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FAA Bans Recalled Apple Laptops from Flights

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Re: FAA Bans Recalled Apple Laptops from Flights

#201

Post by pbhjpbhj »

fortran77 wrote: post #82
tyingq wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"suppose all those lookalikes will be pulled out and have their serial numbers checked" I can almost guarantee the TSA will invest zero dollars or time into deciding which MacBooks are okay. This is Apple's problem to solve. Zero time, money or attention from the TSA or the airlines will be invested. If the FAA bans any Macbooks, all "Apple looking thingies" will be effectively banned. Source: 3 decades of govt and a…

Might a passenger, properly warned, be liable if he brings a banned laptop on the plane anyway and it catches on fire?

They absolutely should be criminally liable for risking the lives of everyone on board because they won't take a different laptop, or none, with them.

If the search is only 5% effective then the deterrent needs to be something you wouldn't risk a 5% chance of happening, year in prison, or a fine of 2 times your average annual income seems about right?

Re: FAA Bans Recalled Apple Laptops from Flights

#202

Post by cortic »

cm2187 wrote: post #189
cortic wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

..because if you drill a divot out of the inside of the plain, clean it with hydrochloric acid and break your thermometer on there you might get some pitting.. whoa, dodged a bullet there.

The video doesn't say that the reaction won't happen without cleaning the surface, just that it will be much slower. And the hole is just to hold the mercury in place.

The video literally says the reaction won't happen without cleaning the surface quote; "Under normal conditions aluminum is surrounded by a protective oxide layer"

btw; mods, you have no idea how much it bothers me not being able to change plain to plane in my op.

Re: FAA Bans Recalled Apple Laptops from Flights

#203

Post by userbinator »

AdamJacobMuller wrote: post #125
crooked-v wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except, as already noted, batteries in current Macbooks are not one rectangular slab like that. Take a look at the inside of the current Macbook Pro: https://i.imgur.com/pTZjbuZ.jpg That's a "battery" that's actually six separate batteries, fit around and underneath the structural components of the touchpad. Make it a single piece that can be neatly removed like your would-be concept image and you cut battery life in…

In addition to the shape, which itself would need to be compromised by a removable battery, there is the issue of the casing. Any battery requires a certain amount of puncture resistance. When a battery is embedded into a device and irremovable, the casing of the device itself counts as part of that puncture resistance. If the battery is removable, the battery module itself must be puncture resistant and you're wasti…

Look at smartphone batteries --- even when they were easily replaceable, they weren't very puncture-resistant, being nothing more than a bare pouch cell with a wrapper label.

Re: FAA Bans Recalled Apple Laptops from Flights

#204

Post by pbhjpbhj »

sjwright wrote: post #68
clamprecht wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Make a separate account on your Mac for just this purpose.

Be aware that any valid normal user account password can decrypt your hard disk—the exception being a guest account which forces the entire computer to restart into a separate, fully neutered system.

But someone at airport security turning the computer on still wouldn't have access to your user's files, presumably (?), because of user permissions - so they'd need to hack it (illegally, I expect) and why would they do that? In the context of this story aren't they just checking the serial number, presumably that's printed on the case?

Re: FAA Bans Recalled Apple Laptops from Flights

#205

Post by pbhjpbhj »

Reason077 wrote: post #191
Iolaum wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The metal casing of many laptops reflects the xrays, hence you can't see anything inside them.

At many airports you can see the x-ray images of the bags and devices as they are scanned/checked. In my experience there is always a detailed image of the inside of laptops. Color-coded according to material type/density and clearly showing the location of batteries, etc.

I'd imagine the batteries being switched for plastic explosive would be a simple way to take explosives onboard for unsophisticated attackers, turning on rules out that possibility. Not everyone who wants to blow stuff up is a hacker.

Re: FAA Bans Recalled Apple Laptops from Flights

#206

Post by pbhjpbhj »

k_sze wrote: post #84
ypcx wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does the serial number change if the battery has been serviced? Or are these devices banned from flying forever.

Imagine the airlines reading each serial number and phoning Apple to ask if it has already been serviced for the battery-related recall. Ouch.

Apple have the database already, airlines check millions of tuples a day, including updated no-fly lists, updated air-miles lists, updated VIP lists, etc., they might be using the phone but assuming they're technologically deficient seems like "underestimating the enemy".

Re: FAA Bans Recalled Apple Laptops from Flights

#207

Post by pbhjpbhj »

devy wrote: post #93
1e-9 wrote: post #8

In addition to the 432,000 Macbook Pros sold in the US from mid-2015 to 2017 being outright banned from flying, there will be all the other Mackbook Pros sold from about 2013 to mid-2015 that outwardly look just like the banned ones. I suppose all those lookalikes will be pulled out and have their serial numbers checked, which is in microscopic print on the back, which will definitely slow down Pre-check when you wou…

Yeah, checking serial numbers of MBP is not practical. So this FAA rule is not really enforceable.

Why do you say it's not practical, Apple stores do it.

Checking a number against an API isn't exactly rocket surgery.

Re: FAA Bans Recalled Apple Laptops from Flights

#208

Post by viraptor »

tinus_hn wrote: post #180
krustyburger wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given that the TSA has something like a 5% success rate (according to their own internal measures) at identifying things they’re actively screening, I think the best bet in any event would have been to just try to take the laptop through.

They might come across the model as they are snooping around your personal data ‘for security’. This may actually be used as a new excuse to force you to log in!

Why? The model and serial number are visible outside.

Re: FAA Bans Recalled Apple Laptops from Flights

#209

Post by Reason077 »

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #205
Reason077 wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At many airports you can see the x-ray images of the bags and devices as they are scanned/checked. In my experience there is always a detailed image of the inside of laptops. Color-coded according to material type/density and clearly showing the location of batteries, etc.

I'd imagine the batteries being switched for plastic explosive would be a simple way to take explosives onboard for unsophisticated attackers, turning on rules out that possibility. Not everyone who wants to blow stuff up is a hacker.

Wouldn’t plastic explosive have a different density to real batteries, and thus show up very obviously on the scanner?

The machines are tuned to highlight specific risky materials (such as liquids & gels).

At one point it was common to be asked to turn on laptops etc. But I haven’t seen them do that for years - presumably because the scanners have improved.

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