foXnoMad » Security

4 Ways To Track And Recover Your Stuff If It Gets Stolen When Traveling

Anil P. — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:00:50 +0000

We’re beginning a new era in the cycle of travel theft in favor of the victim despite the amount of coverage of what thieves can do to you with technology. Yet, our stuff that is so tempting to steal, is also getting smart enough to protect itself, fight back, and find its way home. You’re probably carrying smaller, more expensive electronics today than you ever have – two good reasons to prepare yourself in the craftiest ways possible.

1. All Around Laptop, Tablet, Mobile Phone Recovery: Project Prey

I am a huge fan of Project Prey and if there’s one solution you should use as part of a physical security plan for your gadgets, Project Prey is it. This free piece of software runs on your laptop (Windows, Mac, and Linux), mobile phone (iPhone and Android), and tablet (yes, iPad too); remaining hidden until you activate it. If your gadget gets stolen, you activate Project Prey remotely (through a free account on their website) and you can track it, get secret screenshots, steal passwords, and even get pictures of the crooks covertly with any built-in camera. Need more convincing? Project Prey helped Matthew recover his Macbook Pro in Panama.

Mac users can also take a look at iCloud (although it doesn’t work nearly as well).

2. Set A Decoy Wallet Trap To Surprise A Pickpocket

I’ve talked about decoy wallets before as part of a broader travel security plan to reduce your loses if you’re unfortunate enough to be pick-pocketed. Decoy wallets also make good dummy targets but if you want to add a small chance of catching the thief, be sure to leave an unused – but activated – credit card in yours. This won’t work in every country but if the pickpocket decides to use that credit card somewhere and you’ve reported it stolen, police can use surveillance footage from stores to track them. More criminals are caught this way than you might think. Plus your credit card company likely won’t hold you liable for unauthorized transactions.

You probably won’t get your wallet back but justice may still be served.

3. Find Lost Or Stolen Luggage With An Inexpensive GPS Tracking Unit

Although controversial, GPS tracking units are often used to follow the movements of criminal suspects in many countries around the world. These small-palm sized devices broadcast radio signals that can be used to track them from a computer. ~~Place~~ Hide one of these (the Winplus AC13268-72 Beacon GPS Tracker is $29 or the Telespial TrackStick $149) in your backpack or checked luggage to find out where it is when it’s not where it’s supposed to be.

4. Keep A Digital Eye On Your House With Your Desktop

There are plenty of uses for that clunky desktop when you’re traveling; one of which is to act as security guard. Both Yawcam (Windows) or iAlertu (Mac) can snap and email you photos when they detect any motion – especially useful when things should be motionless. A picture of a potential burglar may help you get your stolen things back. Plus, you’ll finally know if you’ve really trained your cat not to jump on tables when you’re at work.

In addition, iAlertu (and Laptop Alarm for Windows) can put some muscle on your laptop so it sounds a loud alarm if moved. Useful for those times you’ve just got to hop up for a napkin or your 6th cup of coffee in a cafe with your laptop just within visual range.

Hope For The Best But Plan For The Worst

No security is absolute – the first rule of security – and that’s why any plan without a backup is doomed to fail eventually. Remember, your data is more valuable than any piece of electronic equipment you own so don’t screw up your vacation by preparing for mini-disasters. Recruit your gadgets and technology to work on your side for protection and preparation just in case.

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Low Budget Travel Tricks You Can Use To Overcome Big Budget Problems: Part 2

Anil P. — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:00:52 +0000

In Part 1 of Low Budget Travel Tricks you learned to tame mother nature and battle armies of microscopic vampires, you, our nomadic hero. Though your path is still wroth with bandits and ruthless dragons who control the skies, yet still, you will overcome them. Leverage and luck on your side you’ll defeat these foes, allowing you to go on the offensive, but first to today’s battles.

Fight Off Attackers, Pickpockets, And Hotel Thieves

Prevention, awareness, and contingency are the basic steps to a robust security plan, whether you’re looking out for hackers or simply want to be prepared in case of a mugging. When it comes to your personal safety, knowing the streets or parts of town you might want to avoid (or just avoid at night) can go a long way in keeping you from assault. Hotels, hostels, and Tripadvisor are all good resources that can lessen your chances of ending up at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Pocket Protection

Carry Only What You Need – I only carry a day pack if I’m hiking or looking for a cafe to get some work done. Otherwise, I leave my laptop and other valuables with wherever I’m staying. They’re safer there, no day pack often helps you blend in, plus it’s better for your back.
Distribute Your Money On Your Person – A little bit of cash in your pockets, socks, underwear, bra, etc. means if someone picks your pocket, you’re not losing everything. A decoy wallet with a small amount of cash and an expired credit card can also protect you by fooling pickpockets.
Catch The ~~Bastards~~ Crooks – One of 4 ways to be shadier than a thief is to set a credit card trap:

“Keep this card (with no money in the account) in your decoy wallet. If it’s stolen call the credit card company or bank right away to let them know. In most countries the companies will keep close track to see where and if that card is used. If there happens to be a camera at the first place the pickpocket tries to use the card you may be in luck.”

