Encrypt your data files, ipods, computers, disk drives as a standard practice. I recommend PGP encryption for Windows users.
If ANY officer, agent or government employee wants to snoop, they will require the password to read the files. You can supply the password .... once you receive a copy of their search warrant.
Good idea...if you want to spend the day or more at the airport.
As I understand, no search warrant required IF you are entering the country. I hope I am wrong about that.
The problem is that if you surf the net at all and even if you do not visit porn sites, you could have illegal images on your computer that you are not aware of. They can take your computer and keep it for 48 hours or maybe more. There is really no way to be 100% safe if you are carrying a laptop.
This business of “illegal images” is way over the top as far as I am concerned. It is one thing if you are dealing in illegal porn and quite another if there are a couple of illegal images on your computer you are not even aware of.
One life ruined due to that stupidity is one too many. There have been a few people who have gone through total hell and huge expense because of images on their computer they were not aware of and even of innocent photos of their own children.
You silly surf. Do you think you have rights or something? Now get back to work, we need you tax money.
Look up “truecrypt”. They have extensive papers on the various scenarios of how truecrypt can be used. Works on Mac, Linux and winders.