5 ways I protect my phone or laptop during cross-border checks

Backing up devices to encrypted cloud services

A way back if you need to go nuclear

This might not seem directly related, at first. But if you perform a cloud backup before following any of the other tips on this list, you can scrub virtually any data on a device without worrying about it being lost permanently. It's going to be a hassle to restore things later, but you wouldn't be here if the concern wasn't serious, and you might not need to perform a restore at all if you don't scrub too deeply. That'll make more sense as we move along.

Apple, Google, and Microsoft offer very little storage for free, so you'll need to pony up for one or more paid subscriptions, at least until your trip is over.

You'll be using iCloud for Apple devices, Google for Android products, and OneDrive for Windows laptops. All three services are encrypted, so it's unlikely that border agents will be able to access your backup(s) without obtaining a government order that's not worth the trouble for a standard search. If they can get it at all, that is, since your data is likely on servers in a different country. Some types of data may also be end-to-end encrypted, meaning it can't be accessed by anyone without your credentials. Be sure to verify that if it matters. You may also need to activate this protection -- in the case of iCloud, for instance, you need to turn on Advanced Data Protection to expand end-to-end coverage to things like device, Messages, and Photos backups.

The only serious problem with cloud backups is their cost. Apple, Google, and Microsoft offer very little storage for free, so you'll need to pony up for one or more paid subscriptions, at least until your trip is over.

Temporarily deleting apps or logging out of accounts

Deny access to anything sensitive

If you're worried that an agent might use something in an app to justify seizure, refusal, or detainment, it's probably wise to temporarily delete the software, unless you absolutely need it while you're crossing the border. They can't search for something that isn't there, and the consequences of deleting an app are typically pretty low. You can always redownload it later, and many services will automatically restore your data once you sign back in again, independently of whole-device backups.

Alternately or in addition, you can log out of any app accounts, or sites you've visited in your web browser. You could hypothetically be asked to sign back in, and you'll want to disable any password autofill tools if you can -- but this is better than nothing, and agents probably won't pursue anything further if they don't have a specific interest. If an agent requires you to put your device into Airplane Mode -- disabling Wi-Fi and cellular radios -- they'll be shutting themselves out of further access.

Exiting group chats and turning on extra messaging protection

Protect others as well as yourself

Since deleting or logging out of messaging apps is sometimes out of the question, another step you can take is changing what's accessible through them. You don't necessarily need to exit group chats -- but they can be used to draw connections between you and other people, and of course, some chats may contain politically sensitive comments. If a chat matters to you, someone should be able to re-invite you later.

There's usually not much more you can do short of deleting an app or logging out, but a few apps (like WhatsApp) may allow you to lock chats behind your PIN or biometric login, which will at least increase the friction in getting to their contents. If you use Signal, you can set messages to vanish automatically after a set period of time, which will limit what's accessible to all viewers.

Manually scrubbing photos, web histories, and other items

Use your best judgment

It's likely impractical to scan all the files on a device for sensitive content, but if you can think of anything that might raise a border agent's suspicion, now's the time to delete it, or hide it if an app supports that. You might, for example, want to delete any politically controversial memes from your photo folders, and wipe your browser history if you've visited sites that are legal in your home country, but not where you're headed. If there are people you don't want agents to know about, delete them from your Contacts app. Check your email and chat apps of choice for messages, threads, and logs that should be removed.

Think critically before you delete anything, since some items may not be restorable via cloud backup. Remember also that once you've purged anything dangerous, you'll need to empty out any Trash, Recycling Bin, or Recently Deleted folders. These are normally intended to save your hide if you delete something by accident, but they could become a juicy target for someone conducting a search.

Prepping for a factory reset

The thermonuclear option

This tactic is probably unnecessary, and should be avoided at all costs. As the term implies, a factory reset brings your device back to the way it shipped in the box. You'll not only lose any local apps and files, but any settings changes, and saved Wi-Fi or cellular networks. You should be able to restore most or all of this later if you've created a cloud backup, but there is the chance that some items will be gone forever. You may also need to reapply some software updates and add-ons, such as browser extensions.

This tactic is probably unnecessary, and should be avoided at all costs.

Aside from the (hopefully temporary) damage a factory reset does, another issue is timing. A reset isn't something you can do immediately before you hand over a device -- the process will take a few minutes, and sometimes much longer, depending on how much data there is to remove. You might be able to get away with resetting an iPhone, iPad, or Android device while you're waiting in the security line, but a Mac or Windows laptop should probably be reset before you've even got to the airport or border crossing.