http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/vulnerabilities/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210601724



By Thomas Claburn

InformationWeek

September 15, 2008



The U.S. Department of Homeland Security appears to be of two minds 

about the security of information on portable devices.



On the one hand, it defends border searches of laptops as necessary to 

limit the movements of terrorists, to deter child pornography, and to 

enforce U.S. laws.



"One of our most important enforcement tools in this regard is our 

ability to search information contained in electronic devices, including 

laptops and other digital devices, for violations of U.S. law, including 

potential threats," said Jayson Ahern, deputy commissioner, U.S. Customs 

and Border Protection, in an online post in June.



On the other hand, it has warned business and government travelers not 

to carry laptops or other electronic devices when traveling abroad, as a 

way to prevent "unauthorized access and theft of data by criminal and 

foreign government elements."



In a document titled "Foreign Travel Threat Assessment: Electronic 

Communications Vulnerabilities," published June 10 by the DHS's critical 

infrastructure threat analysis division and recently posted to 

Wikileaks, DHS urges business leaders and U.S. officials to "leave 

[electronic devices] at home" when traveling.



[...]





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Received on Thu Sep 18 2008 - 01:40:20 PDT