The TSA's Selective Laptop Ban • Hacker News Board

Re: The TSA's Selective Laptop Ban

#11

Post by alistairSH » Mon, Mar 27, 2017, 1:05 PM UTC

camillomiller wrote: post #4

CoolGuySteve wrote: post #2

According to this Guardian article, the ban was caused by a plan to hide a bomb in an iPad: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/26/plot-explosive... I always thought it was weird that you could keep an iPad packed in your carry on but a laptop had to be scanned separately even if it was a similar size to an iPad.

Every security check in Europe and SE Asia I passed in the last few years (~60 flights) mandated to take every device out of the bag, iPads and smartphones included

Weird. I've been to Italy, Scotland (via Dublin), and Iceland and never have to scan small devices separately.

The laptop gets pulled out and placed in a bucket. The tablet and phone stay in luggage.

It's all so inconsistent, it makes you wonder if any of the security agencies half any clue at all.

Re: The TSA's Selective Laptop Ban

#12

Post by pieter1976 » Mon, Mar 27, 2017, 1:06 PM UTC

At some point we are going to have to realise that terrorists are always going to want to target aircraft and just live with it. This ban makes no sense because $BAD_GUY can just via some intermediate airport with their iPad Bomb.

It's interesting that El Al has not decided to ban laptops (despite undoubtedly being a target) and, in fact, advises people not to put valuables in the hold: https://www.elal.com/en/PassengersInfo/Baggage/Pages/Policy....

"EL AL reminds all passengers not to pack valuable items in baggage send to the hold of the plane. These items should be carried in the hand luggage"

Re: The TSA's Selective Laptop Ban

#13

Post by junto » Mon, Mar 27, 2017, 1:09 PM UTC

pieter1976 wrote: post #12

At some point we are going to have to realise that terrorists are always going to want to target aircraft and just live with it. This ban makes no sense because $BAD_GUY can just via some intermediate airport with their iPad Bomb. It's interesting that El Al has not decided to ban laptops (despite undoubtedly being a target) and, in fact, advises people not to put valuables in the hold: https://www.elal.com/en/Passen…

But El Al is also profiling passengers before they even reach the airport. They stop people on route and question them to gain any subtle clues as to whether people might be nervous or acting strangely.

They know weird shit like who you've met after being in Israel. A gay friend of a friend went to Tel Aviv Pride, and was taken aside and asked why he'd chosen to sleep with an Arab as he was leaving the country.

Re: The TSA's Selective Laptop Ban

#14

Post by YCode » Mon, Mar 27, 2017, 1:09 PM UTC

> And lastly, why is there a delay between the ban being announced and it taking effect?

Would this not simply be to give airlines and people time to adjust policies?

Was there a delay on the Note7 ban? Or perhaps they decided to implement one after some lessons learned from it?

Re: The TSA's Selective Laptop Ban

#15

Post by junto » Mon, Mar 27, 2017, 1:10 PM UTC

> Why not require passengers to turn their laptops on as they go through security? That would be a more effective security measure than forcing them to check them in their luggage.

The reason that security checks aren't going to ask you to turn your laptop, ipad or mobile on, as a standard process, is that it takes too much time.

Re: The TSA's Selective Laptop Ban

#16

Post by nommm-nommm » Mon, Mar 27, 2017, 1:12 PM UTC

junto wrote: post #15

> Why not require passengers to turn their laptops on as they go through security? That would be a more effective security measure than forcing them to check them in their luggage. The reason that security checks aren't going to ask you to turn your laptop, ipad or mobile on, as a standard process, is that it takes too much time.

Arguably taking your shoes off takes more time.

Re: The TSA's Selective Laptop Ban

#17

Post by makomk » Mon, Mar 27, 2017, 1:13 PM UTC

junto wrote: post #15

> Why not require passengers to turn their laptops on as they go through security? That would be a more effective security measure than forcing them to check them in their luggage. The reason that security checks aren't going to ask you to turn your laptop, ipad or mobile on, as a standard process, is that it takes too much time.

The other reason is that it's going to be of limited use these days, since I'm pretty sure some devices such as iPads effectively have multiple cells in parallel and should power on just fine with all but one of them replaced with explosives.

Re: The TSA's Selective Laptop Ban

#18

Post by CoolGuySteve » Mon, Mar 27, 2017, 1:14 PM UTC

camillomiller wrote: post #4

CoolGuySteve wrote: post #2

According to this Guardian article, the ban was caused by a plan to hide a bomb in an iPad: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/26/plot-explosive... I always thought it was weird that you could keep an iPad packed in your carry on but a laptop had to be scanned separately even if it was a similar size to an iPad.

Every security check in Europe and SE Asia I passed in the last few years (~60 flights) mandated to take every device out of the bag, iPads and smartphones included

Now that I think about it, China is very concerned about external batteries too, they must be below 100Wh and manually inspected.

Re: The TSA's Selective Laptop Ban

#19

Post by Fife » Mon, Mar 27, 2017, 1:16 PM UTC

junto wrote: post #13

pieter1976 wrote: post #12

At some point we are going to have to realise that terrorists are always going to want to target aircraft and just live with it. This ban makes no sense because $BAD_GUY can just via some intermediate airport with their iPad Bomb. It's interesting that El Al has not decided to ban laptops (despite undoubtedly being a target) and, in fact, advises people not to put valuables in the hold: https://www.elal.com/en/Passen…

But El Al is also profiling passengers before they even reach the airport. They stop people on route and question them to gain any subtle clues as to whether people might be nervous or acting strangely. They know weird shit like who you've met after being in Israel. A gay friend of a friend went to Tel Aviv Pride, and was taken aside and asked why he'd chosen to sleep with an Arab as he was leaving the country.

What could they possibly say to "he was hot" ?

Re: The TSA's Selective Laptop Ban

#20

Post by StavrosK » Mon, Mar 27, 2017, 1:18 PM UTC

junto wrote: post #13

pieter1976 wrote: post #12

At some point we are going to have to realise that terrorists are always going to want to target aircraft and just live with it. This ban makes no sense because $BAD_GUY can just via some intermediate airport with their iPad Bomb. It's interesting that El Al has not decided to ban laptops (despite undoubtedly being a target) and, in fact, advises people not to put valuables in the hold: https://www.elal.com/en/Passen…

But El Al is also profiling passengers before they even reach the airport. They stop people on route and question them to gain any subtle clues as to whether people might be nervous or acting strangely. They know weird shit like who you've met after being in Israel. A gay friend of a friend went to Tel Aviv Pride, and was taken aside and asked why he'd chosen to sleep with an Arab as he was leaving the country.

The hell? How did they know that?