TSA Master Keys • Hacker News Board

Re: TSA Master Keys

#91

Post by ctdonath » Tue, Sep 08, 2015, 4:00 PM UTC

tempodox wrote: post #6

Not only is this another impressive demonstration of incompetence, but by disseminating the idea that people's luggage could be “secure” and “backdoored” at the same time, they're actually destroying what security has existed before. They should pivot to be the “Transport Endangerment Agency”.

Solution: take a gun. Seriously.

In stark contrast with the requirement that TSA be able to open your luggage (unlocked or backdoored), if you declare a firearm in your checked luggage the TSA cannot - by law - have the means to open your [hard-shell] luggage, YOU must retain the key or combination and must be present to open it when inspected.

(Of course, traveling legally with a gun has its own litany of issues, but for those of us who are OK with the basic concept may find doing so helpful against TSA's security theater.)

Re: TSA Master Keys

#92

Post by cheald » Tue, Sep 08, 2015, 4:02 PM UTC

ctdonath wrote: post #91

tempodox wrote: post #6

Not only is this another impressive demonstration of incompetence, but by disseminating the idea that people's luggage could be “secure” and “backdoored” at the same time, they're actually destroying what security has existed before. They should pivot to be the “Transport Endangerment Agency”.

Solution: take a gun. Seriously. In stark contrast with the requirement that TSA be able to open your luggage (unlocked or backdoored), if you declare a firearm in your checked luggage the TSA cannot - by law - have the means to open your [hard-shell] luggage, YOU must retain the key or combination and must be present to open it when inspected. (Of course, traveling legally with a gun has its own litany of issues, bu…

Many photographers travel with a flare gun or starter pistol in their equipment case specifically for this reason. The $10/hour grunt workers can't get access to your super-expensive equipment if you're transporting a gun and have the case properly secured.

Re: TSA Master Keys

#93

Post by codyb » Tue, Sep 08, 2015, 4:02 PM UTC

ctdonath wrote: post #91

tempodox wrote: post #6

Not only is this another impressive demonstration of incompetence, but by disseminating the idea that people's luggage could be “secure” and “backdoored” at the same time, they're actually destroying what security has existed before. They should pivot to be the “Transport Endangerment Agency”.

Solution: take a gun. Seriously. In stark contrast with the requirement that TSA be able to open your luggage (unlocked or backdoored), if you declare a firearm in your checked luggage the TSA cannot - by law - have the means to open your [hard-shell] luggage, YOU must retain the key or combination and must be present to open it when inspected. (Of course, traveling legally with a gun has its own litany of issues, bu…

Could you declare a gun and not carry one? And then claim you forgot it if anyone checks?

Re: TSA Master Keys

#94

Post by CyberDildonics » Tue, Sep 08, 2015, 4:03 PM UTC

deelowe wrote: post #64

flavor8 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most luggage isn't really secure in the first place. It takes less time to open up a suitcase with a good knife than it does to unzip many suitcases. The idea that a little padlock will protect your suitcase from thieves is laughable. Like physical mail, the system is based on trust, and trying to patch security onto it is difficult.

What about corporate travelers taking prototypes and other sensitive items in pelican cases or similar luggage?

never check something valuable

Re: TSA Master Keys

#95

Post by chiph » Tue, Sep 08, 2015, 4:04 PM UTC

acdha wrote: post #45

flavor8 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most luggage isn't really secure in the first place. It takes less time to open up a suitcase with a good knife than it does to unzip many suitcases. The idea that a little padlock will protect your suitcase from thieves is laughable. Like physical mail, the system is based on trust, and trying to patch security onto it is difficult.

A knife leaves obvious traces. Using a key both avoids making it immediately obvious and adds ambiguity – since most bag theft happens as part of organized rings inside airports, that's significant because it allows the airlines to avoid paying compensation by requiring hard proof that something expensive was actually in the bag when it entered the system and missing before you left.

