law prohibiting such photography.
In that same post, Bob also suggested that we use TSA's "Got Feedback?" form to contact airports directly to find out if any local policies applied. I took his advice and contacted 50 U.S. airports. About half of them responded. Information provided was inconsistent, sometimes confirming Bob's "no photographing monitors" statement, sometimes confirming Bob's "we ask that you do not photograph monitors" statement. I published all this information on FlyerTalk Forums. Bob will not allow links to that information, purportedly because it contains contact information for TSA's airport "customer service" staff. Search the Web for "flyertalk airport photography" to find it.
I have some personal experience with TSA staff's lack of understanding of their own photography policies. I can't discuss it now, and Bob won't allow links to information others have gathered about the situation independently of me and published on the Web, but it's easily located if you're interested. My first hearing is scheduled for a couple weeks from now.
--
Phil
Arrested at ABQ TSA checkpoint November 15, 2009. Google it.
Ahem, not at baggage checkpoint. But if you are a travel blogger and the TSA/DHS sends someone to your house, they just may seize your laptop and take an image of the hard drive.
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/12/dhs-threatens-blogger/
Bob
You guys might not be permitted to search the files on a laptop, but you appear to be allowed to search for Arabic/English flash cards, and then detain and eventually arrest the student carrying them.
Are flash cards a threat to aviation?
------------------
Anon-- can you please post a link to this incident? I hadn't heard of this latest case of highly trained transportation security professionals exercising their discretion and keeping us safe from the existential threat of terrorism.
Bob,
It is well known that you only ever reply to comments in the absolute most recent blog entry. That is unfortunate because there are many comments in the entry posted ONE DAY before this one that are crying out for your attention.
Get over to the older entry and do your job. Reply to the questions and comments about the TSO who planted drugs to find.
Hey, Bob, why did some of your TSOs go through my wallet (didn't alarm) at an airport? Why did your TSOs go through documents provided me by my company (restricted to company use)?
Bob, it looks like your TSOs pretty much do what they want to with little regard to the rules governing administrative searches.
Why should anyone trust a TSA employee to do anything properly?
TSA pretty much does what TSA wants to do or at least until the press heats up the issue with embarrassing news articles.
Steve Marsel said...
Is there a way to be sure that all information on my laptop is safe from damage while going through the xray process? I'm a photographer and often on return from jobs away from my base city of Boston, the hard drive on my laptop Is the only place where the job resides. Is there any danger, and if yes, what can I do to protect my data?
January 23, 2010 5:53 AM
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Your computer is perfectly safe going through x-ray machines. Protection technology for hardrives has become very advanced in todays computer market. In fact, the casing of your hardrive and computer hardly lets any x-rays penetrate it. Even if x-rays were harmful to your data saved on the hardrive they couldn't penetrate the casing of the hardrive and laptop with enough juice left to damage anything. The only item that is damaged in x-rays are photo negatives of a speed of 800 or higher. I can verify this by saying hundreds of thousands of laptops are sent through x-rays every day and not one ever has a problem.
Just dealing with the air passenger security system is becoming as complicated as dealing with the IRS tax system. Too many "BOO!'s" and "GOTCHA's".
Well, I have to do my taxes, but I don't have to fly. I just made my life easier!
The federal gov and hence the TSA cannot provide airport security better than if each airline were to provide their own security. Where does the TSA get their resources? From the private sector! So what is it about the fact that they work for the gov that makes them better security experts? Better qualified? Nothing. In fact workers for the fed gov in any capacity have no incentive whatsoever to care about your security. Whereas private security firms are in the business of making a profit and that is a huge incentive to do a good job. The size of the TSA makes it a financial boondoggle on the American people, inefficient, unmanageable and a logistical nightmare. If each airline were responsible for thier own security you would have real experts in the field, working smaller groups of people with a real incentive to do a good job. Then people who don't fly wouldn't have to pay for security for those that do. Passengers could choose who they fly with and therefore whose security system they trust. Airlines with better security might have a competitive advantage in the market place and be more profitable.
