Laptops & Airport Security

superyoung

Hi there,

Just a curious question. I heard a nightmare story of someone travelling for work coming out of London and airport security tried to confiscate their laptop(think it was a macbook pro). I am presuming it was scanned beforehand with their hand luggage. I was curious to know how often do they do that and why would they do that. Surely that's invasion of privacy even if it is a work laptop. If its hassle I am thinking not to bother travelling with a laptop.

Thanks,

Superyoung

BuffyBot

I've never encountered them trying to confiscate it. Airport security staff (as opposed to customs staff when you arrive into a country) don't confiscate items - they either allow it through screening, or don't (i.e liquids into a bin/make you go back and check them in).

They sometimes select items to be swabbed individually - but that's entirely different.

Are you sure you're not either hearing a) half the story because they misunderstood what was happening or b) a third hand story that's been mangled in the telling?

superyoung

I heard the story directly off someone who was leaving London to travel back to Dublin. The conclusion was when they tried to take his laptop he kicked up a fuss as he was going to miss his flight and they eventually caved.

Chucken

superyoung wrote: »

I heard the story directly off someone who was leaving London to travel back to Dublin. The conclusion was when they tried to take his laptop he kicked up a fuss as he was going to miss his flight and they eventually caved.

They must have givin him a reason why they were trying to take it. Ive never heard of this happening.

wexie

hmmm....I travel quit extensively for work and always carry at least one laptop and I've never heard, seen or experienced anything like this.

I guess it's possible but I'd like to know on what grounds they were considering confiscating the laptop.

bumper234

superyoung wrote: »

I heard the story directly off someone who was leaving London to travel back to Dublin. The conclusion was when they tried to take his laptop he kicked up a fuss as he was going to miss his flight and they eventually caved.

Would never happen.

They might have asked to swab ithe may have objected. They may have asked him to put it through the xray and he may have objected but they would never just confiscate for no reason. If your laptop is getting confiscated then you will probably be following it out of the airport in handcuffs. And they would never cave just because you kick up a fuss:rolleyes:

syklops

I regularly get my phone or laptop swabbed checking for explosive residue. It only takes a second. I was in an airport in Poland and they wanted me to turn on the laptop and show it running, unfortunately the charger was in my case and the battery had died.

Never heard of them taking someones laptop. Probably a crossed wire.

superyoung

wexie wrote: »

hmmm....I travel quit extensively for work and always carry at least one laptop and I've never heard, seen or experienced anything like this.

I guess it's possible but I'd like to know on what grounds they were considering confiscating the laptop.

Well thats what I am curious about too, why would they confiscate it?

wexie

superyoung wrote: »

Well thats what I am curious about too, why would they confiscate it?

only thing I could think of might be counterfeit laptop? (yes they're out there)

Thing is though, like already pointed out, if they have a valid reason to confiscate your laptop kicking up a fuss isn't just going to make them change their minds.

superyoung

wexie wrote: »

only thing I could think of might be counterfeit laptop? (yes they're out there)

Thing is though, like already pointed out, if they have a valid reason to confiscate your laptop kicking up a fuss isn't just going to make them change their minds.

I guess the only thing I can think of is that they suspect you have pedo porn on the ol' laptop but thats a bit harsh on looks alone lol.

coylemj

Airport security are there purely to make sure that what you take on the plane isn't a threat to the plane or the other passengers, they have no brief to enforce regulations to do with counterfeit goods or to check if you have pornography on your laptop. The customs people at your destination might be concerned with those issues but not airport security at your point of departure.

That story just doesn't add up.

superyoung

coylemj wrote: »

Airport security are there purely to make sure that what you take on the plane isn't a threat to the plane or the other passengers, they have no brief to enforce regulations to do with counterfeit goods or to check if you have pornography on your laptop. The customs people at your destination might be concerned with those issues but not airport security at your point of departure.

That story just doesn't add up.

It probably is just BS but you cant help but be taken in a little given how security is tightening in airports more and more.

Boards.ie is so great as I can get answers and opinions from REAL people.

wexie

coylemj wrote: »

Airport security are there purely to make sure that what you take on the plane isn't a threat to the plane or the other passengers, they have no brief to enforce regulations to do with counterfeit goods or to check if you have pornography on your laptop. The customs people at your destination might be concerned with those issues but not airport security at your point of departure.

That story just doesn't add up.

hmmm.....I think you're only partly right there, try bringing a big bag of weed through airport security

coylemj

I have brought a laptop through security in Dublin and various UK airports dozens of times, I've never seen them even open the lid once.

coylemj

wexie wrote: »

hmmm.....I think you're only partly right there, try bringing a big bag of weed through airport security

Why are there no sniffer dogs at the scanners in that case if they're on the lookout for drugs?

I've a better suggestion - you give it a go and report back on what happened.

ProudDUB

Been traveling with a lap top for donkeys years, and it's never been given so much as a second glance. OP, you aren't getting the full story. Why did airport security try to confiscate your friends lap top? What reason did they give?

worded

I've heard of USA cust0ms temp taking a passengers laptop for an hour and cloning the hard drive. It was done for counter espion-age when for example a Russian senior exec would be travelling with info of major interest to the yanks. It would be pre planned prior to the victim landing.
Its using the customs service to further USA corporate interests.