So use a ballpoint pen on the zipper. You jam it in the nylon teeth so they separate, and you can loot the bag. Afterwards, use the zipper pull to heal the teeth and there's no trace you were in there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpIJVWXsBBI

To counter this (and unauthorized use of a TSA key), wrap your bag in industrial cling-wrap plastic.

You should also go right to baggage claim when you land. Most airports don't have someone looking at the bag claim receipts, so thieves can walk right out with a bag.

Re: TSA Master Keys

#96

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Sep 08, 2015, 4:06 PM UTC

ctdonath wrote: post #91

tempodox wrote: post #6

Not only is this another impressive demonstration of incompetence, but by disseminating the idea that people's luggage could be “secure” and “backdoored” at the same time, they're actually destroying what security has existed before. They should pivot to be the “Transport Endangerment Agency”.

Solution: take a gun. Seriously. In stark contrast with the requirement that TSA be able to open your luggage (unlocked or backdoored), if you declare a firearm in your checked luggage the TSA cannot - by law - have the means to open your [hard-shell] luggage, YOU must retain the key or combination and must be present to open it when inspected. (Of course, traveling legally with a gun has its own litany of issues, bu…

[deleted]

Re: TSA Master Keys

#97

Post by boredinballard » Tue, Sep 08, 2015, 4:07 PM UTC

Tepix wrote: post #39

brk wrote: post #5

I doubt these images really did all that much for people who wanted a set of TSA keys. The locks themselves are widely available and it's easy to reverse engineer a key if you have the lock (especially multiple copies of the lock to destroy and test on). If anything, this just made it easier for casual lazy people to get a set of images for keys they'll never make :)

Source needed.

http://www.lockwiki.com/index.php/Impressioning

Re: TSA Master Keys

#98

Post by j_s » Tue, Sep 08, 2015, 4:08 PM UTC

cheald wrote: post #92

ctdonath wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Solution: take a gun. Seriously. In stark contrast with the requirement that TSA be able to open your luggage (unlocked or backdoored), if you declare a firearm in your checked luggage the TSA cannot - by law - have the means to open your [hard-shell] luggage, YOU must retain the key or combination and must be present to open it when inspected. (Of course, traveling legally with a gun has its own litany of issues, bu…

Many photographers travel with a flare gun or starter pistol in their equipment case specifically for this reason. The $10/hour grunt workers can't get access to your super-expensive equipment if you're transporting a gun and have the case properly secured.

Be sure to read up on the specifics and downsides before doing this... there are still plenty of horror stories (though instead of equipment theft/damage the stories are more about bureaucratic snafus).

Re: TSA Master Keys

#99

Post by pmontra » Tue, Sep 08, 2015, 4:08 PM UTC

I usually pay to wrap my luggage with plastic, see www.cnbc.com/2014/04/02/travelers-pay-to-protect-luggage-with-plastic-wrap.html I do it more to protect the suitcase than its content. I think it defeats the purpose of a TSA lock. Is it still allowed in the USA?

Re: TSA Master Keys

#100

Post by chiph » Tue, Sep 08, 2015, 4:08 PM UTC

codyb wrote: post #93

ctdonath wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Solution: take a gun. Seriously. In stark contrast with the requirement that TSA be able to open your luggage (unlocked or backdoored), if you declare a firearm in your checked luggage the TSA cannot - by law - have the means to open your [hard-shell] luggage, YOU must retain the key or combination and must be present to open it when inspected. (Of course, traveling legally with a gun has its own litany of issues, bu…

Could you declare a gun and not carry one? And then claim you forgot it if anyone checks?

Your bag gets hand-inspected by a TSA agent with you present. They'll ensure the weapon is packed securely and that the ammo is in original factory boxes (meets ORM-D requirements). So you can't declare a weapon without actually having one.

Note that "packed securely" can have different meanings at different airports. There isn't a uniform standard or branding on cases that meet airline and TSA requirements for weapon transport. But you'll have the fewest problems with a Pelican that is fully locked.