Steve Marsel said...
Is there a way to be sure that all information on my laptop is safe from damage while going through the xray process? I'm a photographer and often on return from jobs away from my base city of Boston, the hard drive on my laptop Is the only place where the job resides. Is there any danger, and if yes, what can I do to protect my data?
Steve the xray can only ruin certain types of film, you can also have a tsa officer hand inspect any type of film to be on the safe side, they will conduct a physical inspection as well as an ETD sampling
Having traveled to Las Vegas from Omaha as recently as August, and having to turn on a laptop to show it legitimately worked, I dispute that part of the statement.
I did not have to show any information, just demonstrate it was an actual laptop by turning it on.
Last I knew, Omaha to Las Vegas trips don't require a customs stop.
Anonymous said...
Can the TSA search other personal effects, such as notebooks, wallets, books, etc, if there is no alarm or evidence of WEI? I have had the TSA search through personal papers, and read what was written on them. Is this allowed? Please do a blog entry on passenger rights, as it seems they are slowly being eroded as the terrorist hysteria grows.
January 22, 2010 5:35 PM
.................
Most TSA employees will say you have no rights once screening starts.
Anonymous asks for a link to the story about being detained by TSA for having Arabic flash cards.
Philly.com has a nice article, quoting all the relevant parties (including a representative of TSA).
Steve Marsel said...
“Is there a way to be sure that all information on my laptop is safe from damage while going through the xray process? I'm a photographer and often on return from jobs away from my base city of Boston, the hard drive on my laptop Is the only place where the job resides. Is there any danger, and if yes, what can I do to protect my data?”
The manufacturer data for the X-ray machines says that all digital data is safe for X-ray. Like you, I have worried about the data on my laptop. I use a remote backup solution. It worked well when I went on my last vacation.
Maybe, some of our frequent business travelers can give you better advice.
Wish you the best of travels,
Tim
TSA Blog Team
Amazing. A certain person named Steve posts a fake question that is really just an ad for his photography firm (check his URL) and it merits two replies from TSOs. Yet all the other legitimate questions go unanswered.
People please stop harassing bob, he is here to answer your questions about the screening process not to be TSA's complaint shield. The questions your asking are mean, negative, and he or others like him have answered your questions on past blogs whether you enjoyed the answer or not. If you would like, ask your questions again and I will answer them to the best of my ability using my personal experiences working for TSA for the past year and half. Please be aware I work in a small airport and have no access to the WBI's or their training. RB, to answer your question from earlier you can trust me as much as you can trust any other person on the internet honestly. For all you know I am not a TSO, but if I wasn't then bob would not let me parade around his blog speaking for TSA now would he? You can trust me because I am one of the officers on the front line with no ties to upper management or headquarters that you mainly complain about. All I see is the checkpoint and what happens in it every day, I just do my job to keep the airplanes in the air. I don't care about politics or anything like that. I have great respect for the TSA and my mission because knowing the facts hiding behind SSI and FOUO information is much more....interesting than you can believe.
Someone posting as smfflyer on FlyerTalk recently relayed an experience during which TSA staff asked him to hand over his mobile phone. More concerned with making his flight than with standing up to these bullies, he complied with their request:
"The TSA officer then asked me questions about the call I was making (to my wife) and wanted to see my cell phone. I handed over the cell phone to him and he fiddled with it for a few minutes looked at my calls dialed and received calls asked me about the number I dialed (my wife's cell number) and took a note of that number."
Just another bad apple?
--
Phil
Showing ID only affects honest
people.
What if the people with the power to secretly put your name on a "no-fly" list didn't like the reason for which you want to fly?
