From: tl@none.invalid   
      
   Charles Packer   wrote:   
   >On Thu, 19 Sep 2024 13:31:28 -0400, Evelyn C. Leeper wrote:   
   >> Are there any SF stories that predicted the sort of attack via exploding   
   >> pages/walkie-talkies/etc.?   
   >   
   >I wonder what effect these (news) stories will have on airport security   
   >procedures. Up until now I haven't flown often so I was surprised   
   >in August when the agent asked me if I had any tablets or laptops   
   >in my carry-on and when I answered yes asked me   
   >to take it out (a Kindle Fire) and place it in the tray to run   
   >through the x-ray separately from the bag. I don't   
   >recall this happening on a trip last November.   
      
   This has been "best/standard practice" for more than a decade now in   
   pretty much every airport I've flown via. That includes dozens of EU   
   airports, dozens US airport (both domestic and international flights)   
   and a couple of Asian ones.   
      
   I think this became commong around the same time the 100mL/1L   
   (3.4fl.oz/?) rules for liquids? Or perhaps after 9/11?   
      
   In fact, whats NEW is that the last few years we finally have scanners   
   that promises to do away with all this thanks to higher resolution and   
   better penetration. But it's still spotty and very varied between   
   countries and different airports.   
      
   The same scanner technology also promised to abolish the liquid and   
   "no jacket" rules but... the examples I know of has since walked back   
   to the old liquid limits after test showed that there was dangerous   
   liquids that would still slip past even these (basically the   
   manufacturer oversold their capabilities).   
      
      
   >My cell phone, also in the bag, apparently was exempt from this   
   >scrutiny.   
      
   It's still scanned, just together with other things. Which is fine as   
   long as there's not too much clutter or any dark voids in the scan.   
      
   And if they can't make out some details they'll usually rotate the bag   
   and send it again, and if it still can't be resolved they may take out   
   all items that could be responsible and send the bag and the items   
   through individually (or find it, say "ahh" and let it go). Been   
   there, seen both (IIR it had a 170W laptop charger, some USB cables   
   plus noise cancelling headset, it happens but is RARE).   
      
   The reason "large electronics", "laptops, tables" or "laptop, tables   
   and cameras" tends to be called out and needing to be sent through   
   separately is because they're far more likely to trigger this so   
   they're saving time by just doing it pre-emptively instead of scanning   
   each item 2-3 times. And also reducing the risk of missing something.   
      
   But as I mentioned the rules at different airports vary a lot   
   depending on how good/recent equipment they have and how much the   
   relevant regulatory body trust said equipment. Most airports have a   
   mix of old and new equipment, so it's not necessarily consistent even   
   in one airport terminal!   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)