The digital equivalent of a credit card trap is to use the free Project Prey on your laptop, mobile phone, and tablet.

Hotel Hacking

Much like protecting the items on your person when you’re out and about – it’s a good idea to distribute your valuables. Make use of the safe in the room (no guarantee yet decent protection) but generally speaking, locking the zippers on your bags provides enough discouragement for opportunistic thieves. The first rule of security is that no security is absolute – you just need enough security to make a potential theft more risky than it’s worth to the thief.

Create A Backpack Security Plan – Remember the layers of clothing that keep you warm and make your mom happy in Part 1 of this series? Well, layers will insulate your most valuable items against theft.
Get Pacsafe Security Without A Pacsafe – That’s also much less conspicuous.

Overcome Physical Threats

Let’s start with an obvious one that’s easy to forget depending on where you’ve been traveling – keep your valuables out of sight. That means iPhones, which seem as common as grass these days, but don’t forget they’re a cool $600 that’s easily resold anywhere in the world. It’s tempting in taxis, buses, and while wandering the city streets to multi-task with a bit of texting or gloat to your friends (“I iz totally rockin Buenos Aires right now Jimmy”) but it’s not Jimmy that’s going to get jacked that way.

Treat Your Gadgets Like Real Actors, Not Reality Stars – Meaning be picky about when they make an appearance.

Uglify Your Things So They’re Not So Enticing – Wise Bread has an excellent guide on uglifying and some handy anecdotes from Brazil.

Bring A Safety Whistle – This is one personal safety tip from Legal Nomads I can’t get enough of and Jodi’s got 3 good reasons to carry a whistle.

When it comes to personal safety though whether you’ve got formal training or not, these 3 insightful rules by Sam Harris could help you avoid being harmed physically.

Tomorrow in the third and final part of this series you’ll take down a frequent foe and battle your own demons to become the one to rule them all.

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Optimistic, Forgotten, And Burdened: The Plight Of 3 Unrecognized States Around The World

Anil P. — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 06:00:33 +0000

There are over 40 unrecognized states around the world, all in various states of progression towards self-determination. It’s not a direct path in the least and one with no obvious final destination. These 3 unrecognized states are all somewhere along this path, lost primarily due to the political and economic isolation they face jut outside of their de facto borders.

Kurdish Autonomous Region – Iraq

The nation of Iraq has essentially split into three loosely related regions, delicately coordinated by a central government in Baghdad since the 2003 Iraq War. And while the disenfranchised Sunnis and stagnant southern Shiites work reluctantly together, the stable Kurdish north has taken a drastically more positive turn. That’s one of the reasons Kurds told me enthusiastically how much they love George W. Bush; Kurdish rights were consistently suppressed and abused during Saddam Hussein’s rule, often to horrific extremes.

These days the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) flies their own flag (concurrently with the Iraqi one) all over the lands they control which sit behind a well defined and armed border. For many violent years in the rest of the country after the US invasion, both the Americans and Iraqi government were happy to turn a blind eye to the increasingly autonomous and assertive Kurdish north.

This growing autonomy and the ambiguity of the term “Kurdistan” however illustrates its complex position in the region. Kurdistan can refer to either the area of the existing borders but is also often used to describe the region where Kurds form a significant minority or majority in the Middle East. That area happens to overlap with neighboring Turkey, Iran, and Syria; giving them an uneasy feeling about a potential uprising in those countries. (One view two terrorist organizations are currently spilling blood over.)

Nerves are one thing and if you’re not confused yet about the relationship the KRG has with it’s neighbors, consider this. Turkey is northern Iraq’s biggest economic partner, exchanging over 6 billion dollars in 2010. That’s an increase of 50% from 2008. And while the fate of Kurdistan is in question the optimism of its people is not. Kurds in northern Iraq are extremely optimistic about their chances to finally be the controllers of their destiny. They’ve got a very long way to go than the next unrecognized state below but I could almost feel the hope floating on the streets of Sulaymaniyah. The Kurds have been waiting for this chance for decades since the British drew arbitrary borders around Iraq in 1920 and are nurturing the opportunity in front of them.

