Hong Kong Club Reports

[ClamSlammer]

I for one wouldn't want any any customs officials rummaging around my laptop, having access to my tax information, my financial information, and private medical information (even though I have nothing to hide, some of my stuff is just plain private and the government shouldn't be snooping around in my stuff anymore than they should be reading my private love letters). That's why all the data on my laptop is double-encrypted.

Besides the encryption that your operating system already offers, there is open source encryption software readily available that allows one to quite easily encrypt any sensitive data on one's laptop. If forced to provide a password, one can reveal the dummy password which only reveals innocuous information and leaves the more sensitive information inaccessible. Only with the second "hidden" password can one access the more sensitive encrypted information. The mathematics of it are such that no one can determine whether a second "hidden" password even exists. Truecrypt or its successor Veracrypt are free, open-source multi-platform programs for accomplishing this and yes, teams of security experts have even recently conducted security audits showing no major issues with using these programs. Most of the minor issues identified in the recent security audit have already been addressed by Veracrypt.

If you aren't already encrypting your shit, you should be -- not only to keep snooping government officials out of your business but what happens if Pedro steals your laptop in Tijuana? Do you really want Pedro to be able to access all your sensitive shit? Encrypt your shit already!

Another obvious option for those not wishing to cross the border with their sensitive data is to store your sensitive data in the Cloud and download / upload on the other side of the border. For those concerned about your cloud service being hacked, you can obviously address this concern by uploading only encrypted data if desired.

Ok, enough off-topic stuff said here. Time to get back to what this thread was originally intended for -- reports about Hong Kong Club adventures.

You can encrypt your shit all you want but if a Customs official orders you to decrypt it then you must or face serious consequences. You basically lose half your Constitutional rights when passing through a port of entry.

[UltraHappy]

I for one wouldn't want any any customs officials rummaging around my laptop, having access to my tax information, my financial information, and private medical information (even though I have nothing to hide, some of my stuff is just plain private and the government shouldn't be snooping around in my stuff anymore than they should be reading my private love letters). That's why all the data on my laptop is double-encrypted.

Besides the encryption that your operating system already offers, there is open source encryption software readily available that allows one to quite easily encrypt any sensitive data on one's laptop. If forced to provide a password, one can reveal the dummy password which only reveals innocuous information and leaves the more sensitive information inaccessible. Only with the second "hidden" password can one access the more sensitive encrypted information. The mathematics of it are such that no one can determine whether a second "hidden" password even exists. Truecrypt or its successor Veracrypt are free, open-source multi-platform programs for accomplishing this and yes, teams of security experts have even recently conducted security audits showing no major issues with using these programs. Most of the minor issues identified in the recent security audit have already been addressed by Veracrypt.

If you aren't already encrypting your shit, you should be -- not only to keep snooping government officials out of your business but what happens if Pedro steals your laptop in Tijuana? Do you really want Pedro to be able to access all your sensitive shit? Encrypt your shit already!

Another obvious option for those not wishing to cross the border with their sensitive data is to store your sensitive data in the Cloud and download / upload on the other side of the border. For those concerned about your cloud service being hacked, you can obviously address this concern by uploading only encrypted data if desired.

Ok, enough off-topic stuff said here. Time to get back to what this thread was originally intended for -- reports about Hong Kong Club adventures.

[MS Clive]

Some detailed replies to some questions below:

1) US Cellphone in Mexico:

- I use T-mobile in mexico. Allows international roaming with data on my existing basic / default plan which is for a fairly nominal rate (can't remember how much but it is reasonable).

- If I plan on staying for more than 2 days I call them and get additional data + minutes for something like $15 for the month.

- Phone behaves as if your in USA. I am not sure what caller ID area code looks like when I call my friends in USA. Otherwise the behavior of the phone is as if the phone is in US itself.

- Data speed is OK and decent for GPS, google searches and basic internet use Not good enough for youtube video streaming etc.

- SMS does not work as well (comes and goes) but Whatsapp works.

- Skype does not work (Mexico government blocks VOIP services). I know this can be circumvented using a VPN on a laptop but I digress.

2) Bringing laptop in Mexico:

- It is definitely OK. Never had an issue with this on multiple trips.

- I rarely enter Mexico without a laptop and have been there 15 times or so in past 4 years.

- I bring laptop and iPad as well. With multiple devices it did not occur to me that it would be a problem.

- Border customs are looking for guns, troublemakers, drug traffickers, etc. They are not thugs at all unlike those at other international borders (E. G. Guatemala).

- Bigger concern would be getting robbed once you are in Mexico or late at night as you are walking from / towards the border. So keep electronics in your bags at all times. Under dress a bit.

Hope this helped.

[Phordphan]

This would be a potential deal-breaker for me:

OK. So. What's the process like?

You get to the border, you have your luggage and your laptop bag. What does the US border official say?

They don't say anything. They ask if you have anything to declare, what you were doing in Mexico, blah, blah, just to see if you appear nervous or show any tell-tale signs of being someone who might require further questioning.

After you pass you'll put your bags into the x-ray machine, pick them up at the other end, and leave.

Three possibilities exist. One is that you walk out the door. This is the most likely. One is that, for whatever reason, the agent sends you to secondary inspection. Another is that they nab you after the x-ray machine and send you to secondary. Both two and three are rare, but they do happen.

At this point they'll poke around in your luggage and ask a few questions. They have the right to do so, based upon numerous Supreme Court decisions. If they choose to, they can turn on your notebook and do some cursory poking around. If they find something suspicious they can probe deeper, and that's a whole other discussion.

The odds of this happening to you are very small. If you don't have anything objectionable on your notebook then there is nothing to get excited about. The talk about certain restricted information is generally, but certainly not entirely, related to certain kinds of software that are restricted from export.

