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Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

theguardian.com

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Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#51

Post by opportune »

jjulius wrote: post #14
ghostbrainalpha wrote: post #5

I am TOTALLY ok with TSA reading my last text messages before I go on a flight. Those last few texts someone sends before committing a terrorist action, could send an extremely strong signal to authorities and possibly prevent a disaster. If the extra security results in a strange TSA agent getting to enjoy some surprise dick pics, well that's the price of freedom Jerry.

>If the extra security results in a strange TSA agent getting to enjoy some surprise dick pics, well that's the price of freedom Jerry. I wouldn't say that someone has 'freedom' if they're being forced to possibly have their body visibly exposed to strangers against their will.

If regular people wanted freedom, they would just fly private!

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#52

Post by syshum »

mikeash wrote: post #35

This article seems like it’s written to be deliberately confusing. If I understand it correctly, the TSA is not forcing anyone to unlock devices. They take the devices away for some period, but if they’re securely locked, TSA won’t be able to get anything from them. However, the article drops border searches which do require an unlock right into the middle of the article, then goes on to say that they have no specifi…

>>They take the devices away for some period, but if they’re securely locked, TSA won’t be able to get anything from them.

You have no way of knowing that, or if they are doing anything to the hardware, cloning the SIM, adding tracking, or simply cloning the flash for possible evaluation later

Further it should be considered unconstitutional for them to even take it for 1 second.

> If it’s some fancy explosives sniffing (like they already do to my contact lens solution) then it’s nothing interesting.

I would find it interesting and "bad", they should not need to remove the device from your view to do explosive sniffing.

It is very troubling to me how much invasion of and infringement on a persons liberties the average person is willing to accept in the name of Security Theater

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#53

Post by pentagonpapers »

jjulius wrote: post #14
ghostbrainalpha wrote: post #5

I am TOTALLY ok with TSA reading my last text messages before I go on a flight. Those last few texts someone sends before committing a terrorist action, could send an extremely strong signal to authorities and possibly prevent a disaster. If the extra security results in a strange TSA agent getting to enjoy some surprise dick pics, well that's the price of freedom Jerry.

>If the extra security results in a strange TSA agent getting to enjoy some surprise dick pics, well that's the price of freedom Jerry. I wouldn't say that someone has 'freedom' if they're being forced to possibly have their body visibly exposed to strangers against their will.

isn't that what those scanners do lol?

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#54

Post by reaperducer »

mikeash wrote: post #35

This article seems like it’s written to be deliberately confusing. If I understand it correctly, the TSA is not forcing anyone to unlock devices. They take the devices away for some period, but if they’re securely locked, TSA won’t be able to get anything from them. However, the article drops border searches which do require an unlock right into the middle of the article, then goes on to say that they have no specifi…

> They take the devices away for some period, but if they’re securely locked, TSA won’t be able to get anything from them.

It is well documented that there is no cell phone that cannot be unlocked.

And once it's unlocked, who knows what the real goal is. On the surface, one suspects that it's to examine its contents. But other possibilities include sideloading spyware, or even targeted viruses. Some random NGO secretary may not be the actual target, but could be the vector that allows a program to spread to one or more other targets within or without the organization.

I liked it better when this was the sort of thing that people on shortwave radio with tinfoil hats would rant about. Now it's almost weekly headlines in the NY Times, Guardian, WSJ, etc...

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#55

Post by mikeash »

FireBeyond wrote: post #44
mikeash wrote: post #35

This article seems like it’s written to be deliberately confusing. If I understand it correctly, the TSA is not forcing anyone to unlock devices. They take the devices away for some period, but if they’re securely locked, TSA won’t be able to get anything from them. However, the article drops border searches which do require an unlock right into the middle of the article, then goes on to say that they have no specifi…

> If I understand it correctly, the TSA is not forcing anyone to unlock devices. I'm sure they also don't shrug their shoulders and say "Locked? Oh well.". Varying degrees of coercion, threat, implicit or otherwise, relying on passenger ignorance to their rights. I wonder how many have unlocked it at their request too, which is specifically different from "forced".

What makes you so sure of that? I’ve had them swab electronics for explosives before and they never even try to turn the things on. I’m pretty sure I’ve had them ask me once or twice to prove that a laptop was real by turning it on, and they never asked for it to be unlocked.

That’s my whole point: this article appears to be written to make you assume that a lot more is going on than they actually describe.

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#56

Post by ajross »

gowld wrote: post #28
pjc50 wrote: post #19

> "One woman who shared her story with the ACLU told the Guardian that in the last year, she has twice had her electronics searched while flying within California. The 64-year-old, who works in nonprofits and requested anonymity for fear that she could face further scrutiny from TSA, said that on one occasion last year, TSA agents pulled her aside to pat her down multiple times and eventually asked to see both her iP…

It's also a classic tactic against conservative groups. https://www.npr.org/2017/10/27/560308997/irs-apologizes-for-...

Sorry, are you equating needless bureaucratic red tape in a non-profit's application for tax-exempt status to the seizure of a private citizen's phone and laptop?

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#57

Post by russ_ross »

No special knowledge, but willing to bet they are doing this on the basis of a specific threat. Much theatre, hoping it gets press, and intended as a deterrent based on information they've got they are concerned about. Otherwise its a lot of work for nothing.

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#58

Post by dawnerd »

alehul wrote: post #9
anthonybsd wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That seems reaching to me. After all, highway patrol cannot simply start going through your belongings without probable cause which has a potential to be tested in court. Same rights are clearly not afforded to the air travelers in TSA interactions which seem to exist in a legal limbo right now.

As a followup to this (and response to preceding comment), a quick Google search shows that all airports aside from one in the US are owned by the government, which I believe must meet certain standards that we don't require of private entities in terms of rights of access.

that quick google search brings up a site that cites no sources for that claim...

Digging around found a source but I highly doubt its the one that site used. https://www.faa.gov/airports/airport_compliance/privatizatio...

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#59

Post by dawnerd »

ghostbrainalpha wrote: post #5

I am TOTALLY ok with TSA reading my last text messages before I go on a flight. Those last few texts someone sends before committing a terrorist action, could send an extremely strong signal to authorities and possibly prevent a disaster. If the extra security results in a strange TSA agent getting to enjoy some surprise dick pics, well that's the price of freedom Jerry.

no.

Re: Questions for TSA after reports of laptop and phone searches on domestic flights

#60

Post by mulmen »

sandworm101 wrote: post #41
eli wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Presumably whatever forensic tools they have will easily detect hidden partitions. The advice I hear for international travelers is disk encryption + FedEx'ing your laptop to its destination.

They dont use tools. For inspection of random phones from non-suspects they just poke around by hand. Only when they find something do they employ actual tools.

Do you have a source on this? Preferably one that will be updated if the policy and practices change?

The only safe assumption is the worst case.

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