Encrypting Against Department of Homeland Security's New Laptop Search Policy Computer security has never been more necessary. In the past, the threat of a security breach has come in the form of thieves: stolen laptops and PDAs, identity theft, and the like. These days the threat comes from a new ruling by a U.S. court. The Department of Homeland Security will now be allowed to confiscate laptops coming into the U.S. for an indefinite amount of time. Customs and Border Patrol will be able to search laptops or any other electronic device, download entire contents and keep the device for several days. "This policy can create headaches -- or worse -- for unsuspecting travelers who don't plan ahead," says Jamie Brenzel, CEO of online data storage and backup service Data Deposit Box ( www.datadepositbox.com ). Imagine your vital business accounting data being out of reach for days. Worse yet, what if your private financial information was exposed to the wrong people? What if a potential business partnership was leaked before the deal was made? Any of these scenarios is cause for concern. So what can be done? Some experts suggest simply leaving electronics, such as laptops and PDAs, at home. While this strategy is easy enough for someone heading off on vacation, business travelers need more practical options to protect sensitive information. According to Brenzel, encryption is key to data protection...Looks like this will be a boon to the online backup providers. Folks will just transfer their files to the online server, then download the data after they've crossed the border.