Tips for going through border security?

jumpdeer

Hi everyone.

I am an American going to Canada for a trip. As a GrapheneOS user, I am a little concerned that they will flag my phone if they want to search it. I am not hiding anything in particular, I just don't want to deal with the hassle. Any tips for how to deal with this?

Thanks for the advice

de0u

jumpdeer I am an American going to Canada for a trip. As a GrapheneOS user, I am a little concerned that they will flag my phone if they want to search it.

Assuming you plan to return to the U.S., it's at least approximately as likely that the U.S. will want to search the device when you return.

Here is some information on electronic devices crossing borders:

jumpdeer I am not hiding anything in particular, I just don't want to deal with the hassle.

It may be that the world is not currently configured to meet your aspirations.

DeletedUser495

jumpdeer I cross the border a few times a year and I don't always do that but my suggestion would be, don't store sensitive information on device you don't want revealed during that time.

I generally use apps that provide external or cloud backup so they can be easily restored. Same goes for files and documents, they can be stored in password protected archive (if possible preserving filesystem tree structure for easy restoration) uploaded to secure online storage, i.e. Proton Drive, access to it removed.

duckduckduck

Looks like a lot of people have problems like this. I would suggest for the GrapheneOS team to prioritize these issues.

https://github.com/GrapheneOS/os-issue-tracker/issues/5003
https://github.com/dontletusdie/dlud/issues/1

Lilac6044

duckduckduck I think the issue with prioritising these issues, is that I would assume that it only affects a minority of graphene users. I believe being able to hide users would be beneficial against low-level thugs as per the scenario linked, but provides very little else outside of this.

duckduckduck

Lilac6044
I don't develop operating systems, but it seems like a very, very easy band aid fix would be to have the ability to add a
"Not listed? enter your username"
in the profile switcher, and also add the ability to move a profile to only be accessible this way.
(This is the behavior inspired by desktop linux login managers.)
for the people that need this it would be a game changer.

If you then have some more resources, you can add stuff like "different codes = different profiles" on the owner's pin pad, which might be more difficult.
You can read my github comments on the hide user's issue, I wrote a lot of stuff there.

DeletedUser421

How long will it be until they find out about this and start asking questions or using software to extract the information? Are you going to lie to them? Are they really that stupid?

Just buy a shitty cheap phone for this or store your important stuff somewhere else and re-transfer it to your phone later. GOS can’t do everything for you.

JollyRancher

The odds that the US government will attempt to examine your phone are low; unless you are already a target for one reason or another.

If you are a US citizen then they can seize your device but they can't deny you entry to the US and can't compel you to provide a password/pin.

If you aren't a US citizen then entry can be conditioned on providing complete access to your device.

If you need to enter the US regularly then retain a US law firm to purchase a pixel for you, load GOS on it, and transfer any data (in a quantum resistant encrypted format) via the cloud. When you leave, have the law firm store your device until your next trip.

Bluntly, if the US government is actually a serious part of your threat matrix then do not take anything but a sanitized burner phone through customs.

newbie24689

In Canada (I used to visit occasionally as a tourist - LOVE Canada), I would want to make/receive phone calls and txts; check mail; access the WWW (e.g. restaurant web pages); and use GPS MAP software.
Because of the -remote- possibility of confiscation, a throw-away phone makes most sense to me.
However, I would still want GOS protections against electronic mischief while in Canada, so a sanitized, older Pixel phone still covered by GOS would be ideal. I could buy a used pixel and install the appropriate version of GOS, or reinstall a fresh GOS on my aging P6P after updating to a new phone this fall.
All of this with 2 apps: Vanadium and a GPS map app.

ThisOldGuy

Even tho a US citizen 7 out of 10 times I'd get flagged on re-entry (without realistic cause). Using the border control app helped with it. Although I am not sure it would have the same effect if on GrapheneOS.