"The federal gov and hence the TSA cannot provide airport security better than if each airline were to provide their own security. Where does the TSA get their resources? From the private sector! So what is it about the fact that they work for the gov that makes them better security experts? Better qualified? Nothing. In fact workers for the fed gov in any capacity have no incentive whatsoever to care about your security. Whereas private security firms are in the business of making a profit and that is a huge incentive to do a good job. The size of the TSA makes it a financial boondoggle on the American people, inefficient, unmanageable and a logistical nightmare. If each airline were responsible for thier own security you would have real experts in the field, working smaller groups of people with a real incentive to do a good job. Then people who don't fly wouldn't have to pay for security for those that do. Passengers could choose who they fly with and therefore whose security system they trust. Airlines with better security might have a competitive advantage in the market place and be more profitable."
The problem is that nobody took security seriously before 9/11. The people working the checkpoints were the McDonalds rejects.
"Most TSA employees will say you have no rights once screening starts."
True, more or less. Once you begin the screening process, you MUST cooperate and complete screening, or you will be referred to law enforcement.
The problem is that nobody took security seriously before 9/11. The people working the checkpoints were the McDonalds rejects.
That's changed how?
True, more or less. Once you begin the screening process, you MUST cooperate and complete screening, or you will be referred to law enforcement.
Incarcerated people have more rights than do passengers transiting a TSA check point.
I like the blue uniforms.
Everyone here knows that when you submit yourself to airport screening you are freely granting complied consent to the officers to search all of your property and most of your person in search of items that are considered prohibited on the airplane. Basically what this translates to is when you set your bag on the x-ray belt and send it through then step through the WTMD you have just basically given the officers a warrant to search.
Of course that doesn't meen officers should be turning on your electronics. That is just stupid because if an officer turned an electronic on and it was an IED they would set it off. We greatly discourage pushing any kind of buttons while screening at our checkpoint or baggage area here in Ketchikan not only because its against the rules but also because its really really stupid.
"You can trust me because I am one of the officers on the front line"
Snort, snort.
TSOWilliamReed said...
Everyone here knows that when you submit yourself to airport screening you are freely granting complied consent to the officers to search all of your property and most of your person in search of items that are considered prohibited on the airplane. Basically what this translates to is when you set your bag on the x-ray belt and send it through then step through the WTMD you have just basically given the officers a warrant to search.
January 28, 2010 11:07 AM
.................
So what parts of my person is exempted from screening?
TSOWilliamReed said..." For all you know I am not a TSO, but if I wasn't then bob would not let me parade around his blog speaking for TSA now would he? "
He sure might.
TSOWilliamReed are you claiming that Bob has verified your are a TSA employee?
Bob, do you verify posters who claim to be TSOs? Have you verified TSOWilliamReed?
Who verified Tina?
"when you set your bag on the x-ray belt and send it through you have just basically given the officers a warrant to search."
That is a bad and very over reaching interpretation.
Especially as your 'officers' can not execute criminal warrants.
It is statements like this that give us more reasons not to trust you.
So, the TSOs who've asked me to turn on my laptop are really CBP agents? Then why is CBP screening domestic passengers? Or are you just misrepresenting the facts again?
How is your statement even vaguely consistent with the fact that you send TSOs to bloggers houses and take their computers when they criticize the TSA?
Having just cleared immigration in Bogotà , Colombia to board a US bound flight, I was asked at the Continental gate to turn on my laptop. As a frequent flyer around the world, Ihave never been askedto turn any device on. When questioned, the searcher replied it was TSA regulations. I asked what they expected to learn other than it works, she told me it was in case drugs were inside. I asked her that 2 X-Ray screenings would surely pick up any tampering. She was not really sure what to say about this.
I am trying to bring my 27'inch imac with me to Europe where I will live. It is a little larger than the normal size but I was told by the airline that they had made a note on my ticket that I will have a oversized object as a carry-on. My concern is getting it through security. I am not sure it will fit through the screening and it is a little heavy and very fragile for me to take out of the case as I would do with a laptop. Has anyone had any similar situation?if so please advise. I am very worried, probably for nothing but can not check this bag and it is over $400.00 to ship. Any advice?
Anonymous said...Bob, do you verify posters who claim to be TSOs? Have you verified TSOWilliamReed? Who verified Tina?
