Do They Check Portable Hard drives before PLANE rides?

Question

I want to bring my portable hard drive with me onto the plane carry on because I am pretty sure the one I am on has usb slots for me to connect to. However, I do not know if the airport security checks these hard drives. do they? I don't want them going through my files. Do they have a right to?

Answer 1

They will not go through your files. If the device is small, you don't even have to take it out of your travel bag. Laptops, portable DVD players and things of that size have to be taken out of the bag and go through the x-ray machine by themselves.