While I watch the Olympic games safely in my home, the United States government has issued a strong to travelers visiting foreign countries. Even though the document does not mention China specifically, it does coincide with the games and is clearly intended to make travelers aware of potential security implications when heading to a country with little regard for privacy. Some of the tips listed in the document include:
- There is no expectation of privacy in many countries. This includes hotel rooms that can be searched without your knowledge or consent and phone and internet connections that are monitored.
- Police and criminals can track your movements via a cell phone or PDA.
- Malware can be installed on your laptop via any connection controlled by the foreign government. This malware can then be used to obtain private or sensitive information stored on your machine.
- If your laptop or PDA is searched (especially if it is taken out of your site or searched while you are not present), assume that the contents of the hard disk have been copied.
But the threat does not stop with electronic spying. Recently an aide to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was on an official trip to China. While at a club the aide met a young woman who agreed to accompany him back to his hotel room. Imagine his surprise when she disappeared with his Blackberry which had unencrypted information on it. It is suspected that the event was orchestrated by the Chinese intelligence service. This is a classic example of social engineering and should serve as a reminder that foreign governments and criminals will use tactics to exploit basic human weaknesses.
The best advice in the report for protecting your electronic equipment while traveling in foreign countries is to leave your laptop, PDA and phone at home. Obtain a temporary cell phone if necessary. And if you must take your laptop or PDA, be sure that sensitive data is encrypted and that your use strong passwords to protect the keys. Avoid using public wireless networks, don’t leave your electronic devices unattended (even in your hotel room) and don’t use any USB thumbs drives given to you as a “gift” as it will likely have malware that will infect your system. Happy traveling.