No laser pointers through security?

Bert Hyman writes:

In the US you need to keep this in mind:

To ensure traveler's security, transportation security
officers (TSOs) may determine that an item not on the
prohibited items chart is prohibited. In addition, the TSO
may also determine that an item on the permitted chart is
dangerous and therefore may not be brought through the
security checkpoint.

So why bother to have a list or chart, if it's up to the TSA employee's mood?

In article ,
Mxsmanic wrote:

Bert Hyman writes:

In the US you need to keep this in mind:

To ensure traveler's security, transportation security
officers (TSOs) may determine that an item not on the
prohibited items chart is prohibited. In addition, the TSO
may also determine that an item on the permitted chart is
dangerous and therefore may not be brought through the
security checkpoint.

So why bother to have a list or chart, if it's up to the TSA employee's mood?

Enlightenment dawns, Grasshopper (g).

In message Mxsmanic
wrote:

DevilsPGD writes:

http://www.google.ca/search?q=DVD+Laser+Flashlight+Hack

That's a modification of a flashlight, not a laser pointer.

True, but the components are small enough that it wouldn't really make a
difference.

And why would that make any difference for an _unmodified_ laser pointer?

Who says it's unmodified? Is there a manufacturer representative on
site to verify it? Do you trust the TSA morons to figure it out?

You can also buy commercial laser pointers that are sufficiently
powerful, then cut the power back using nearly dead batteries so that
you can perform a demo going through security, but swap the batteries to
step up the power when needed.

And before you say that all laser pointers are dangerous,

They aren't.

how do you know that
what looks like an ordinary flashlight isn't a specially modified,
high-powered laser?

You don't.

Furthermore, how would this mega hand laser be used to incapacitate the crew,
particularly the pilots?

Well, given that it can cause blindness at 30' or more, taking out the
flight attendants will be fairly trivial -- If you don't understand how
blinding people remotely incapacitates them, then I can't really help
you.

As for the flight crew, you start off waiting for the pilot/co-pilot to
hit the bathroom, then wander up and start performing the world's
fastest laser eye surgery. Sure, you'll have to pull the drink cart out
of the way, but I doubt a blind flight attendant will be able to stop
you.

I'm not suggesting that this is a credible attack plan, or even entirely
feasible, but rather, that it's sufficient enough to warrant extra
paranoia.

DevilsPGD writes:

Well, given that it can cause blindness at 30' or more, taking out the
flight attendants will be fairly trivial -- If you don't understand how
blinding people remotely incapacitates them, then I can't really help
you.

Unless the laser can cut through a door, that isn't going to affect the
pilots, and if you don't control the pilots, there's not much sense in zapping
the FAs.

As for the flight crew, you start off waiting for the pilot/co-pilot to
hit the bathroom, then wander up and start performing the world's
fastest laser eye surgery. Sure, you'll have to pull the drink cart out
of the way, but I doubt a blind flight attendant will be able to stop
you.

It's unlikely that a flight attendant would be completely blinded by a shot
from a laser beam. That would require hitting the macula, which isn't easy
from a distance (or even up close, if the victim doesn't cooperate).

I'm not suggesting that this is a credible attack plan, or even entirely
feasible, but rather, that it's sufficient enough to warrant extra
paranoia.

There's already enough to be paranoid about. Sometimes the paranoia is the
part that actually does the damage.

Mxsmanic wrote:


Unless the laser can cut through a door, that isn't going to affect the
pilots, and if you don't control the pilots, there's not much sense in zapping
the FAs.

That was one mistake in the "Fringe" pilot episode (pardon the pun)
The flight crew opened the door to see what was happening in back.

In message Mxsmanic
wrote:

DevilsPGD writes:

Well, given that it can cause blindness at 30' or more, taking out the
flight attendants will be fairly trivial -- If you don't understand how
blinding people remotely incapacitates them, then I can't really help
you.

Unless the laser can cut through a door, that isn't going to affect the
pilots, and if you don't control the pilots, there's not much sense in zapping
the FAs.

Given that the pilots don't stay in the cockpit the entire flight, I'm
thinking controlling at least one pilot wouldn't be that big a
challenge.

During this phase the door often stays open too, what with the other
pilot staying seated and not getting up to unlock the cockpit door.

As for the flight crew, you start off waiting for the pilot/co-pilot to
hit the bathroom, then wander up and start performing the world's
fastest laser eye surgery. Sure, you'll have to pull the drink cart out
of the way, but I doubt a blind flight attendant will be able to stop
you.

It's unlikely that a flight attendant would be completely blinded by a shot
from a laser beam. That would require hitting the macula, which isn't easy
from a distance (or even up close, if the victim doesn't cooperate).

Indeed. It's unlikely that you could do any significant amount of
damage with a box cutter either without the element of surprise.

I'm not suggesting that this is a credible attack plan, or even entirely
feasible, but rather, that it's sufficient enough to warrant extra
paranoia.

There's already enough to be paranoid about. Sometimes the paranoia is the
part that actually does the damage.

Agreed completely.

In message "nobody"
wrote:


Unless the laser can cut through a door, that isn't going to affect the
pilots, and if you don't control the pilots, there's not much sense in zapping
the FAs.

Why have you given so much thought to who to accomplish this?

Because that's what intelligent human beings do, they think about
things. For those of us that travel a lot, airport and airplane
security is a big deal as it requires planning, and in the event of
failure, could cost us our lives.

nobody writes:

Unless the laser can cut through a door, that isn't going to affect the
pilots, and if you don't control the pilots, there's not much sense in zapping
the FAs.

Why have you given so much thought to who to accomplish this?

What makes you think that I've given a lot of thought to it?

nobody writes:

Why do you want to know how to build such a weapon?

Curiosity.

"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
...
nobody writes:

Why do you want to know how to build such a weapon?

Curiosity.

Curiosity killed the cat. hmmmm. Laser weapon ? Curiosity? Cat?
Good Grief ! Yer gonna zap the neighbors cat !!