Taking your laptop into the US? Be sure to hide all your data first

One thing I wonder, there have been a slew of these articles which probably push (at least somewhat) people to use online services to store their life. Will customs agents ask for passwords to your gmail, facebook, etc? If they aren't doing that now, how long before they do?

Has anyone ever actually had this happen, or is this just plain ol' Guardian-style anti-American paranoia? I've carried computers through US customs as a noncitizen many times, and they've never shown any interest in searching 'em. Of course they have the power to, in theory, just like the customs of just about any other country you might enter. But are they actually exercising this power routinely?

About this subject, checkout the latest cryptogram:<p><a href="http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram-0805.html#3" rel="nofollow">http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram-0805.html#3</a><p>As usual, Bruce Schneier has solid advice.

#$%# how many times do ppl/agencies have to post this article? I've seen it at least 15x in other places already.