January 29, 2010 7:26 AM
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I don't verify all TSOs, but I have corresponded with TSO Reed via TSA Govt. e-mail, so I know he is a TSO.
Who is Tina?
Blogger Bob
TSA Blog Team
Faith,
Your 27" iMac will be fine. I think it will fir through the X-ray, but if it doesn't, there a procedures in place that will allow our officers to physically inspect it.
Thanks,
Blogger Bob
TSA Blog team
Anonymous said... Having just cleared immigration in Bogotà , Colombia to board a US bound flight, I was asked at the Continental gate to turn on my laptop. As a frequent flyer around the world, Ihave never been askedto turn any device on. When questioned, the searcher replied it was TSA regulations. I asked what they expected to learn other than it works, she told me it was in case drugs were inside. I asked her that 2 X-Ray screenings would surely pick up any tampering. She was not really sure what to say about this. January 30, 2010 8:10 AM
--------------------------
Anon,
TSA does not screen in Bogata, and we do not look for drugs.
Thanks,
Blogger Bob
TSA Blog Team
Tina was the controversial and self described "TSA screener" who was over at boardingarea.com.
Oh, OK... I know who you're talking about now.
I have no idea if Tina is a real TSO or not. After reading her posts, it appears that she is, but I have no way of really knowing.
I can tell you that she's not a part of the public affairs team here at TSA. And as far as I'm aware, she's never commented here.
Blogger Bob
TSA Blog Team
Bob said...
Anonymous said...Bob, do you verify posters who claim to be TSOs? Have you verified TSOWilliamReed? Who verified Tina?
January 29, 2010 7:26 AM
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I don't verify all TSOs, but I have corresponded with TSO Reed via TSA Govt. e-mail, so I know he is a TSO.
Who is Tina?
Blogger Bob
TSA Blog Team
February 1, 2010 11:45 AM
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Thanks for the support Bob
I have read a few posts over the last couple of days, and then going to the comments to find a great deal of anger. I do not think anyone could possibly be happy being searched; however, I am glad that the agency is trying to find ways of being non-invasive. Thank you for the job that you are doing.
If the spammer Frank Schulte-Ladbeck had written a critical post instead of a supportive one would you have published it?
TSA does pretty much whatever it wants to do and with little regard to either the law or Constitution (all in the name of security at any cost).
Bottom line, the TSA does not retain the most competent individuals so this computer searching issue is the least of my worries with them.
They may not search your computer, but maybe just steal the whole thing?
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/crime/012910-stolen-laptop
Tell me again, why should we not object to the hiring of convicted felons??
Maybe one agency should wear black and red uniforms and the other agency can wear brown uniforms.
I need your advice. What happens if the officer turn my laptop and find movies downloaded from online movies stores. What are the consequences?
I just flew today and arrived in my hotel to work and found my external hard drive empty of my files. The files it did have are other people's. 2 folders, both identified as 'recycle'. I have a Mac so there is not a 'recycle' bin like on PCs. Some of the data placed onto my hard drive is very private corporate data from a large company I will not name and many personal memory files (travel, wedding, etc... photos).
Where can I complain? My files are gone. Some I will NEVER be able to replace!
I am afraid of the stuff they can put on my hard drive. I travel with another hard drive and it was not touched.
do the custom and border protection agency confiscate laptops?
Rumors are quick to fly. That's ridicules to even believe that the files would be searched.
People import/export drugs and that's a good thing they search the laptop.
-Brian
"Our officers might visually inspect your laptop and perform an explosives trace detection test, but that’s it. Our officers don’t even turn computers on during inspection."
never been asked to turn on computer, but really dont like this procedure.
Thanks for clearing my confusion in advance if I am to travel by air with my laptop. Not now but in future it would be possible that authorities could copy the hard drive without turning the laptop "ON".
I have never heard of this until now. I would like to learn more about the CBP searching the computers?
