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Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

bloomberg.com

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

#401

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

wildmusings wrote: post #362
ocschwar wrote: post #131

What utter bullshit. If they allow phones at all, then the threat cannot be an issue of a passenger sending a command out of one of these. The threat has to be the device itself. Now, a standard issue iPad is no threat, so we're talking about a customized device made to look like on. Except, if terrorists are going to the trouble to do this, they can just as easily put whatever bad thing they want to put into the cas…

That's some strong criticism, especially since you're not even considering that someone already successfully detonated a laptop bomb on a plane. From the CNN article on this new policy: > The official said the move is partly based on intelligence that they believe indicates Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is close to being able to hide explosives with little or no metal content in electronic devices in order to tar…

The point made was that it's idiotic because bombs can be shoved into anything. Copy pasting the same bit about the likely existence of laptop bombs only matters if you believe that 1. it's harder to use something other than a laptop, or 2. moving a bomb to the luggage compartment will help.

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

#402

Post by saganus »

foldr wrote: post #331
DrJokepu wrote: post #323

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is bad advice I'm afraid. If you're an alien seeking admission to the United States it's your responsibility to prove that you don't have immigrant intent, not the CBP's responsibility that you do. By showing up at the border with a wiped device you will make it a lot easier for the CBP to build a case against you and put you on the next plane heading back.

Not sure why this is being downvoted. Entering with a wiped device would be viewed as suspicious, rightly or wrongly.

How would the border agents know it's a wiped device? Because it's missing everything and seems like a new phone?

What if I actually bought a new cheap phone because I'm afraid of getting robbed abroad, and even tell the agent?

I ask because I would think that being afraid of losing your expensive phone on a leisure trip is common enough and harmless enough (and totally real reason) that it wouldn't provoke or trigger an agent.

Or am I being delusional?

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

#403

Post by sneak »

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…

There is also a slightly less scary reason, which also applies to liquids: it is harder to fashion a bomb together and set it off when you can't touch it.

A half gallon of petrol sitting inside your fake laptop in the hold is no biggie. A half gallon of petrol in the cabin is a whole different ballgame.

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

#404

Post by maxerickson »

diminoten wrote: post #308
kashkhan wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

because the miscreants are too stupid to wait 96 hours.

If you're executing an attack in the next 4 days, you now can't. Why do you think you know more about international counterterrorism than... Well, anyone?

It's a little ironic how contentious your tone is in this thread, considering that there were many outlets that didn't follow along with the mischaracterization of the ban that you have based your commenting on.

(I understand that you did see the 96 hour temporary ban in some reports; but even 14 hours ago there were reports not saying that, reports you accused other people of not reading, apparently without reading them yourself (the Bloomberg article didn't contain a time frame when I read it last night, nor the Reuters article I linked in my other reply))

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

#405

Post by sneak »

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.

How do you do that with 1.5TB of video? My Lightroom library of stills alone is 900GB.

Have you ever used hotel wifi?

Give me a break.

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

#406

Post by sneak »

michaelt wrote: post #325
razzaj wrote: post #271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 arr…

how is that going to protect the US? [...] perpetrators will not transport any digital devices with incriminating data. Options include: 1. Bad guys with imperfect opsec (I see in your unallocated space there's a deleted TAILS ISO... onto a watchlist with you!) 2. Friends and relatives of bad guys (I see your nephew e-mailed you holiday photos from cybercafes near two different suspected terrorist training camps... o…

Pretty sure from leaked XKEYSCORE rulesets, anyone who downloaded or googled "tails" is already on that list.

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

#407

Post by foldr »

saganus wrote: post #402
foldr wrote: post #331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not sure why this is being downvoted. Entering with a wiped device would be viewed as suspicious, rightly or wrongly.

How would the border agents know it's a wiped device? Because it's missing everything and seems like a new phone? What if I actually bought a new cheap phone because I'm afraid of getting robbed abroad, and even tell the agent? I ask because I would think that being afraid of losing your expensive phone on a leisure trip is common enough and harmless enough (and totally real reason) that it wouldn't provoke or trigge…

>Because it's missing everything and seems like a new phone?

Yes. Remember, they don't need proof of anything. You're not on trial. It's largely up to the judgment of the individual officer whether or not someone can enter the US as a visitor.

If they ask you why there's nothing on your phone, you'd better be able to convince them that it's for some other reason than "I don't want you to see it". Can you do that? Well, it depends on how persuasive you are and whether the officer is in a good mood that day.

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

#408

Post by ocschwar »

yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #401
wildmusings wrote: post #362

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's some strong criticism, especially since you're not even considering that someone already successfully detonated a laptop bomb on a plane. From the CNN article on this new policy: > The official said the move is partly based on intelligence that they believe indicates Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is close to being able to hide explosives with little or no metal content in electronic devices in order to tar…

The point made was that it's idiotic because bombs can be shoved into anything. Copy pasting the same bit about the likely existence of laptop bombs only matters if you believe that 1. it's harder to use something other than a laptop, or 2. moving a bomb to the luggage compartment will help.

Moving a small bomb to the luggage compartment does help, because it is not pressurized. I'll grand that much.

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

#409

Post by foldr »

titraprutr wrote: post #370
foldr wrote: post #331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not sure why this is being downvoted. Entering with a wiped device would be viewed as suspicious, rightly or wrongly.

Until it becomes a norm among travellers.

It won't, though. Way too inconvenient for most people.

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

#410

Post by freeone3000 »

ihsw2 wrote: post #400
PietdeVries wrote: post #276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 movi…

That would be great if airlines provided standard power outlets and/or USB ports.

Canada Air does! It's great.
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