[HorseTrader]

You are not supposed to take any secret or Top Secret docs or data home anyway, so they should not be in your lap tops....

I don't want to comment more since this is way off topic. But, the restrictions go way beyond data that is confidential, secret, or top secret.

If anyone is interested, please send me a PM.

[LaterGreen]

A quick web search brings back mainstream pages (Yahoo answers, etc) that all say yes you can bring your laptop to Mexico, don't have on it secret plans or pornography. Having neither, I figure I'm safe. Also they say don't bring like 10 unless you want to pay a tax or something but I'm not worried about that either with my one crappy & old laptop.

[HorseTrader]

This would be a potential deal-breaker for me:

OK. So. What's the process like?

You get to the border, you have your luggage and your laptop bag. What does the US border official say?

When I travel on true business internationally, I have proper export licenses, but I've never been asked to produce it. When in Tijuana I don't carry a laptop. So I really can't answer your question.

[Captain Solo]

Millions people travel with lap tops every year. Not all of them arrested by CBP.

You are not supposed to take any secret or Top Secret docs or data home anyway, so they should not be in your lap tops. The worst risks are pornographic pictures or videos that may appear to have children. If tipped off, CBP may seize the lap tops and have agents search the disk contents.

I would not worry too much about it. If you do, rent a lock box at an US airport and store it there, or just ship the laptop home before hitting Mexico.

This would be a potential deal-breaker for me:

OK. So. What's the process like?

You get to the border, you have your luggage and your laptop bag. What does the US border official say?

[LaterGreen]

Its not the computer or games, the concern is any American data that is not publically available. Even if your company developed that data at their own expense, it is controlled by US export control laws. Even if you don't plan on opening the files with the data.

This is a royal pain in the neck for me.

This would be a potential deal-breaker for me:

OK. So. What's the process like?

You get to the border, you have your luggage and your laptop bag. What does the US border official say?

[ClamSlammer]

I think T-Mobile has plans that include international data roaming for free. Also, most T-Mobile phones have WiFi calling so as long as you are on WiFi anywhere in the world you would receive calls and texts just as if you are in the USA.

[HorseTrader]

Wait. What? Are you seriously saying I can't bring my laptop to Mexico? It's not like I have the secret plans for the nukes, I have email and video games.

Its not the computer or games, the concern is any American data that is not publically available. Even if your company developed that data at their own expense, it is controlled by US export control laws. Even if you don't plan on opening the files with the data.

This is a royal pain in the neck for me.

The Mexicans won't care it you bring that computer into Mexico.

[Magic Rancher]

My solution was to use my old iPhone and swap out the chip with a Telcel Sim card. These Telcel chips are sold for about $10 in most Oxxo stores. Then simply buy credit as needed.

Same here I have International plan but it stops working after crossing the border. Honestly I don't understand cel plans I just have an international plan with Virgin Mobile, they told me they don't have a plan to call inside Mexico I think I need to get a different company like Verizon with roaming capabilities.

I don't have a problem texting or calling the girls from Cali but not in Tijuana.

Any ideas Looking for a basic cheapo plan. Do I need to buy a Mexican phone too? Thanks

[Member #4450]

Cell reception can be spotty at Cascada. Yes it is better on the top floors, but I have found it better on the street in FRONT of Cascada most of the times. I have ATT and it will go on and off, sometimes switching to Telcel or Movistar, which is ok for my texts (I have a int plan for texts) but will cut any talk connections. Also I can't call out in the Movistae or telcel provider (cell). Also very low "bars" on the ATT tower.

Same here I have International plan but it stops working after crossing the border. Honestly I don't understand cel plans I just have an international plan with Virgin Mobile, they told me they don't have a plan to call inside Mexico I think I need to get a different company like Verizon with roaming capabilities.

I don't have a problem texting or calling the girls from Cali but not in Tijuana.

Any ideas Looking for a basic cheapo plan. Do I need to buy a Mexican phone too? Thanks

[GolfSexRroll]

I've only used Cascadas WiFi with my smartphone when I can't get a US cell for data. I'm too cheap to pay for the Mexican data plan, but can usually reach a US cell from the upper floors of Cascadas.

Both Cascadas WiFi connection and data rates have been spotty. Sometimes works fine. Sometimes it connects but is slow. Sometimes it won't even connect. I have not done well with Mexican WiFi. Even Ticuan (which is quite nice) has crappy WiFi. Haven't tried either WiFi since about September; maybe it is better now. There has to be good WiFi somewhere, I just haven't found it.

Beware of US export control laws when you bring your work computer into Mexico. You may have data on your computer which is not allowed to leave the US without proper export authorization. I can never fully leave my job and can't bring a work computer into Mexico, so I'm forced to come back to the US for a couple of hours ever couple of days.

Cell reception can be spotty at Cascada. Yes it is better on the top floors, but I have found it better on the street in FRONT of Cascada most of the times. I have ATT and it will go on and off, sometimes switching to Telcel or Movistar, which is ok for my texts (I have a int plan for texts) but will cut any talk connections. Also I can't call out in the Movistae or telcel provider (cell). Also very low "bars" on the ATT tower.

[LaterGreen]

Thanks for the info.

With respect to WiFi, I see ads for Cibercafé within a few blocks of HK, I can use those.

Beware of US export control laws when you bring your work computer into Mexico. You may have data on your computer which is not allowed to leave the US without proper export authorization. I can never fully leave my job and can't bring a work computer into Mexico, so I'm forced to come back to the US for a couple of hours ever couple of days.

Wait. What? Are you seriously saying I can't bring my laptop to Mexico? It's not like I have the secret plans for the nukes, I have email and video games.