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The FBI has increasingly been seizing tech devices to access messages, but what does this mean for the people who own these devices?
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Introduction
When the FBI seizes your tech messages, they are not just looking for evidence of a crime. They are also looking for anything that could be used to blackmail you or others connected to you.
The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to understand how the FBI operates and what they are looking for. This guide will explain what happens when the FBI seizes your tech messages, how they use that information, and what you can do to protect yourself.
What Happens When the FBI Seizes Your Tech Messages
When the FBI seizes your tech messages, it will attempt to read them. The FBI may be able to read some of your messages, but not all of them. The messages that the FBI can read will depend on the type of technology that was used to send the messages.
Your Email
The FBI may come to your door and take away your laptops, cellphones, and other devices. They may also take away your internet routers, DVRs, and external hard drives. Sometimes, the FBI even seizes people’s email accounts and social media accounts.
What happens to your tech when the FBI seizes it? The answer depends on what kind of device they took and what type of data is stored on it.
If the FBI seizes your laptop, they will likely copy the entire contents of its hard drive. This includes any sensitive personal information you have stored on your computer, such as financial records or intimate photos. The FBI may also take copies of your emails, social media messages, and chat logs.
If the FBI seizes your cellphone, they will probably copy the contents of its storage, including any text messages, photos, videos, and emails. They may also take copies of any social media messages you have stored on your phone.
If the FBI seizes your internet router, they will likely copy the contents of its hard drive. This includes any sensitive personal information you have stored on your router, such as financial records or intimate photos. The FBI may also take copies of your emails, social media messages, and chat logs.
If the FBI seizes your DVR, they will likely copy the contents of its hard drive. This includes any sensitive personal information you have stored on your DVR, such as financial records or intimate photos. The FBI may also take copies of your emails, social media messages, and chat logs.
Your Social Media Accounts
The FBI has the legal right to take your electronic devices and search them for evidence without a warrant, and they’re increasingly doing so.
In 2017, the FBI seized about 8,000 phones and laptops during its investigations—that’s up from 5,000 in 2015. The FBI also demands access to social media accounts more frequently than it did a few years ago. In fact, the bureau issued more than 8,600 demands for social media information in 2017, which is up from about 5,000 in 2015.
While the FBI insists that these searches are essential to its investigations, privacy advocates argue that the bureau is overstepping its bounds. They point out that the Constitution protects Americans against unreasonable searches and seizures, and that warrantless searches of electronic devices violate this right.
So what happens if the FBI seizes your phone or laptop? And how can you protect your rights if you find yourself in this situation?
Your Text Messages
If the FBI seizes your phone, they may also take your text messages. The bureau can get a warrant to access your messages from your service provider, but it doesn’t always need one. In some cases, the FBI might be able to get your texts without a warrant using a “national security letter.”
National security letters are a controversial tool the FBI can use to collect all sorts of sensitive information without a warrant, including texts and emails. The bureau has been increasingly using them in recent years, and there’s no public accounting of how often they’re used or what information they turn up.
If the FBI does seize your text messages, it will probably keep them forever. The bureau says it only keeps information that is “pertinent to an ongoing investigation.” But there’s no real limit on how long the bureau can hold onto information it collects through national security letters or other means.
So if you find yourself on the wrong side of an FBI investigation, be prepared to say goodbye to your text messages — and any hope of privacy.
How to Protect Yourself
If the FBI shows up at your door and seizes your electronic devices, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your data. The most important thing to do is to remain calm and not to resist or interfere with the agents. You should also ask to see a warrant and ask for a receipt. Once your devices have been seized, it is important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible.
Use Encryption
If you use apps that aren’t encrypted, the FBI could potentially access your messages without a warrant. Encryption scrambles your messages so that only the sender and recipient can read them. To check if an app is encrypted, look for “https://” in the beginning of the URL or a lock icon next to it. Some examples of encrypted messaging apps are WhatsApp, Signal, and Dust.
Use a Password Manager
When the FBI seizes your tech messages, the first thing you should do is change all of your passwords. But if you’re like most people, you have trouble keeping track of all your different passwords. That’s where a password manager comes in.
A password manager is a software program that helps you create and manage strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts. Many password managers can also help you fill out online forms and store other sensitive information, like credit card numbers and bank account information.
There are many different password managers to choose from, but our favorite is LastPass. LastPass is free to use on any device, and it has a robust set of features to keep your passwords safe and secure. Plus, it integrates with your web browser so you can easily access your passwords when you need them.
If the FBI seizes your tech messages, the first thing you should do is change all of your passwords. But if you’re like most people, you have trouble keeping track of all your different passwords. That’s where a password manager comes in.
A password manager is a software program that helps you create and manage strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts. Many password managers can also help you fill out online forms and store other sensitive information, like credit card numbers and bank account information.
There are many different password managers to choose from, but our favorite is LastPass. LastPass is free to use on any device, and it has a robust set of features to keep your passwords safe and secure. Plus, it integrates with your web browser so you can easily access your passwords when you need them.
If the FBI seizes your tech messages, the first thing you should do is change all of your passwords. But if you’re like most people, you have trouble keeping track of all your different passwords. That’s where a password manager comes in.
A password manager is a software program that helps you create and manage strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts
Use Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an important security measure that you should use whenever possible. 2FA adds an extra layer of protection to your online accounts by requiring you to enter both a password and a code from a physical token or your smartphone.
If the FBI seizes your device, they will not be able to access your account without also having the physical token or your smartphone. This makes it much more difficult for them to access your account, even if they have your password.
We recommend using 2FA on all of your important online accounts, including email, social media, and financial accounts.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that if the FBI seizes your tech devices, they will likely be able to access your messages. They may not be able to read every message, but they will likely be able to see who you have been communicating with and when. If you are under investigation, it is important to speak with an attorney before you speak with law enforcement.
