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United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

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Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#101

Someone needs to explain to me how the name of a Bluetooth device has any bearing on anything. Isn’t the real security not letting a bomb on the plane? Also, now anyone who wants to disrupt a flight can switch their WiFi or Bluetooth name to Bomb or “Free Palestine” and the flight gets disrupted? Get out of here.

There is nothing new in that. It's pretty common that people get drunk at the airport or on the plane and make jokes about bombs or something. Then the place is evacuated and flights are disrupted. The culprits get arrested and probably have to pay a fine and maybe some compensation to the affected airlines, but they usually don't get any prison time.

[deleted]

Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#102
post #96

Someone needs to explain to me how the name of a Bluetooth device has any bearing on anything. Isn’t the real security not letting a bomb on the plane? Also, now anyone who wants to disrupt a flight can switch their WiFi or Bluetooth name to Bomb or “Free Palestine” and the flight gets disrupted? Get out of here.

Just wait until you hear what a bad joke while waiting in the TSA line can do to you day.

I brought some bathbombs on a trip as part of a thank you gift. My bag got pulled aside for additional screening, and I had to think for a second on what to call them when the TSA person asked me what they were.

Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#103
post #97

The Reddit thread on this was equal parts amazing and hilarious. Real time insights from not one, but 9, redditors on the flight. Main post: https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/s/57lugEMhxl All the redditors on board: https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/s/Fh2KoqG4SY A passenger with a hilariously illtimed username: https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/s/W86tRI6ZVf

Very interesting, but a hell of a way to dox yourself for being on the flight manifest.

The entities that have access to flight manifests have far easier ways to identify who's behind your account. It's not a threat model worth seriously considering.

Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#104

Andddd now everyone knows that an arbitrary text string in a device hostname is enough to ground a flight.

To be honest calling the police and saying you have a bomb planted on flight XYZ and want 100000$ or you'll detonate it, is probably also enough.

Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#105
post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Airlines have kept tabs on Bluetooth and WiFi hotspots as early as the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 incidents (2016)

You'd think they would do this before taking off..

Perhaps it was turned on by being jostled during take off.

Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#107
post #85

What's to prevent terrorists from going through TSA, waiting in the scanning line when everyone is still going through, and then planting a bluetooth device into someone else's bag? I never open my carryon once I have packed it. This reminds me of the SNL sketch where TSA employees had no answer for someone bringing two separate bottles of 3.9 ounces onto the plane. I'm sure Sean Duffy, of Real World and now Sec of T…

Seems like an effective DoS attack - ground all planes in the US by sneaking cheap bluetooth speakers into people's luggage with provacative device names

Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#108
post #97

The Reddit thread on this was equal parts amazing and hilarious. Real time insights from not one, but 9, redditors on the flight. Main post: https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/s/57lugEMhxl All the redditors on board: https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/s/Fh2KoqG4SY A passenger with a hilariously illtimed username: https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/s/W86tRI6ZVf

Very interesting, but a hell of a way to dox yourself for being on the flight manifest.

Are flight manifests public?

Internal flights in New Zealand don’t need ID. So if you knew you were going to posting your terrible flight experience, you could fly under a fake name.

Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#109
post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The same thing that is stopping them from suicide bombing the super crowded security checkpoint line before ID checks. Nothing really.

Or going into the baggage claim area with a bag containing an explosive device, then acting like they grabbed the wrong bag and putting it back on the carousel, and then leaving.

As an aside, this is something I've only seen in the US. At least in my country the domestic baggage claim area is not accessible unless from an arriving aircraft.

I'm guessing that has more to do with theft though than security.

Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“Free Palestine” isn’t exactly fringe. In fact, outside America and Israel, I’d bet it’s the default stance

[dead]

Why? This makes no logical sense.

re the second response: Original commenter did not specify exlusivity to jews. So that's my assumption.

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