Do they check what's on your laptop at the airport?

Question

I'm planning to take a laptop on holidays with me, and there are some files on there which I don't want anyone to see. Now - when you go through security & customs at the airport, do they check what's on your laptop? In other words, should I encrypt those files?

Answer 1

In some countries they do check. That's how they have caught a lot of paedo's recently.

Answer 2

Without knowing where you're going it's hard to answer.  Here's the deal- when you enter a country, you're responsible for obeying that country's laws.  The files you have on your laptop are subject to the same laws as if you brought other illicit material.

The question you have to answer is how important are these files to me, are they legal, and is bringing them with me worth the risk of possible arrest, denial of entry, or worse?

Answer 3

No, they do not check your laptop. They just run it through there scanner, you never turn it on.

Answer 4

It depends on where you are going and from where you are leaving.

Generally flights within a country they do not check, they simply (at most) turn it on and see that it starts to power up.  

International flights especially between "non-friendly" countries or areas or by someone who has been flagged for some other reason, they have and sometimes do scan your computer.  

It depends on why you don't want the files seen, embarrasing files, don't worry they have seen everything I am sure.  Illegal, well your best bet is not to bring them at all.

If you are really worried about embarrasing files, put them encrypted on a website so you can re-download them later.  Keeping encrypted files on your computer may prompt a more throrough search or at least have them asking you to decrypt them.

Answer 5

no unless they feeling you are a threat then they might but anyways whats so inportened? leting some one to veiw your laptop when they searchign for something like like trying find info mation about your life like your serie number. do you have p**n well thats  life deal with it