Category "security"

Is it safe to show a biometric passport to a third party?

There is kind of a risk gaining an access to personal data or some way getting debts with a passport. Is there a chance someone can read biometric RFID data fro

How to leave Beijing airport (PEK) by foot

I have 5 hours between daytime flights in Beijing Capital airport (terminal 3), and my challenge is to walk out of the airport to eat a bowl of soup at any smal

Transfer in Pudong Airport to flight to Bangkok. Do I need to go through customs?

I am arriving at Shanghai Pudong airport (from the US) via China Eastern Airlines at 6 PM. Then I have another flight to Bangkok via Air China at 11 PM. Would

Are there any data on the incidence of theft in airports' airside areas?

A number of posters on this forum have referred to airports' airside areas as 'safe' or 'secure'. It seems to me that the presence of security checks gives some

What self-defense weapons are legal in London?

I've travelled London many times, and this is the first time I got robbed in broad daylight, in afternoon! Around four youth wearing masks brandished machetes

How early can you go through security in Gatwick if you've already checked in? [closed]

I am looking at booking a flight with a 15 hour layover in London, but it means flying into Stansted and self-transferring to Gatwick. This is

Will connecting my wallet to my belt loop deter or attract pickpockets?

Coil Connector to Wallet A chain would be better, since it can't be surreptitiously cut or clipped, but it's too close to travel time to buy a chain or buy a m

What are the pros & cons of locking zipper pulls to a lock embedded in the suitcase?

Many suitcases now have a built-in lock (often TSA-compliant) that attaches to the far end of the zipper pulls as shown in the image below. What are the advanta

Receptionist took a copy of my passport

This is my first visit in the UK. I'm from UE. A receptionist in a hostel I am staying took a picture of my passport (of the page with my picture and all my pe

Street smarts for "dangerous cities" in the US (Detroit, Gary, ...)

The term "street smarts" gets tossed around often when discussing cities which are notorious for criminal acrivity, but how can I actually be "street smart" whe

Will my brand new sealed laptop be opened for inspection in US airports?

I am getting mixed answers from the web.. I asked my parents to buy me a laptop while they are on a US trip. My mom told me if I would be okay with it being op

How much do Spanish dogs really bark?

I'm hoping to spend a few months in northern Spain and have just read a book about the Camino de Santiago in which the (Norwegian) author remarked that Spanish

Is there any index/statistics reflecting the likelihood to have items stolen in a given country?

The likelihood to have items stolen greatly differs between countries. For example, if I leave my phone somewhere unattended in a subway station for one hour, o

Traveling to a country known for mass surveillance. How can I protect my data/privacy?

In the next year I will likely go to China, USA and a couple other countries. Both China and the US are known to sometimes take your electronics when arriving a

3 month old's hands swabbed at security?

Was passing through airport security (Canada) with my 3 month old when I was told we were selected for a "random" search. They swabbed both of our hands. When I

Where to store passport during day trip in foreign country [closed]

In the USA, what would be the best practice to keep my passport safe when I go e.g. to the beach for a day trip? I'm worried that I might eas

Is it really necessary to physically visit a given location in order to "truly get the place"? [closed]

I have many times heard people, usually well-traveled such, claim that I cannot possibly "get" a place until I've physically visited it and "e

Are cruise ship harbors and airplane airports really this lax security-wise? [closed]

When traveling by commercial, low-cost airplane flights to a location, they frequently make a "stop in the middle" for some reason, forcing al

What behind-the-scenes checks happen when passing through passport control at an airport?

What is supposed to happen when you arrive at passport control and you hand over your passport to a bored chap behind a sheet of perspex? Just before covid-19,

Is it normal for GetTransfer.com carrier scheduled to taking me from Istanbul airport to ask me for fullname, nationality and passport number?

I have scheduled a transfer on GetTransfer.com from Istanbul's Ataturk airport to my hotel for two adults (me and my wife) and two infants under two years old a