Thank You, Mr. President, For My $379 Speedier, More Secure Office On The Go

The increased assault on privacy at the border is a wake-up call for lawyers on cybersecurity.

privacy online privacy cyber privacy keyboard in chainsBetween October 2016 and March 2017, border searches of phones and laptops have almost doubled, going from 8,383 to 14,993 searches — an increase of about 80 percent, reports ZDNet. This trend, coupled with Homeland Security’s recent investment in advanced phone and laptop hacking technology, suggest that threats to overseas travelers’ privacy aren’t going away anytime soon under the current administration.

Computer security has always been critical for lawyers — after all, we must protect client confidences and prevent inadvertent waiver of attorney-client privilege at all costs. Nevertheless, the increased assault on privacy at the border was a real wake-up call for lawyers like me who, in the past, skimped on security for the sake of convenience. But as I discovered after this administration’s invasive policies forced me to rethink my tech systems for travel, security and convenience are no longer mutually exclusive. To my surprise, my new on-the-go system for travel is not only less vulnerable to hacking, but lighter and zippier than what I was using before. So with that, here’s how I upgraded and fortified my mobile tech for around $379 — and how you could do it for even less.

Forgo Your Fealty to Apple

My Mac was my first computer, so naturally, it will always hold a special place in my heart.  For the past decade, my Mac was my number one tool of choice for mobile lawyering. Lightweight and portable with plenty of memory, my Mac gave me easy access to all of my work files as well as other software like Adobe Pro and Microsoft for Mac, allowing me to prepare documents on the go.

My iPad — also an Apple product — took second place. I loved it for trial, and the bluetooth keyboard worked well enough for blogging or taking notes at conferences (although it was too small and slow to have much functionality for real work).

Yet, even though my Mac and iPad functioned well enough, concerns about security in connection with my impending two-week trip overseas  made me reconsider. Although the files on my Mac are adequately protected through activation of FileVault, I didn’t feel sufficiently confident that default encryption would stand up to border hacking technology. As for my iPad, I’m not even entirely sure of what type of security I even have on, and which files are saved in local memory versus the cloud.

So that’s why I decided to have a look at a Chromebook. Had I been unwilling to look beyond Apple, I wouldn’t have found an even better travel system (Mac still wins back at the office).

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Carry a Chromebook

Chromebook is a computer that runs on Google Chrome’s Operating System and is designed to be used to access the internet along with applications and documents that reside in the cloud. Chromebooks don’t have much storage or all of the functionality of a laptop .  On the flip side, they don’t cost much either.

Out of the box, Chromebooks are already ultra-secure and therefore impervious to the latest viruses and security threats. And because Chromebooks are difficult to hack, many security experts view them as ideal traveling companions. Even the EFF, in its most recent 2017 Security Guide, agrees.

Chromebooks range in price from $179 for a small or refurbished version to upwards of $400 for large screen. I went with this Acer model (which I see has already come down in price). The machine has a touch screen so I can use it as an iPad, plus it’s lighter than a laptop and crazy fast. Who ever thought security could be so sexy?!

As for working off the Chromebook, I relied largely on Google Docs, though it also supports Microsoft Word. The full-sized keyboard is much easier to use than the tiny version for my iPad, and I love the ability to be able to flip the screen and use the device as a touchscreen.

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Securing the iPhone

I’ve known some lawyers who rely on dedicated travel phones wiped clean of documents, photos, and contacts. But because I rely on my phone for work calls and would be traveling in many countries (which could require numerous SIM cards), that wasn’t a viable solution. Instead, I followed these tips for securing my iphone – turning off touch access and beefing up my password. I also uploaded all my photos to Google Drive and wiped them from my phone, and backed everything up in case my phone was taken at the border and cleared.  Although I was still nervous with these precautions, my concerns were outweighed by the benefits of taking the phone with me, as discussed below.

Personalized Mobile Hotspots

My carrier, AT&T (like many others), offers a Day Pass plan that provides unlimited talk, text and data anywhere overseas for just $10/day. Although the plan can become spendy on a long-term basis, for my 11-day trip, it was just right. The plan is also convenient – just register at your carrier’s site or call them and ask for it to be turned on.

But the unlimited data and talk offered another benefit: I could use my iPhone’s mobile hotspot for increased security. These days, Virtual Private Networks (or VPNs), which protect your network connection from interception that commonly occurs on public wifi, are regarded as a safer alternative — and there are many VPN options available. But the iPhone mobile hotspot is built into my phone and easier to use on the fly. And when paired with my Chromebook, it’s speedier than when my laptop is connected to a public wifi.

With my new system in place, I can work on the road as effectively, efficiently, and securely as from my work or home office — and more so than on my prior mobile devices. And to think, all of this innovation came about as the result of Donald Trump’s policies.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Earlier: Why Lawyers Should Never Use Starbucks WiFi


Carolyn ElefantCarolyn Elefant has been blogging about solo and small firm practice at MyShingle.com since 2002 and operated her firm, the Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant PLLC, even longer than that. She’s also authored a bunch of books on topics like starting a law practicesocial media, and 21st century lawyer representation agreements (affiliate links). If you’re really that interested in learning more about Carolyn, just Google her. The Internet never lies, right? You can contact Carolyn by email at elefant@myshingle.com or follow her on Twitter at @carolynelefant.

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