The US authorities are authorized to do this and are increasingly making use of it, especially for tourists with a valid visa or ESTA. In this article, we show you how to configure and prepare your devices securely, what sort of content can be problematic, and how you can stay protected online with a VPN, even in a hotel or airport network.
When preparing technically for a trip to the USA, two devices take center stage: your laptop and your smartphone. If you're well prepared, not only will you protect your privacy, but you'll also avoid unnecessary queries or, in the worst case, being refused entry.
Preparing your laptop for a trip to the USA: Reduce data, gain control
A simple principle works best for laptops: less is more. The less private or professional data stored locally, the lower the risk that it will be misunderstood or misinterpreted. Work documents, tax documents, invoices, applications, CVs, or project files are particularly sensitive, as they may give the US authorities the impression that employment in the USA is planned. Even seemingly harmless tools such as Slack, Figma, or Notion can raise questions if they reveal professional activity.
To be on the safe side, consider setting up a fresh laptop before traveling or create a separate user profile without sensitive content. An elegant solution is a dual-boot setup with a minimalist second system. This can be installed alongside Windows, which strictly separat
There's a lot to like about the Odyssey OLED G9. It's the largest OLED panel you can get right now without switching to a full-blown television. The 5120×1440 resolution on the curved panel basically squishes two 27-inch 1440p monitors together side by side, and unlike some previous versions it's still plenty speedy at 240Hz. PC gamers will appreciate the Nvidia G-Sync support, since actually trying to run a modern game at that resolution is likely to make your PC beg for mercy. For more details, check out the full PCWorld review.
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