Turkish Republic Of Northern Cyprus – Cyprus

When the Turkish military arrived in northern Cyprus to prevent a Greece-backed coup d’tat in 1974, Turkish Cypriots fled north and the Greeks south, as violence erupted between the two communities who had been living on the island for centuries. 9 years later, while tensions remained high, the Turkish north declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). That state is officially not recognized by any government in the world except Turkey (although there have been rumblings from Russia and others).

Jump ahead more than 25 years in the future from 1983 and you would think the TRNC would be in much better shape than the less organized and recognized KRG in northern Iraq. But it’s not. The European Union currently sees Cyprus – the entire island – controlled by the Greek south, as the legitimate country whose north is occupied by Turkey.

Economic isolation has been detrimental to the TRNC, who can only trade with Turkey; meanwhile their southern counterparts have since joined the EU. A crucial vote to reunify Cyprus went to referendum in 2004 with the Turkish north voting yes to the deal, while the Greeks in the south voted against it. Since then, the TRNC has been stuck.
Most unrecognized states around the world want some form of normalization but the citizens of the TRNC actually rejected it only to be rejected themselves. The Turkish Cypriots fear a lose of their culture as more Turks (from Turkey) move to the island – and many Turks don’t appreciate 400 million of their annual tax dollars being spent to keep the TRNC afloat.

Although today formal recognition by anyone isn’t on the horizon, there are soft spots. You can find North Cyprus flight and vacation billboards in the London Tube, Italian cruise ships regularly dock in Girne, and until recently, ferries went back and forth once a week from Syria. The TRNC may have to embrace its independence or completely give it up in order to move in some direction other than neutral.

Freetown Christiania – Copenhagen, Denmark

Christiania is an unusual unrecognized state in the world because of its size and the fact that it has been allowed to exist in the first place. Basically a neighborhood in east Copenhagen, Christiania was created when a group of squatters took over what was the site of a former military base in 1971. Generally, unrecognized states have enough guns behind them to deter being reabsorbed into their larger states, but Denmark has dealt with Christiania differently. Although Christiania is not completely independent, much if its control was transferred from the local government to the nearly 900 residents in 1989.

Christiania was based on very idealistic democratic principals and while a look inside reveals it has strayed somewhat from them, decisions in the community are still made by unanimous vote. Yet, it is the freedom of Christiania that threatens its existence today. Organized crime has taken advantage of the community’s very liberal drug laws and raids by the police have the Danish government thinking twice about Freetown Christiania.

Christiania is independent to an extent, but cannot exist without the supplies, electricity, nor police protection of the big brother that surrounds it. So, while the community may be able to police itself, it hasn’t been able to control the invasive external elements that have moved in to take advantage of its semi-independence.

Recognition Isn’t Utopia

Often the struggle for independence is one that sees self-determination as the end goal. Really though, it’s only the beginning. In fact, the push toward recognition helps to unite the nation that doesn’t exist. Afterwards ambitions, hopes, and ideals take different paths – the teenage years of a country if you will. As we’ve seen in Egypt’s recent revolution, the hard part begins after birth. The KRG, TRNC, and Freetown Christiania are now going through various stages of a difficult process in which they are forced to hold one trait, patience, in common for the unforeseeable future.

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The Mafia Beginnings Of Las Vegas’ Most Successful Failure

Anil P. — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 06:00:56 +0000

Throughout it’s short history as a city beginning in 1829, a lot of people have bet on Las Vegas and lost. Beginning with the Southern Paiute native peoples’ displacement during the mid-1850s, the Mormons tried their hand around the same time in an attempt to make Las Vegas a refueling destination for western travelers. That idea lasted 2 years before the environmental hardships created enough tension to split up the inhabitants.

It wasn’t until Benjamin “Bugsy” Seigel, a Genovese crime family associate, was lured to the area around Las Vegas in 1937. Seigel was originally sent to there to create illegal entertainment opportunities for the thousands of workers building the Hoover Dam in 1934. That was a much riskier venture than Seigel preferred, rather deciding to use Nevada’s legalized gambling laws to create a lucrative, legitimate business front.

