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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

#271

Post by razzaj »

KirinDave wrote: post #199

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 luggag…

Makes sense. However, how is that going to protect the US? The moment such information is public, perpetrators will not transport any digital devices with incriminating data. What you re left with are people being harrassed over a digital copy of "how to make a potato launcher" on their laptops.

Frankly, it seems the US policing practices have been looking more and more USSR like. And i dont just mean since trump arrived to power.

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

#272

Post by venomsnake »

linkregister wrote: post #228
Const-me wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They might think airport security personnel at Amsterdam or Paris do their job better than their colleagues from those 8 Middle Eastern and North African countries. And/or they might think Netherlands and France is just as attractive for the terrorists as the US, i.e. the terrorists won’t bother taking that second flight. BTW, I think Russia should be the 9-th country on that list, as they have long history of sponso…

I'm ignorant of Russia's historical role in sponsoring terrorism; I'm only getting recent Ukraine / Syria links. Can you share some resources to learn more about it?

Both in Ukraine and Syria the Russians are supporting the legitimate government. Don't forget there was coup in Ukraine. Not very good governments but still.

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

#273

Post by ohazi »

rebootthesystem wrote: post #233

Reminds me of something from about fifteen years ago. I was training getting into R/C helicopters. No, not the toys they sell at the mall but the more sophisticated models flown by R/C pilots. Needless to say, they are not easy to fly. Even with twenty years experience flying R/C airplanes of all kinds I had to start from scratch. R/C heli's can be very expensive to crash. A set of carbon fiber rotors and related mec…

RealFlight? I had a similar control box that used a game port (D-sub) before USB was common.

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

#274

Post by throwaway049 »

IceyEC wrote: post #270
davidgay wrote: post #248

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't got "unlucky" on an international BA flight in 15+ years. So no, it doesn't just depend on the plane.

I flew Cape Town to LHR in January on BA and my entertainment system was stuck in a loop, booting into RedHat over and over again

But at least it's finally the year of Linux in the headrest.

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

#275

Post by spookyuser »

viraptor wrote: post #260
bootload wrote: post #246

Earlier quoted context omitted.

" there are water refilling stations, usually close to the restrooms or after you pass through the security checkpoint. " Done that, security check on one flight I was on at boarding forced all liquids to be emptied.

Dubai does that for some weird reason. They didn't use to until last year though.

Nevermind that, I once tried to board a flight in Dubai with a completely empty water bottle. Just before I boarded the plane, security stopped me and rummaged through my bag for a minute or so as though they were looking for something then just threw my empty bottle out, saying it was not allowed. I was thirsty for the whole flight because of that. They did, however, manage to foil my plan of bringing down an A380 with an empty 200ml bottle.

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

#276

Post by PietdeVries »

virtuabhi wrote: post #212
hanspragt wrote: post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cell phones are excluded from the ban, according to the article.

For now. According to the article.

interestingly, you see airlines moving away from in-flight entertainment screens in the seat in front of you, in favor of BYOD. A logical move: let the clients bring their equipment (they bring it anyway) so you don't have to (install, maintain, spend fuel on, etc.).

Now with airlines actually removing in flight entertainment, flying from the Middle East to New York can be quite a long trip: no laptop to watch a movie, no screen in front of you.

I guess the US will stop banning as soon as one of these policy-makers is on the same flight as a few bored kids ;-)

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

#277

Post by AstralStorm »

abandonliberty wrote: post #237
KirinDave wrote: post #199

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 luggag…

>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. I love the idea but I can't help but think that even with a completely airtight reason to be traveling with that item (e.g. you're a security researcher) you would be accused of terrorism. Somehow.

Well they cannot yet force you to divulge encryption keys, right?

And your nuke device might be worthless if they install a firmware exploit that will work later.

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

#278

Post by jungletek »

andygambles wrote: post #268
KirinDave wrote: post #199

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 luggag…

Wipe devices before packing. Arrive in country then restore backup remotely.

If the 'goal' of this policy is, as postulated elsewhere in the thread, to allow physical access to devices in order to deliver malware, etc., then how would you know your wiped device hadn't acquired a bootkit along the way?

Using a parcel-handling service, gov't or private, along with some tamper-indication of the package interior seems much safer, though not perfect by any means.

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

#279

Post by sillysaurus3 »

matheweis wrote: post #265
sillysaurus3 wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

USB nuke Do you actually have one? I searched for a bit but it doesn't seem like they're sold. https://kukuruku.co/post/usb-killer/

I am pretty sure you can buy them here (have never tried, though...) https://www.usbkill.com My favorite is the USB-C one, because the USB-C spec supports 100W...

Thanks!

After huge demand, the USB Kill V3.0 comes in an anonymous version.

No branding - No logos - Generic Case. The anonymous version is perfect for penetration testers that require discretion.

There's no way this thing would be used in a pentest. It destroys computers. Generally pentesters try not to destroy the client's property.

Amusing way to frame it, though.

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