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Object Lessons: Evan Booth's Post-Checkpoint Airport Weapons
Jah-Wren Ryel writes "In early-2013, independent security researcher, Evan 'treefort' Booth, began working to answer one simple question: Can common items sold in airports after the security screening be used to build lethal weapons? As it turns out, even a marginally 'MacGyver-esque' attacker can breeze through terminal gift shops, restaurants, magazine stands and duty-free shops to find everything needed to wage war on an airplane."
We mentioned Evan's work several months back; now his not-just-a-thought-experiment exploration of improvised weapons has been cleaned up and organized, so you don't have to watch his (fascinating) talks to experience the wonders of the Chucks of Liberty (video) or the Fragguccino (video).
Between 1948 and 1957, there were 15 hijackings worldwide, an average of a little more than one per year. Between 1958 and 1967, this climbed to 48, or about five per year. The number dropped to 38 in 1968, but grew to 82 in 1969, the largest number in a single year in the history of civil aviation; in January 1969 alone, eight airliners were hijacked to Cuba.[5] Between 1968 and 1977, the annual average jumped to 41.
Now, how many aircrafts have you heard being hijacked over the last decade? Do you think that the heightened security level has nothing to do with that?
The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head
Evan, you stupid stupid fuck. Don't make it worse that in already is. This is an invitation to escalation - because the US security apparatus is run by paranoid, unimaginative, and autocratic morons. Cop at a traffic stop x 100. Most of the technically-minded among us who have to endure air travel have already thought about this sort of shit ad nauseam, and you know what? It would be extremely easy to put something together. Some matches and deodorant/hairspray and you've got a mini-flamethrower. Metal cans can easily be fashioned into a very sharp blade. Glass fragments too. But you had to go ahead and show us all how very clever you are, you stupid, smug fuck.
Everybody can now look forward to two security screenings and the occasional body cavity search, and we'll have assholes like Evan to thank for it.