The Great Depression and World War II both created the economic incentives for Nevada to further liberalize its gambling laws and gave Seigel the momentum he needed to seek investment from various mob bosses. Motivated by greed, the investments by Charlie “Lucky” Luciano and others were huge, topping out around 6 million dollars. And Seigel made sure to spend every cent of it on his casino The Flamingo. Although the old adage goes you can’t cheat a cheater – that’s exactly what happened to Seigel. Organized construction workers ran up costs nearly 10-fold mostly by not delivering supplies but making it seem as they though they had. Unions, being manipulated by other crime families, went on strike to delay construction or simply be used as bargaining chips.

It also turned out that Seigel was stealing money from the investments he had received, quietly stashing some of it away in foreign banks. When investors found out – it was the financial success of The Flamingo that would determine Seigel’s life. In a rush to get The Flamingo open, Seigel neglected to finish the hotel, but threw one of the most expensive grand openings in the world. Celebrities chefs, actors like Clark Gable, and entertainers were brought in from around the globe.

The press was incredible – the stars were the biggest – but nobody else showed up. It was right after World War II and few people had the expendable cash to spend. And the celebrities couldn’t stay at The Flamingo since there weren’t any rooms.

Approximately 6 months later however, the glamorous press coverage along with a rapidly improving economy made The Flamingo a gold mine allowing Seigel to payback nearly a quarter of the loan. By that time though, he had stolen too much and made too little. Bugsy Seigel was killed by gunfire in his home on June 20, 1947 – just 5 years before 10 more casinos opened and the Las Vegas strip was born.

Much of this Las Vegas history is covered in great detail in the book Five Families, a fascinating read about organized crime’s relationship with the United States over the 1900s.

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The Palace Of Westminster Past And Present

Anil P. — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 06:00:45 +0000

The Palace of Westminster is where the House of Commons and House of Lords get together to argue, pass legislation, and argue some more. This meeting place of the United Kingdom’s Parliament and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been around in some form or another for over 900 years. Though Westminster’s latest Gothic look was introduced in the mid-1800s, after it was destroyed by a fire in 1834. (Deleting spreadsheets was a lot more hazardous back then.)

One of the stranger sites right outside of this quite dignified building are along Westminster Bridge that goes across the River Thames; of which you can see a sliver of on the far left above. Across most of the bridge span, doing their best to hustle the bustle of tourists are men, offering some version of the three-shell game. Mostly eastern Europeans with quick hands, you feel like they should dressed more in Charles Dickens-era attire to achieve the complete time travel effect.

You’ll want to keep your eye on your purses and pockets though; if you spend enough time sitting at the corner of the bridge, you can almost see organized pickpocket gangs at work. Stragglers hanging around crowds as the bulge, alternating in a suspiciously inconspicuous pattern over the course of several hours. The type of sightseeing perhaps only a former hacker and security expert can find so persistently interesting.

You can see more of my photos from London here.

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Do I Need A Pacsafe To Protect My Valuables While Traveling?

Anil P. — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 06:00:05 +0000

This is a question that pops up in my inbox frequently and one that backpackers often have during the mid-to-latter part of the travel planning process. A Pacsafe is certainly something to consider while you’re choosing the right backpack but let’s focus on whether you need one to keep your electronics and other valuables safe.

What Is A Pacsafe?

I should clarify that Pacsafe is a brand name referring to the company that makes several travel security products; but also the common name for that company’s most popular product – a stainless steel wire mesh that covers the exterior of a backpack. That mesh which can be locked to some fixture in a hostel, hotel, or guesthouse. Pacsafe aren’t specific to backpacks technically (though they tend to shaped for them) and can be fit around other handbags as well as some smaller bags and suitcases. There are also some competing products out there, though for the sake of simplicity I’ll stick with calling all backpack-protecting steel meshes Pacsafe for the rest of this post.

How Does A Pacsafe Protect Your Stuff?

Exterior-fitting Pacsafe work by making your backpack mostly slash-proof, protecting it against someone who might slice through the fabric to steal your things when you’re out, say, sightseeing. Pacsafe are also designed to be locked on to things like radiators and the like that are bolted down so someone can’t bolt with your entire bag. It’s worth noting that the company Pacsafe and others make some form of internal steel mesh that can protect some of your things while you’re actually traveling but for the most part a Pacsafe goes into action when you’re not around.

Sounds Good In Theory: The Drawbacks Of A Pacsafe

Much like our waistlines, backpacks tend to gain weight over time if they go unchecked and a Pacsafe will add 600 grams (~1.3 pounds) to your luggage. That’s not an insignificant amount of weight, especially when considering most airlines’ upper limit before fees is around 20 kilograms (~47lbs).