This is really useful to know. I'm not surprised that the CBP has the authority to do the searches. Basically, they have the power. I've found it's always best to be frank with them - tell them what you've been up to in a light manner as they are highly trained and can tell when someone is trying to fool them.
I was traveling about two month ago abroad and caring two laptops with me, one mine and another was a gift, but I didn't have any problem with TSA or anybody else.
Interesting. I just learned of this issue today. Wish we could go back to simpler times!
Thanks for making the clarification . But i suggest a change in uniform to avoid wrong identification .
Semantics... the TSA will soon be mandated to copy and search all laptops. This practice will be obsolete and unnecessary because of cloud computing, let the NSA handle electronic data.
I recently flew Charlotte/JFK/Europe...
Although I didn't have a problem taking an external HDD through customs with me in my carry on, I had a external HDD caddy in my checked in baggage that I guess had a HDD in it. (I'm a computer technician and always get asked for help by friends and family to fix computers so travel with my tools...) The caddy was taken (ripped from the containing ziplock bag!) from the bag and a notice from the TSA was left saying that they had inspected the bag...funny thing was that it said anything removed for the inspection was returned to the bag...I guess they forgot the HDD. Unfortunately or is it fortunately I don't really know what HDD was in there and so am not really going to miss the data that was on there(I hope!!!)!
It certainly to me seems to be wrong that something like that can be taken without justification and kept!
Sounds like theft to me!!!
Are they TSA or CBP?
That's easy (besides the uniform colors).
TSA are NOT Law Enforcement Officers (they do NOT carry guns).
CBP Officers ARE law enforcement officers (they DO carry guns).
So, if you see their gun and gun belt, they are cops/CBP.
When i travel with my laptop I usually do not have any problems. My issue is when they always spend extra time checking me like i am a terrorist or something.
Put my laptop in checked baggage to stream line the security checkpoint process. Now laptop only works when plugged in. Doesnt recognize battery. didnt know they searched the bag until the wife told me there was a brochure. Having deployed as a memeber of the united states military, there is dust inside my laptop; however, upon CAREFULLY taking my laptop apart, there was dust missing in parts that i never touched with no figerprints as well like a gloved hand touched it...hmmmmmm
Flew the other day and laptop was in checked baggaged so I could streamline the checkpoint process. Now that I am at my destination, the laptop will only work if its plugged into the wall AND the battery is in. Both have to be connected for the computer to turn on. NOT HAPPY!! thanks for the note inside that you searched my stuff too. Glad a suitcase of baby clothes tipped you off!
I feel a lot of the commentators here are being overly sceptical of the TSA's intention. Not trying to sound naive here, but aren't we all agreeing the are doing a worthwhile job? Am I completely missing the point, or why so much animosity?
TSA took my laptop at LAX this past June. They wanted to know why it was making a "beeping" noise. As any average computer user would know, that is the noise when your battery is going dead. They made me take apart the computer for them. Of course, by the time they were convinced my laptop was safe, my flight was already gone. Thanks guys. You do such great jobs to keep us sooooooooo safe.
No they can not place things in your luggage as part of a training exercise and they also can't plant things into you rlaptop while visiting this blog. In fact TSA has never placed things in passengers bags as part of a test.
I agree i think the uniform distinctions should be more pronounced than they are. though i think the searches of the hard drives is warranted when coming into the country if it appears suspicious.
That is a great article. We flew just this July from Dallas to the Philippines and brought my laptop. TSA officer was very curtious. they checked my laptop with clothe and chemicals. i guess for bad stuff. other than that great experience.
I know from professional personal experience how long it takes to properly scan a hard drive and also how easy it is to obfuscate the HPA to prevent hidden areas being accessed. There is no way the TSA would waste effort on this even on a practical level.
I do remember that the immigration in philippines and malaysia used to ask us a few years ago to switch on the laptop just to confirm that its an working laptop and is not something harmful.
Do we belive in National security, I do. I also belive it is very important so lets the guys from TSA do their jobs, and like in any other job there is always people who does not do it properly
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