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The world of computer/network security and encryption owes a lot to Bruce Schneier. Not only was he a pioneer in designing some of the early algorithms for protecting data, he has also helped to shine a light on the arcane world of cryptography for a mainstream audience through his writings, media appearances and overall advocacy, which has included Congressional testimony.

So anyone who travels with a laptop would do well to heed the advice he offers in an op-ed piece in the Guardian. Schneier writes about a recent federal court ruling that allows customs agents to search all electronic devices, including laptops, when traveling to the U.S. Other countries like the UK are already doing this, so Schneier offers up some tips for locking off sections of your hard drive through extra encryption. (Encrypting the entire hard drive won’t work, he says, because you’re likely to be asked to type in your password during the search.) There are also reminders to delete, wipe out history trails and use other, easier approaches to protecting privacy.

Schneier acknowledges all this will take a lot more work than business travelers might be used to, but with more advanced devices and technologies for scanning data on hard drives on the way, he believes it will be worth it.

Read [Guardian]

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