skill knows no boundaries , unless it ’s US recommendation borderline control . Cybersecurity expert at NASA are currently investigating a smartphone that was taken off one of their scientists at an drome by US border controller .
Sidd Bikkannavar , a US - born scientist who works at NASA ’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory ( JPL ) , was detain at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston , Texas , on January 30 , days after President Trump signed an executive order banning citizen from seven Muslim - majority countries . Bikkannavar was retrovert home after a personal trip to Santiago in Chile , where he had been hasten solar - power railcar , he explained in an interview withThe Verge
Despite being a governing employee who is registered in theGlobal Entry programfor “ pre - approved , grim - endangerment travelers , ” he was adopt into a private audience room by US Customs and Border Patrol and hand a document titled “ Inspection of Electronic Devices . ”
He was pressured into handing over his smartphone , which was put out to him by JPL , along with his entree PIN . Since this means the earpiece is technically the property of NASA , Bikkannavar is expect to protect its contents .
Bikkannavar , whose name originate from southerly India , read it could be a “ huge co-occurrence ” that this happened sidereal day after the change of location banning , although he acknowledged he has a " foreign - sounding name . "
“ I postulate a question , ‘ Why was I prefer ? ’ And he would n’t tell me , " Bikkannavar toldThe Verge .
“ I was carefully telling him I was n’t allowed to give it out , because I did n’t desire to seem like I was not get together , " said Bikkannavar . " I told him I ’m not really give up to give the passcode ; I have to protect memory access . But he insist they had the authorization to search it . ”
Eventually , he hand over the PIN and phone . After being escorted to a back way with other detainees and wait for 40 minutes , it was returned .
NASA ’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory say they ’re now " running forensics " on the phone to determine if anything had been take or installed onto the telephone set . He has also deleted his Facebook page until he can ensure it “ was n’t also constitute . ”
“ This is a huge , Brobdingnagian encroachment of my work insurance policy , " Bikkannavar toldThe Atlantic . " This is a subject of dandy concern . "