You can of course put your backpack on a diet to compensate for the added gravitational down force if you’re willing to take it on.

In addition to the added weight, a remember the physical space inside of your bag a Pacsafe will take – 16 x 10 x 5 cm (or 6 x 4 x 2 inches) – under ideal conditions. Ideal conditions meaning that you’ve been able to wrap up the Pacsafe how it came first packaged; which for many (including myself) requires summoning the powers of magic helper elves or drinking enough vodka not to notice. Pacsafe also tend to be quite cumbersome to take on and off, requiring some practice to get the technique down on a consistent basis.

Yet There Are Advantages, Even If You Don’t Have Magic Elves

I may have made Pacsafe seem like a nightmare not worth its weight in security but they can be very useful in particular travel situations. Guesthouses, in particular, are a good example as they typically don’t have safes and realtively little security from the outside. (Camp sites are another good example.) They can also give you added protection against cleaning staff and others who may have access to your room legitimately while you’re not around. Those of you carrying specialized equipment (e.g. video and sound) in one bag may also think about a Pacsafe depending on where you may be traveling and staying.

Pacsafe also not only protect you from bag-slashers, but also from those who know how to undo a zipper whether it’s locked or not.

How To Get (Close To) Pacsafe Security Without A Pacsafe

Pacsafe tend to run around $75-100, a cost you can save on with some preparation and alternative tools. You won’t be able to get the exact kind of security a Pacsafe provides (it’s hard to beat a backpack covered in steel mesh bolted to a pipe in a hotel bathroom) but you can get pretty darn close while remaining a bit more conspicuous.

Start With Planning – Most hotels and hostels will list whether or not they have lockers on booking sites (I recommend you always travel with a least 1 large padlock) and it’s something you should look for.

Before we go on, remember to focus your protection on the things that need protecting most – electronics, jewelry, and other valuables. I once had socks stolen from me, I can’t say I was too broken up about it and you too should compartmentalize what counts most.

Lock Your Zippers – Two locked zippers are often enough to deter most opportunistic thieves who generally don’t have much time to waste. Airport baggage handlers (or the TSA), hotel staff, and shifty dorm-mates go for the easiest targets and simple locks can put you ahead a step. For added protection you can even use a laptop lock to loop through the zipper locks to secure to something bolted down.

You may be able to get away without a Pacsafe but can still use Pacsafe – the company’s products, that is. Pacsafe make many smaller bags with the steel mesh built-in, which protects you against bag slashing and is inconspicuous at the same time. They also make smaller, lockable travel packs for passports, wallets, and other, smaller, essential travel items.

So, Do You Need A Pacsafe?

For most people, the answer to this question is going to be no. I travel with more electronics than the average traveler – having traveled with and without a Pacsafe I’ve come to the conclusion many of its benefits can be had with things you’re likely already traveling with. That’s not to say a Pacsafe shouldn’t be a part of your backpack security system – just that it’s not an essential component or the end all to theft on the road.

Typically common sense and adding time to a potential theft is enough to protect your belongings, rather than using a more visible, brawny solution.

[photos by: Sheep"R"Us (Pacsafe), The Prudent Cyclist (yellow lock)]

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How Can I Protect My Online Accounts At Internet Cafes When Traveling?

Anil P. — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:00:26 +0000

That’s a question I hear often and there’s lot of confusion on how to keep your email and other online accounts safe. Whether you’re in an Internet cafe to make use of a desktop or simply paying for some quality wifi, there are a few ways you can stay safe in unfamiliar digital territory.

Scoping The Landscape: The Basics

Basically there are two points of vulnerability you need to be concerned about at Internet cafes. One is the computer you’re using and the network you’re on. If you happen to be on your own iPad, laptop, or other mobile device, you mostly need to worry about the network, so skip right along to the next section. Everyone else, stay with me so we can make that Internet cafe computer a bit safer.

Add Layers Of Protection With A USB Stick

Keep in mind you’re in unfamiliar territory and security is never absolute. That said, the most secure way to go at an Internet cafe is to bring along your own USB drive to create a little quarantine for your browsing. You can carry around your own virtual computer on a USB drive using PendriveLinux (here’s how) which gives you an entire operating system you know hasn’t been tampered with.

