Valleywag: Tsa

TSA approves some new laptop bag designs

Jackson West — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:20:00 PDT

For those of you who always fly with a laptop and like to travel light, the Transportation Security Administration has approved guidelines for new X-ray-friendly laptop bags. Guards will let the new cases pass through the X-ray machine without having to remove the computer. They will, of course, still make you take off your shoes, jacket and won't let you through with a cup of coffee. [TSA.gov]

Clear exposes customer passport numbers in SFO security breach

Jackson West — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:00:00 PDT

A laptop with personal information including drivers license and passport numbers of up to 33,000 customers in the Clear airport security-pass program was discovered missing from a locked room at San Francisco International Airport. It has since mysteriously been returned, and there's no word of any security breach as of yet. Still, the laptop's data was apparently unencrypted, though Steven Brill, CEO of Verified Identity Pass, the company which runs the Clear program, said the personal information was behind "two levels of password protection."

Yes, that Steven Brill — the one who founded CourtTV, Brill's Content and dotbomb casualty Contentville. VIP largely arose from Brill's contention that a private company institute a national ID program in his Newsweek column, where according to Slate:

Brill had the keen insight that it would take an outsider to make the security pass happen. He had no faith that the government could pull off something like it.

Now the Trasportation Security Administration has grounded Clear from signing up new customers until more robust data encryption is put into place. (Photo by Getty/David Paul Morris)

Airport Feds can now take your laptop

Paul Boutin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:20:00 PDT

No suspicious activity required! Federal agents under the Department of Homeland Security may now seize the laptops of travelers coming into the United States from abroad. They're authorized to copy and decrypt the notebook's contents. The new DHS policies state that officers may "detain" laptops "for a reasonable period of time" to "review and analyze information." This may take place "absent individualized suspicion." Our nonindividualized suspicion: Sales of encrypted flash drives will soar. (Photo by AP/Mike Derer) [Washington Post]

Confused TSA employees think MacBook Air is a bomb or something

Jordan Golson — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:20:30 PDT

Blogger Michael Nygard was flying to San Jose with his various digital accoutrements including his Blackberry and new MacBook Air when he ran into some trouble passing through the TSA security checkpoint. When Michael put his MacBook Air through the x-ray machine, a gaggle of TSA agents pulled him aside and gathered around the MacBook Air to determine how much of a threat it was to national security. "There's no drive... and no ports on the back. It has a couple of lines where the drive should be." A younger agent tries to explain that it's not a "device" but a fancy new laptop. Eventually, Michael gets his machine back but finds he missed his plane. Lesson? Next time you fly... pray. (Photo by AP/Ric Feld)

TSA blames nerd-hating policy on rogue agents

Mary Jane Irwin — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:20:37 PST

Last week gadget-toting geeks discovered they were the target of newfound security screening rage when TSA employees at San Francisco International invoked a new policy requiring all electronic devices, not just laptops, be removed from bags and placed in trays. It turns out the electronics hassle was unauthorized, perpetrated by local officials. Here's what's still making us feel insecure: The TSA has a blog, and says the episode helped "validate our forum." (Photo by Tim Moore)

SFO hates nerds

Mary Jane Irwin — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:00:57 PST

Our days of carting around our entire gadget collection (Wii, PSP, digital camera, iPhone, external hard drive, portable Wi-Fi router, and so on — what? Like you don't take all that stuff with you?) are coming to an end. Laughing Squid's Scott Beale reports SFO now demands all electronic gear be removed from your carry-on. Word of advice: If flying out of San Francisco, limit your kit to the bare essentials. Otherwise you're likely to get mutilated by all those hidden pen knives for holding up the line. (Photo by Justin Hall)