To confiscate? Very odd. Why do that when you can clone all the info.

Stinicker

If travelling to Israel they can demand to open your laptop and read everything on it and even login to your social networks and read your emails.

http://rt.com/news/israel-airport-security-tourist-emails-358/
http://www.infowars.com/israel-airport-security-allowed-to-read-tourists-email/

Similar thing happens regularly to male solo travellers coming from south east asian countries as they profile potential pedophiles.

Nonoperational

coylemj wrote: »

I have brought a laptop through security in Dublin and various UK airports dozens of times, I've never seen them even open the lid once.

They always open the lid in Cork and most other airports I've passed through.

That story about them confiscating it cannot be true really.

munchkin_utd

Stinicker wrote: »

If travelling to Israel they can demand to open your laptop and read everything on it and even login to your social networks and read your emails.
<snip>

the authorities in the US have similar powers and have been known to strangely target business travellers from foreign high tech companies and make copies of their hard disc.

source: internal warnings in a major Munich hi tech engineering company (6000+employees) which has banned employees bringing their normal work laptop to the usa lest the home of freedom and fair play engage in industrial espionage!

coylemj

munchkin_utd wrote: »

the authorities in the US have similar powers and have been known to strangely target business travellers from foreign high tech companies and make copies of their hard disc.

source: internal warnings in a major Munich hi tech engineering company (6000+employees) which has banned employees bringing their normal work laptop to the usa lest the home of freedom and fair play engage in industrial espionage!

How does the TSA officer on the scanners know who you work for?

Has a security officer on the scanners here or in the UK or US ever asked you a personal question such as where you come from or where you work?

You don't show your passport to the people on the scanners so they don't even know what country you're from, let alone know what type of company you work for.

Utter BS.

superyoung

What do they do when they open the lid?

Yamanoto

coylemj wrote: »

How does the TSA officer on the scanners know who you work for?

Presumably by 'authorities', munchkin_utd was referring to actions taken by the CBP, who have the power to search and confiscate laptops, phones and myriad other data-storing devices. Operating under the U.S. Policy Regarding Border Search of Information, agents have also downloaded the contents of entire computer hard drives and other storage media for later scrutiny.

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/admissibility/elec_mbsa.ctt/elec_mbsa.pdf

http://www.businesstravelnews.com/Business-Travel/Airport-Laptop-Seizures-Debated-in-Washington/?ida=Airlines&a=trans

coylemj

Read the thread title. In relation to the last post, the people who operate the scanners in US airports are TSA employees, they do not scan laptops.

What happens with the CBP people when they look at your passport and see that you're coming back from North Korea is a separate issue.

Yamanoto

The discussion evolved beyond what was a curious, vague and implausible scenario detailed in the original post.

In the context of the post munchkin quoted (Israeli Security personnel accessing data, as opposed to baggage screeners), it's clear the TSA weren't being referenced.

naughtysmurf

Always have the laptop with me, was asked at security to turn it on leaving Orlando Int Airport a couple of years ago, once it powered up, was told that's fine, it's the only time my laptop has attracted any interest

coylemj

Yamanoto wrote: »

In the context of the post munchkin quoted (Israeli Security personnel accessing data, as opposed to baggage screeners), it's clear the TSA weren't being referenced.

I wasn't addressing the post that he quoted, I was referring to what he said himself, let me remind you......

munchkin_utd wrote: »

the authorities in the US have similar powers and have been known to strangely target business travellers from foreign high tech companies and make copies of their hard disc.

Hence my reference to the TSA which is the body responsible for airport security in the US.

Yamanoto

coylemj wrote: »

I was referring to what he said himself...

Not sure you were tbh, as he made no mention of the TSA.

As I read it, his use of the word 'authorities' clearly pertains to those with the requisite powers to inspect and / or seize laptops and other electronic devices at the point of entry, i.e. the CBP.

Both worded & Stinicker made broadly similar points in posts above.

Guarding against industrial espionage is a very real concern for those who travel frequently with data of a commercially sensitive nature.

Of course it would be far-fetched to think those charged with screening passenger baggage would be in a position to engage in such shenanigans, but as I've already explained, I don't believe that's who munchkin was alluding to.

killbillvol2

Stinicker wrote: »

...
Similar thing happens regularly to male solo travellers coming from south east asian countries as they profile potential pedophiles.

Source?

I've often been asked to turn on my laptop. Once it powers up, no problem.

Lately though, a number of airports don't even require you to take out your laptop (or liquids) from hand luggage. Either the scanners are getting more sophisticated or they don't rate the threat as highly.

keithclancy

killbillvol2 wrote: »

Source?

I've often been asked to turn on my laptop. Once it powers up, no problem.

Lately though, a number of airports don't even require you to take out your laptop (or liquids) from hand luggage. Either the scanners are getting more sophisticated or they don't rate the threat as highly.

If you took a Video of yourself fapping for the missus your in trouble entering australia:

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/05/australian-customs-officials-will-search-your-laptop-for-porn/

Entering Russia with a laptop that has encryption enabled is forbidden, also for a bunch of other countries too.

We don't give anyone laptops traveling to those places, they just use Citrix instead.

k mac

Sorry slightly off topic but if flying with just 1 bag for hand luggage are you also allowed to bring a laptop in a laptop case or is this counted as another bag ?