In a plain, brown envelope...

If you live in the US, be careful about what you order over the net from abroad. That plain brown envelope might not be so private after all...

CNN.com - U.S. opening some private mail in terror fight - Jan 9, 2006:

U.S. officials are opening personal mail that arrives from abroad when they deem it necessary to protect the country from terrorism, a Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman said Monday.

News of the little-known practice follows revelations that the government approved eavesdropping on U.S. citizens without judicial oversight after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, which sparked concern from civil liberties advocates and some lawmakers, who called for congressional hearings.