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The Ineffectiveness of TSA Body Scanners

Posted by Soulskill on from the they're-expensive-therefore-they-work dept.

TheNextCorner points out a video that lays bare a glaring flaw in the TSA body scanners used in airports to detect weapons and explosives. In such scans, citizens are depicted in light colors, while metallic objects show as very dark. The problem comes when you consider that the images are taken with a dark background. From the transcript: "Yes that’s right, if you have a metallic object on your side, it will be the same color as the background and therefore completely invisible to both visual and automated inspection. It can’t possibly be that easy to beat the TSA’s billion dollar fleet of nude body scanners, right? The TSA can’t be that stupid, can they? Unfortunately, they can, and they are. To put it to the test, I bought a sewing kit from the dollar store, broke out my 8th grade home ec skills, and sewed a pocket directly on the side of a shirt. Then I took a random metallic object, in this case a heavy metal carrying case that would easily alarm any of the “old” metal detectors, and walked through a backscatter x-ray at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. On video, of course. While I’m not about to win any videography awards for my hidden camera footage, you can watch as I walk through the security line with the metal object in my new side pocket."

17 of 494 comments (clear)

  1. Stop aiding by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    the enemy by pointing out stupidity!

    1. Re:Stop aiding by sjames · · Score: 2, Funny

      One day, a man tripped over a gopher hole. The entire TSA yelled, "OW! My ASS!".

    2. Re:Stop aiding by Narcocide · · Score: 5, Funny

      I really want to understand this joke.

    3. Re:Stop aiding by Moofie · · Score: 4, Funny

      I can certainly tell the difference between that joke and something funny...

      --
      Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
    4. Re:Stop aiding by JockTroll · · Score: 4, Funny
      Was the hole in the ground near a tree by a river? And was there an old man of Aran going around and around near it? In this case, know that his mind is a beacon in the veil of the night and for a strange kind of fashion there's a wrong and a right.

      But he'll never, never fight over you so you're toast, loserboy nerd.

      --
      Geeks are so full of shit that "beating the crap out of them" takes a whole new meaning.
    5. Re:Stop aiding by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      It's a saying - "they can't tell the difference between your ass and a hole in the ground'

  2. Re:Surprise it took that long by Hognoxious · · Score: 4, Funny

    plenty of TSA front-line personnel will discuss those scanners and how they work with their friends.

    What friends?

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  3. Re:Frost Piss by EdIII · · Score: 4, Funny

    I heard you can hide a gun in a Fleshlight and it'll get through.

    Yeah. Duh. Who wants to actually inspect the inside of one of those? Do you want the job?

  4. Re:Frost Piss by Farmer+Tim · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm not sure flying solo counts.

    --
    Blank until /. makes another boneheaded UI decision.
  5. Re:SSDD by funwithBSD · · Score: 3, Funny

    Silence!

    I keel you!

    --
    Never answer an anonymous letter. - Yogi Berra
  6. Re:Frost Piss by Arancaytar · · Score: 1, Funny

    overpriced masturbatory aids

    Plus, I'm sure there are others that don't require a concealed carry permit.

  7. Re:Scanner image hoax by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    we all look lumpy *and* bald going through the scanner.

    I achieve /that/ look without any expensive technology...

  8. Translation by shiftless · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's more understandable if you read it like it's a broken up radio transmission from Metro 2033. With a Russian accent of course.

    the "enemy" is much smarter than 10000 bureaucrats [GARBLED] being sold by a used car salesman ... [UNINTELLIGIBLE] ... after all this decades enemy has sustained life for thousands of years in an environment most of our citizens would die in, in a matter of hours...[CRACKLE] they do have some tricks "up their sleeve"

  9. Re:SSDD by mSparks43 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm still waiting to get asked to go through one of these scanners (UK doesn't send everyone through them).

    I can get naked in under 5 seconds, and plan to demonstrate this skill as soon as they request naked pictures of me.

    Only fair I share the wealth of my gorgeous nakedness with everyone in the airport when requested to do so by airport staff.

    My wife panics everytime we get near them, she knows I'll do it, and is obviously petrified I'll get mauled by all the sex hungry girls in the vicinity.

  10. Re:SSDD by stewbacca · · Score: 1, Funny

    This is probably totally anecdotal, but my four years of living in Europe disprove your theory that "shelter is a human right".

    I've always contended the reason Germany has such a great U-Bahn system is to provide a place for the homeless to sleep. Nothing smells better than the U-Bahn at 2 in the morning!

  11. Re:SSDD by FictionPimp · · Score: 3, Funny

    Plus, if a terrorist does get though, he might also get cancer.

  12. Re:SSDD by daem0n1x · · Score: 2, Funny

    To be a voting member, you'd need to adhere to certain thresholds for openness, corruption, and press freedom

    Then the US wouldn't qualify.