It's long been standard practice for US and EU government officials to be issued burner phones and laptops when traveling to China due to fears of government hacking and eavesdropping. But now, the EU is following suit when visiting the US.

The concern is legitimate, as many believe that having access to sensitive information while abroad can make one a target for espionage. Governments have been using burner phones – also known as "minimalist" or "disposable" phones – for years, especially when traveling to countries with questionable human rights records like China and Russia.

But not everyone is on board with the idea of using these high-tech gadgets abroad. Some argue that it's a waste of resources, while others question the effectiveness of using burner phones in preventing cyber attacks.

"It's a pain in the dick," said one commenter, "but you could factory reset your personal phone and then resync everything after your ICE mandated squat & cough." This approach, however, assumes that a factory reset will prevent an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) agent from owning the phone forever. In reality, compromised phones can be used to attack even if they are no longer connected to their owners.

Airline apps and personal devices often contain sensitive information that could fall into the wrong hands. "I have a Europe trip planned so coming back, who knows," said another commenter. "The burner phone idea is interesting but all my airline apps and more wouldn't be on it. Should I go back to paper?" This raises an important question: are we relying too heavily on technology to protect us from cyber threats?

Some argue that the benefits of using burner phones outweigh the drawbacks, especially in high-risk situations. "Buy a burner," advised one commenter. "Use it overseas. Indeed, don't even bring it back – ICE can't search a phone you don't have." This approach may not be foolproof, but it's better than risking having sensitive information compromised.

Others point out that the real issue is not the technology itself, but rather the lack of support for domestic jobs and the subsequent reliance on private prison corporations to provide employment opportunities. "The 'workers' they intend for domestic jobs will be the slaves of private prison corporations," said one commenter.

The debate surrounding burner phones and cyber security highlights the complexities of our increasingly digital world. While it's impossible to eliminate all risks, being aware of these issues can help us make informed decisions about how we protect ourselves and our data while traveling abroad.