Tweaking Firefox – Say you’re not going to go the extra step and plug Linux onto a USB drive, you can simply load Portable Firefox instead (with HTTPS Everywhere – here’s how to set it up).
Click And Paste Passwords – Along with Portable Firefox, use KeePassX to store your passwords and copy-paste them for your online accounts. By avoiding typing them, you work around ‘keystroke loggers’ which are nasty little programs that record everything that’s typed on a a computer.
Load SafeKeys – This program creates a virtual keyboard you can use to type passwords with so you don’t have to use the keyboard for logins.
Logout From Your Accounts – I know you can’t wait explore Berlin but be sure to log out of your online accounts first and have the courtesy to do so for others who may have forgotten.

Don’t have a USB drive handy?
You can still cover your tracks with the Firefox installed on the computer you’re using with Private Browsing mode. As Mozilla clearly points out, it won’t protect you from keystroke loggers but will make sure you don’t leave behind any passwords, user names, or cookies behind. Another crude, but effective way to copy-paste passwords is to type a string of random characters in Notepad (or equivalent); then select the characters you need individually. For example: 3wivfjL9O5VdjEwMYdsDqqo54aq!$G = (iLOVEMYDoG)

While we’re at it, remember that USB drives have a habit of getting lost. Some basic encryption can go a long way to protecting the data on those drives if they’re lost or stolen. Several drives come with encryption built-in like the IronKey S200, Corsair Flash Padlock, or the Patriot BOLT. Of course, there’s always the do-it-yourself free method of encrypting any old drive with TrueCrypt (here’s how).

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that many banks like HSBC and online services like Paypal offer hardware tokens for a few dollars or in some cases free. (They’re not usually advertised well so call and ask your bank.) These small devices generate a random series of digits every minute or two, required with your password to login online.

In effect, they make your passwords useless without the device; that is unless you use the same password for all your online accounts – a common traveler tech mistake.

Surfing The Waves Of An Unsecured Network

There’s a bit of a misunderstanding about wireless networks, the main one being that ‘secured’ connections are always secure. Any network, wired, wireless, with or without passwords is only as secure as the people and programs who are and have been on it – relying heavily on what security measures exactly are in place. A wireless password helps keep people out but in an Internet cafe everyone has the password.

On Your Own Device? Turn off file sharing and make sure your firewall is up and running. (How to check on Mac OS X and Windows.) Another good step is to make your laptop hidden on the network – both Windows and Mac OS X make this easy.

Use A VPN – Business travelers you company network might have a VPN you can use (or at least request from you IT department). Otherwise if you’ve got a computer at home you can turn your desktop into a personal proxy for free or use on of these online VPN services.

Verify The WiFi Network – Don’t just connect to any old open wireless network floating around the Internet cafe, confirm the establishment’s connection with staff.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to have separate passwords for every single one of your online accounts. That helps minimize the damage a bad hacker can do if they happen to get a hold of one.

Type In URLs Directly – With the huge caveat that you know exactly what they are. Start off with https:// and go to Amazon.com or whatever from there. (Remember https – with the “S”.) It’s not perfect but better than letting the browser guess the link for you. Type it out completely!
Limit What You Access – Don’t go into all of your sensitive online accounts when you sit down at an Internet cafe; check what you need to.
When In Doubt, Don’t – Familiar websites that don’t quite look right, links in emails, and other pop up ads should be avoided. Questionable content or fake versions of popular websites designed to steal you logins are common online tricks so if things don’t feel or look right…don’t take chances.

Digitally Insulate Yourself At Each Level

Security is never perfect and this post is really only the beginning – there are far more complex and varied tactics you could use in Internet cafes. That said, your best protection is insulation against the most common threats. Separate your online accounts and cover your tracks so once you leave that Internet cafe, it’s like you were never there.

[photos by: jared (Internet cafe fish eye view), whl.travel (surfing Isla Grande Panama)]

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The Negative Travel Effects Of 9/11 On Your Personal Security – Nearly 10 Years Later

Anil P. — Tue, 10 May 2011 06:00:58 +0000

Many people and media reports focus on one security aspect of the September 11, 2001 attack in the United States – defensive reactions against acts of terror. Much of this has come to focus on travel but the effects of that single attack have done widespread harm to your security interests over the past 10 years. From vulnerable luggage to a rapid erosion of your digital rights, 9/11 has put continuing pressure on your personal security as a traveler through the air.

Originally I had this post drafted for the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks later this year; however the killing of Osama bin Ladin has turned a focus on reprisals in the hereafter; rather than look back at the more subtle effects terrorism has had on your travels over the last 10 years.

