9 replies

1. Andrew Douglass 3 min later

   @zachleat is turning them off not a solution? I thought that did the trick on most devices.

   1. Zach Leatherman 6 min later

      @ardouglass yeah, I think I have too many devices

      1. Andrew Douglass 9 min later

         @zachleat I think I have a solution. Have you seen the stolen printer scene in Office Space?

         1. Cory Dransfeldt 11 min later

            @ardouglass @zachleat Yeah, powering them off will do it — it gets you to “before first unlock” where everything is fully encrypted (for Apple’s stuff anyhow).

            1. Zach Leatherman 1 hr later

               @cory @ardouglass oh, I am just now realizing you meant powering off the devices, not “just” turning off the biometrics *hides*

               1. Cory Dransfeldt 1 hr later

                  @zachleat @ardouglass Ah yeah, that'll make them inaccessible when you cross the border or go through TSA without having to change settings on each device.

2. ahoyboyhoy 1 hr later

   @zachleat think you've got the right answer already, but a thorough resource for others
   https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/journalist-security-checklist-preparing-devices-travel-through-us-border

   1. Zach Leatherman 1 hr later

      @ahoyboyhoy whoa, absolutely wild that the article seems to make no note of how citizens can be compelled to unlock devices via biometrics (but not via pin codes)

      1. ahoyboyhoy 4 hr later

         @zachleat Yeah, it's possible I'm thinking of another EFF article that states that clearly. Perhaps something changed and the line is blurrier that previously? I found this directly from CBP saying what they will do (regardless of legality) in case that's helpful. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/cbp-search-authority/border-search-electronic-devices