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Protecting Your Data: A Traveler’s Guide to Phone Security at the Border
Heading abroad? When traveling internationally, especially through airports, consider the data on your phone. I’m planning a trip to Asia this summer and opting to leave my iPhone behind. My strategy involves using a secondary device, absent of staple apps like Instagram, Slack, and Signal, and disconnected from my work email. This isn’t a digital detox; it’s a conscious decision to carry a “burner phone” to safeguard sensitive data from potential searches, particularly by U.S. border officials. Protecting your personal information when crossing borders is crucial in today’s digital landscape.
Border Searches of Electronic Devices
For over a decade, the federal government has been authorized to conduct searches of travelers’ personal electronics at the border, including phones, laptops, and tablets. These inspections have seen a steady rise in recent years, although they still affect only a small percentage of individuals entering the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported approximately 43,000 electronics searches last year, an increase from around 38,000 in 2023.
Understanding the Risks
As a journalist focused on safeguarding confidential sources, my burner phone approach might seem extreme. However, there have been instances where travelers were denied entry into the U.S. due to data found on their phones, such as images of firearms or social media posts concerning protests.
Esha Bhandari, an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, highlights a significant concern: “The bigger concern is that the government can single out people it wants to search. We’ve seen anecdotal evidence of more aggressive searches on the border, including lawyers who have attorney-client privileges and people seen as dissidents.”
While the regulations for entering the United States haven’t changed, the frequency of their enforcement may be shifting. Therefore, both vacationers and business travelers should carefully consider the data they carry on their devices.
There’s no universal approach; the ideal strategy depends on your individual circumstances and profession. Here’s a breakdown of what you should consider:
Assessing Your Risk Profile
Cybersecurity expert Jeremiah Grossman advises starting by evaluating your personal profile, your profession, and the content stored on your devices.
For example, a retired U.S. citizen carrying vacation photos and casual conversations might not need to worry. However, a student on a visa who participated in government protests might have content on their phone that could raise concerns.
“If law enforcement had everything on your phone and access to everything, would that be bad for you?” Mr. Grossman asks.
Based on this assessment, determine your risk level (high, medium, or low) and choose an appropriate course of action.
Low Risk: Employ a Passcode and Prune Apps
For those with minimal concerns, begin by disabling biometric authentication like fingerprint and facial recognition. Instead, rely solely on a strong passcode. A strong password adds an additional layer of border security.
To disable Face ID on an iPhone:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Face ID & Passcode.
- Enter your passcode.
- Toggle off the switch for iPhone Unlock.
For Android phones, the steps may vary depending on the model, but generally, you can search for the Face & Fingerprint Unlock menu within the Settings app and disable the relevant settings.
Ms. Bhandari notes that using a passcode can be more advantageous for U.S. citizens because legally, it’s more challenging for the government to compel you to reveal a passcode than to simply use your biometrics to unlock your phone.
However, while citizens can refuse to provide a passcode, visa holders and tourists risk being denied entry if they decline to cooperate, according to Ms. Bhandari. Therefore, it’s advisable to remove any apps containing potentially problematic information, such as Instagram, Signal, or X.
Medium Risk: Data Backup and Device Wipe
If you believe there’s a moderate chance your phone might be searched, consider backing up your data and then wiping your device before re-entering the United States, suggests Mr. Grossman.
Streamline this process by backing up your data to a cloud service like Apple’s iCloud for iPhones or Google One for Android devices. This allows you to restore your data over the internet using your account credentials later.
To back up your data on an iPhone to iCloud:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap your name.
- Tap iCloud.
- Select iCloud Backup.
- Switch on Back Up This iPhone.
- Tap Back Up Now.
To thoroughly erase your iPhone data:
- In the Settings app, go to the General menu.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
To back up your data on an Android device to Google One:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Google.
- Tap Backup.
To purge your Android data, the exact steps depend on your phone model, but typically you can search for the Factory Reset menu in the settings app.
After crossing the border with the wiped device, you can restore it from your backup by entering your account credentials when prompted during setup. (Ensure you have your password written down for easy access.)
High Risk: Utilizing a Burner Phone
For individuals who anticipate a high likelihood of their phone being inspected by U.S. border officials, the most secure approach is to leave personal devices at home and use a burner phone exclusively for travel. This significantly enhances your digital border security.
My Plan for Using a Burner Phone:
- I’ll carry an inexpensive Android phone equipped with only the essential software for my trip, such as ride-hailing and map applications.
- I’ll access a dedicated email account created solely for travel purposes to retrieve itineraries and relevant trip details.
- Upon arrival, I’ll activate a temporary cellular plan on a foreign network by using an eSIM, a digital SIM card, which can be enabled via apps like Nomad, Airalo, or GigSky.
Upon returning home, I’ll transfer all my vacation photos from the burner phone to my iPhone and store the burner phone until my next trip.