No Locks On Checked Baggage

It’s a common misconception for travelers within and in between the US that you can’t lock your checked baggage (there are a few TSA-approved luggage locks). As the use of luggage locks has slowly declined the incidents of theft from checked luggage has increased, with complaints filed against both security inspectors and airline baggage handlers.

Though there is a correlation (not necessarily causality) the lack of locks makes it easier for one of the average 11 persons per connection to slip inside of a suitcase to fish around for something valuable.

Security procedures at airports often allow personnel to inspect your baggage (legally) behind closed doors without security cameras in place to monitor what exactly is going on. Of course, if you do experience a theft you should report it to the airline as well as file a claim with any security organizations (e.g. TSA) who may have handled your bags along the way. It’s a bigger problem than most think.

The Loss Of Digital Rights

A few weeks back I showed you how to understand your digital rights as a traveler in the free world and protect your laptop from invasive governments. Since 9/11, many governments around the free world have dismantled your rights to privacy – specifically when it comes to your electronic belongings. Primarily using security as an excuse and by bending legal jargon, your travel photos, company documents, and anything else on a digital device can be searched without reasonable cause. That’s the standard in the US, much of the EU, and Australia…which doesn’t get any better in other countries around the world.

More Money, Nudity, And Time…A Unbalanced Security Trade

Security is a trade off and almost always means adding extra steps to a process, merely to protect you from those who would try to abuse or disrupt a system. The most basic example is locking your front door; a precaution you likely see as reasonable, since it’s a decent deterrent for opportunistic burglary – without forcing you to give up much time or money on a routine basis.

Full body scanners on the other hand at a cost of $170,000 each, with the alternative being uncomfortable pat downs in the US (or longer lines in Europe); without a full-cost benefit analysis might not be so prudent. The potential for leaked body scans and cost to travelers isn’t giving you much security in return.

Although the promise of virtual strip searches might be powerful, remember that the airport is the last line of defense. Putting together a plot using explosives requires planning, coordination, money, and the complicated process of actually finding the explosives scanners are supposed to find. Within that process is where the overwhelming majority of attacks are thwarted – by good detective work; airport security catches the stupid and the crazy. Besides, conventional X-ray machines are just about as effective detecting guns and other weapons at much less the cost of time or money.

A Mentality Of Fear

Perhaps the greatest negative effect of 9/11 on your personal security, is the climate of fear under which you travel under. From questioning at the airport to worries about reprisal attacks here and there, many more people travel with fear in the back of their minds – accepting whatever their governments do to (appear) and make them safer. From personal experience I can tell you the effectiveness of security can be measured in countless ways but the aim of terrorism – to incite terror – is much less quantifiable.

[photos by: Pragmaraphr (man at airport), Darwin Bell (luggage lock), j l t (women working on laptops), Inha Leex Hale (airport security lines), gTarded (airport barbed wire fence)]

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How To Protect Your Laptop From Invasive Governments As You Travel Across Borders

Anil P. — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 06:00:20 +0000

As you learned yesterday, you don’t have to be traveling to China or Cuba to have your laptop inspected, downloaded, or confiscated without probable cause or justification. Many countries around the world leave your rights (digital and otherwise) in gray areas right outside of their borders. To even the odds however you can protect your privacy while traveling around the world with a few simple rules and tech tools.

And while you might not be worried about what governments will do with your data, you ought to be concerned with how they might ~~lose~~ store it.

Brush Up On The Rules

It’s important to understand your digital rights in the free world and beyond, because the truth of the matter is that most countries view your laptop, mobile phone, iPad, and other electronic devices as imports. This means both physically and digitally they can be inspected for virtually any reason or not; yet what might constitute a problem in one country might not be so in another. Bringing your porn to Australia isn’t a good idea and you probably don’t want these books on your Kindle depending on where you’re traveling.

Those of you traveling to the US should remember that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees are not authorized to inspect the contents of your laptop or digital equipment. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can however. (Though their blue uniforms are difficult to differentiate at first glance.)

Governments don’t typically post their digital restrictions online so you’ll have to do some specific digging if you’re concerned or take the following advice to cover your tracks – using shotgun approach.

Change Your Folder And File Names

Lots of times at airport security you’re asked to fire up your laptop so a folder on your desktop labeled “My wild weekend in Cancun photos” isn’t the best idea. (Especially if you’re going to Australia.) Keeping your desktop clean, with any questionable files generically named elsewhere, is generally enough to get you past routine border scrutiny.

