Bag Cam

This is one for the ‘misuse of power’ files. There is no regulation against making a video recording in an area with no expectation of privacy. There is no expectation of privacy on an airplane. If you believe the Grandma and not the Airline / Airport security people, this poor lady was harassed.

Playing the dutiful traveler this weekend. I left BDL via STL for SFO yesterday. No problems getting through security, other than the single scanner in use being backed up by the morning flight to San Juan. Too bad the TSA supervisor didn’t check the departure schedule earlier. With all my liquids and gels in a ziplock bag, nobody seemed to care that I just left it in my backpack.

I’m a Delta (DAL) guy from way back, so flying American is a bit of an adventure. They are very businesslike overall. Sort of like a bus driver, or Shirley Q. Liquor: sit down, shut up, and here we go.

Heading back now from SFO to BDL via DFW. Security was less than 3 minutes. I’m not checking bags this trip, so I have more than my normal stuff to juggle. But I was still able to outpace about two dozen people. Look ahead, think ahead, anticipate!

Bagcam – How Did TSA and/or the Airlines Manage to Do That to Your Luggage?

Ever wonder exactly how TSA or the airlines managed to destroy your luggage or what security measures are actually in place once your checked luggage disappears from view? After having yet another bag destroyed while flying several months ago, algormor decided to build Bagcam to find out what happens once the airlines have control of your luggage. Bagcam is a small suitcase containing a mini-DVR and pinhole camera. This presentation will cover the construction of Bagcam, potential future enhancements to Bagcam, and issues to consider should you decide to build your own Bagcam. In addition, various security measures currently in place for commercial passenger flights and the efficacy of these measures will be discussed. Finally, select footage will be presented from flights through Washington DC’s Reagan National Airport (DCA); Ted Stevens Airport in Anchorage, AK (ANC); Sky Harbor in Phoenix, AZ (PHX); Chicago’s O’Hare (ORD); and other airports.

Download and transfer to portable player:

64kbps file (High quality, 26MB .mp3)

16kbps file (Low quality, 6.5MB .mp3)

Excerpt from the EFF website:

EFF’s Coders’ Rights Project protects programmers and developers engaged in cutting-edge exploration of technology in our world. Security and encryption researchers help build a safer future for all of us using digital technologies, yet too many legitimate researchers face serious legal challenges that prevent or inhibit their work. The Coders Rights Project builds on EFF’s longstanding work protecting researchers through education, legal defense, amicus briefs and involvement in the community with the goal of promoting innovation and safeguarding the rights of curious tinkerers and hackers on the digital frontier.

It’s not really clear if the new program protects just Coders (per the name) or all electronic security ‘tinkerers’ (per the website).

Here’s the EFF press release, and here’s their main Coder’s Rights site going forward.

Latest on the shoe screening machinery, take 2. Article at redOrbit.

October’s first attempt (take 1), from Jaunted.com. Some other great stuff over there about airport security.

JetBlue designed their new terminal to address security requirements:

The new terminal features a 20-lane security checkpoint, the largest such screening area in North America, said Tom Kennedy, project director, in an interview with the Associated Press. The security checkpoint also features a fully-automated bag screening and wider spaces to help passengers access luggage and get through security easier and faster.

Article at Cheapflights.com.

The TSA has been working with bag manufacturers to enable an unobstructed view of the laptop without having to remove it from your bag.  It’s interesting to think back to the genesis of needing to take laptops out of bags. The original purpose for removing the laptop was to prove that it would actually boot up as a computer. The screeners then got sophisticated enough (supposedly) to see regular laptop guts vs explosive device guts. Unfortunately the other bag contents got in the way, hence the requirement to set your electronics on an ungrounded rolling rubber conveyor belt and subject them to 1.21 gigawatts of static electricity. Now you are allowed to unfold your bag to expose the laptop, then zip it closed out the other side.

Read the Powerpage article which links to the TIME article. Also, Jaunted has a good writeup, including a note on why they think the plan is stupid.

Carry or Check? That is the question. Yes indeed, you need to check your items for compliance, or face the chance of leaving them behind at security. No “mail them home to yourself” or “retrieve your luggage from the bowels of the automated handling machinery”. Gone. Confiscated. Surrendered to an unknown fate.

We love Seat Guru, and as always they’ve come through with a comprehensive list.

Leave an electronic Comment Card for the TSA.

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http://www.tsa.gov/blog

Here’s one for those entering the US.

Homeland Security extends border laptop seizure rules.