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Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

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Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

#191

Post by [deleted] »

snuxoll wrote: post #136
harlanlewis wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the ban will apply to nonstop flights to the U.S. from 10 airports in eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa Personal electronics are near-indispensable. By restricting their carry from Muslim countries, freedom of movement to and from those countries is significantly curtailed. This is about getting around the illegality of the Muslim ban without banning any persons or groups. This is about "cultural…

> This is about getting around the illegality of the Muslim ban without banning any persons or groups. This was my first thought until I saw a Saudi airport on the list of originating airports that will be impacted by the ban. Trump avoided listing any countries where he had business connections with in his ban orders, so I'm more likely to believe this is the result of actionable intelligence than xenophobia/Islamop…

[deleted]

Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

#192

Post by kogepathic »

jedberg wrote: post #178
jacquesm wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Millimeter scans only happen in US airports -- they're banned in Europe and not really used anywhere else. were . https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2014/04/19/bodyscanners-zo-gaat-he...

You're right, it's just the EU. I fixed my comment. The point is their technology is terrible and they are easy to defeat, as has been proven many many times. They are security theater and they were only put in place because the guy in charge of what scanners were allowed at US airports happened to have a financial interest in the company that made the millimeter wave scanner.

> They are security theater and they were only put in place because the guy in charge of what scanners were allowed at US airports happened to have a financial interest in the company that made the millimeter wave scanner.

Yup. I have been to many airports in Africa and SE Asia that have only a metal detector, manned by someone who barely cares enough to stand there, and no one has successfully committed an act of terrorism (a la 9/11) with a plane due to it.

Also when I was traveling in Japan, they had machines that could scan the contents of your water bottle so you didn't have to empty it or throw it away while going through security.

I'm mildly convinced other countries don't have this because the beverage industry can sell more water/soda you're forced to throw it away when you go through security.

I've also stopped arguing about going through the machines. I know they do nothing, but it's not worth the hassle security employees give you to opt out. Just stand there, knowing it's pointless, and move on.

Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

#193

Post by s5fs »

somethingsimple wrote: post #176

Sometimes I think this is going to get to a point where they'll have people remove their clothes prior to boarding and dress a special suit so they're allowed to fly without being considered a threat.

That's why in old scifi movies everyone wears jumpsuits on spaceships, makes getting through security much faster.

Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

#194

Post by sambe »

jedberg wrote: post #165
jacquesm wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bollocks. That's one thing the millimeter scan will pick up just fine.

Millimeter scans only happen in US airports -- they're banned in ~Europe~ the EU and not really used anywhere else. Also you're very wrong. You can defeat a millimeter scan just by placing the contraband between your palms while your hands are clasped above your head.

They are used all over Europe. Maybe some countries have opted not to use them, but I go through them every time I fly. In some cases there might be an opt-out for passengers, but they are certainly not banned.

Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

#195

Post by hn_lurker45 »

untog wrote: post #159

This is how they implement the Muslim ban. Piece by piece, bit by bit, they make it utterly infuriating for any Muslim person to travel to the US. Next they'll ban absolutely all liquids, or something.

Liquids are already banned to a large extent. You have to buy it inside the terminal after you get security clearance.

Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

#196

Post by robbiep »

jedberg wrote: post #182
greglindahl wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Uh, no. Many physicists don't like the now-discontinued X-ray backscatter machines, but the mm wave devices are not ionizing radiation. Some guy explained why non-ionizing radiation isn't a problem in 1905; won the Nobel Prize for it, too.

> but the mm wave devices are not ionizing radiation The science is still out on whether it's harmful or not. I got TSA pre so I can just avoid it, but before that I always opted out.

The science is only still out if you believe that mobile phones are causing cancer as well- ie for those who can't, or refuse, to understand science. For everyone else it's throughly settled

Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

#197

Post by sitepodmatt »

hoodoof wrote: post #148

I've seen it quite a few times. Someone answers their cell phone mid-flight - BOOM! Down goes the plane, steep descent, passengers screaming, masks drop from the ceiling, until that phone call ends and the plane straightens up. Blanket ban on electronics is the only way to stop this happening. One time I was flying and someone had forgotten to turn off their phone until the plane was in the air and it interfered with…

Love it.

I laughed more though at the comments to this - one person genuinely not sure if humor or not, and one guy, smart, that somehow managed to figure it out without a /s. Welcome to next generation of software engineers.

Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

#198

Post by bogomipz »

kingofpandora wrote: post #187
bogomipz wrote: post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>"It's also beyond bizarre that the US trusts Abu Dhabi's security enough to locate its only Middle Eastern Customs/Immigration preclearance facility" This is not correct Quatar has one as well. I'm also unsure why you would find this "bizarre" as all of the Emirates are incredibly wealthy.

That's not what he said. He wrote: > It's also beyond bizarre that the US trusts Abu Dhabi's security enough to locate its only Middle Eastern Customs/Immigration preclearance facility, but not enough to let passengers who have gone through security bring tablets... It's a good question.

Indeed I didn't read the sentence correctly my apologies.

However, I don't see that as a vote of confidence in them since they are still permitting flights.

I think similar could be said of the TSA in the US - the DHS trust them enough to let passengers who have gone through security bring shampoo as carry on but not enough if those shampoo bottles are greater than 3.4 ounces, despite having gone through their security.

I think its less about a vote of confidence and more about absurdist theater.

Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

#199

Post by KirinDave »

I see many people here trying to puzzle out why electronics are under a partial ban from cabins but not from checked baggage. It's a good question, since if there is a fire or explosion hazard on a plane the last place you want it is wrapped in a wad of flammable cloth and synthetics, even if it is oxygen starved.

The only motivation I can imagine is: They want these devices in checked luggage because checked luggage can be inspected without recourse by customs, and without an on-site confrontation. With care, it can be done without even notifying the people who are being checked.

And given the pushback on social media credential disclosure and the reveal that the CIA (and presumably FBI and other agencies) have physical access exploits (probably via USB or DisplayPort) for most of these devices, this seems like a move who's only logical motivation could be easier digital inspection.

Remember, it's the position of the TSA and CBP that non-citizens don't have rights of any kind until they're allowed through customs, and by simply inspecting devices they're interested in quickly and without publicity or confrontation they will certainly be more effective at it.

I'm going to start putting a USB nuke stick in my luggage in an envelope. Just for fun. Maybe I'll label the envelope something nonsensical like "12-16" just to make sure people know it's useless. And in case I (or someone investigating my luggage) needs to plug something into a USB slot.

Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

#200

Post by ploggingdev »

jamoes wrote: post #142
ryukafalz wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the plus side, it's harder to compel you to decrypt your disk if you're nowhere near it at the time.

On the minus side, they can install malware on your machine without your knowledge (even if your disk is encrypted).

Source? How is it possible to install malware when the disk is encrypted?
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