Separate Your Passwords – This bit of computer security isn’t just good against invasive governments but for all of your online accounts as well. Having worked as a computer security consultant for years, I can tell you the first thing that happens when your (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Windows login, etc.) is compromised. That password will be tried on all of your other accounts and if you’re like more than 70% of the population; that same password means your email and other accounts are hacked too.

As you never know what may happen to your passwords if you’re forced to give them up (or the recordings of you doing so), keeping your accounts isolated and your personal files out of obvious sight are good computer common sense.

Give Up Passwords And Still Maintain Privacy – The free program Truecrypt lets you create hidden, encrypted folders – protecting your files even if you have to give up a password. (Here’s a quick tutorial on setting up hidden folders.)
USB Drive – Truecrypt also works on USB drives, yet another good place to stash away your files out of obvious sight.

Scientists Be Weary – There is quite a bit of anecdotal evidence to suggest that travelers who work or have backgrounds in the “hard” sciences (e.g. physics, biology, etc.) and engineers are scrutinized disproportionately more than other tourists at airports around the world.

Business travelers may also want to consider using encryption to protect trade or company secrets when traveling abroad. Although in the US, technically labeling something as “confidential” gives you some added protection, it’s a bit like keeping a jar on your kitchen counter labeled “do not eat these cookies”.

Leave It At Home

We keep quite a bit of lives on our hard drives but no border security can find what you’ve left behind. Sensitive company files, important photos, and anything else you’d like to protect can’t be confiscated if they’re not with you in the first place. When in doubt leave that data behind and access it later with some creative use of a desktop.

[photos by: TheGiantVermin (puppy on laptop), Chaymation (book monkey), a.funk (girl with cookie jar)]

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Understanding Your Digital Rights As A Traveler In The Free World

Anil P. — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 06:00:01 +0000

When talking about Internet censorship or unwarranted laptop searches, most travelers’ greatest concerns are before heading to the Middle East, China, or parts of southeast Asia. Although many countries in these regions of the world (among others) are digitally restrictive to put it mildly, you might not know that the United States, most of the European Union, Australia are other democratic nations can leave your digital rights at the ~~door~~ border.

Maintaining your privacy isn’t about hiding things you shouldn’t be doing, it’s a fundamental human right that is often disregarded in the name of security. You might be thinking, “we’ll, I’ve got nothing to hide” but who watches the watchers – besides, wouldn’t you rather decide who sees your travel photos from Mexico?

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety”. – Benjamin Franklin

Why You Should Care

According to government figures, in the US alone, more than 6,800 electronics devices (mostly laptops and mobile phones) were confiscated, searched, or downloaded for further analysis upon entry into the country since 2009. Roughly half of those searched were US citizens, without probable cause nor authorized by a search warrant. However, all travelers entering the US and many other first-world democracies are subject to the same (lack) of restrictions. Though these are specific examples from the US, many other countries in the free world get around their legal privacy protections by using some version of the Supreme Court authorized “border search exception”.

Basically, this “allows searches of individuals and property entering the United States without probable cause or a warrant.” United States v. Ramsey, 431 U.S. 606 (1977).

You might be subject to a hard drive search the next time you land in London or Sydney and if you’re protecting computer before heading to Beijing, you’ll want to do the same for those places as well.

Your Passwords Don’t Mean A Thing

Even if you’re using one of these free programs to protect your data against thieves and governments, they won’t do you much good if you’re asked to give up a password. In places like New Zealand, Germany, the US and others you might not have expected, refusing to divulge your password can be equivalent to breaking the law and subject you to a fine, hassle, or a flight right back home.

This Friday I’ll teach you a number of ways to protect your (decent and those spring break college variety) travel photos – even within the 7 days some governments can legally confiscate your laptop…for no reason whatsoever.

Protecting Traveler Rights

Some of you may be reading this and thinking I’m helping terrorists and child molesters fly around the world freely while dismissing world governments’ efforts to protect their citizens. The problem is that often digital border searches and electronic confiscations are done without justification or quite questionably in the free world – much like in places digitally weary travelers tend to focus on like China or Russia for example.

The legal slopes not in your favor as a traveler – more of our lives are on digital devices, and it’s increasingly easy to have your laptop or mobile phone scanned for further analysis after you leave the airport. Tomorrow, I’ll show you how to even the odds against any government that might decide to take your hard drive out for an unwarranted spin.

[photos by: juicyrai (man on laptop in airport), binaryCoco (padlock), hans s (scales)]

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