Massive TSA Security Breach As Agency Gives Away Its Secrets

[kpete]

Source: ABC News

Massive TSA Security Breach As Agency Gives Away Its Secrets
Online Posting Reveals a "How To" for Terrorists to Get Through Airport Security
By BRIAN ROSS and MATT HOSFORD
Dec. 8, 2009


In a massive security breach, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) inadvertently posted online its entire airport screening procedures manual, including some of the most closely guarded secrets regarding special rules for diplomats and CIA and law enforcement officers.

The most sensitive parts of the 93-page Standard Operation Procedures were apparently redacted in a way that computer savvy individuals easily overcame.

The document shows sample CIA, Congressional and law enforcement credentials which experts say would make it easy for terrorists to duplicate.

The improperly redacted areas describe that only 20 percent of checked bags are to be hand searched for explosives and reveals in detail the limitations of x-ray screening machines.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/massive-tsa-security-breach-agency-secrets/story?id=9280503

[rucky]

1. This smells like Dick

Cheney

[TwilightGardener]

2. Nice. Way to go, dumbfucks.

[951-Riverside]

3. Oh noes terrorists!

:eyes:

[Old Codger]

4. These

re the people that are protecting us , what cluster f**k

[tavalon]

27. You bought that Dog and Pony show?

Well, it must have made it easier for you to go through their games (take your shoes off, no, don't take your shoes off, take your laces out, tap dance, drink your breastmilk! Goooooooooo Team!!!). It was always and remains difficult for me not to smart off at them as I know it to be bullshit. We are no more "safe" than we were on 9/10 and really, they can't make it safer but they sure can make it look safer! Whoopsie on them for letting their not well kept secret out. Fire the lowest man on the totem pole and Gooooooooo Team!!

[Old Codger]

33. ????

What in my post gives the impression that I "bought " anything... ?????

[tavalon]

34. The part where you said these are the people who are supposed to be protecting us?

It struck me that you might truly be feeling betrayed. I misunderstood. Sorry.

[Old Codger]

36. No sweat..

I figured that was probably it... Believe me I have no faith whatsoever in these phony "security checks" they are a joke...

[tavalon]

37. I had fun writing my parenthetical rant

even if it didn't apply to you. I've wanted to use that rant every time I've subjected myself to the stupidities of the TSA.

[Old Codger]

38. LOL

Go for it anytime.... that program is one of the biggest farces I have ever seen, it amounts to pure harassment.

[Soylent Brice]

5. just when i was feeling so safe...

:sarcasm:

[waterscalm]

6. It was a false safe attitude that was pushed. (as you know)

[earcandle]

7. So what can the consequences be for such a breach?

Hire contractors to write a new manual?
Take over Airport Security?  AFP??
hmmmm....  wonder what is next? 

[avaistheone1]

9. Promotions for everyone involved.

The dumbfucks in government never pay the price for their stupidity.

[Raster]

11. Hell-of-a-job, Brownie!

[tavalon]

28. Nope, a very low level employee will be sacked

Then, the bonuses will commence. Someone has to pay so it will be someone of no consequence.

[dixiegrrrrl]

25. Only "loyal Bushies and good Republicans" will be allowed to fly.

The rest of us can walk or take the bus.

[nyc 4 Biden]

8. shit!

[progressoid]

10. How the hell do you inadvertently post something online?

Morans.

[loudsue]

12. You don't.

This was done purposely to undermine the Dem's credibility on security. It was done by some wingnut. That's where I'm putting my bet, anyway.

[WriteDown]

17. Considering the intelligence of the folks that were working security....

last week on my flight to Charlotte, this kind of stuff is not a surprise and is probably incompetence instead of conspiracy.

I had the audacity to put my loafers on top of my laptop. Oh the horror!!!!!

[notesdev]

26. This is Exhibit 240581

in the presentation "Why Americans Have Zero Confidence in Government"


Hey, let's give these guys control of health care, they can't fuck that up.

[tavalon]

29. Be grateful that you didn't bring extra breastmilk for your baby

[intheflow]

13. Did it list criteria for profiling people at airports, too?

Because I've seen a lot of that happen all across the country.

Also: as if any of their stupid shoe-off/check-in procedures are for anything other than show. I can't tell you how may times I've traveled with a lighter their scanner missed (I always forget to take it out of my backpack!), while unopened bottles of water have been confiscated. The TSA is moronic to nth degree. This just publicly proves it.

[MineralMan]

15. It's OK to carry lighters these days. I put mine in the tray, along

with other pocket contents.

[intheflow]

16. Well, truth be told

I haven't flown for two years. So maybe a lot has changed. :shrug:

[MineralMan]

18. Yeah, they keep changing the list of permissable carryons.

For a while, you could carry book matches, but not lighters. Now, you can carry butane lighters. I'm not sure about Zippos and similar.

I check before each flight, just to make sure I'm not going to get delayed at the checkpoint. So far, I've never been held up at all. I just follow the rules...I'm at the airport to get on a plane to go somewhere, not to get hassled. It's very easy. Now, since I have a common name, I suppose someday some asshole with the same name is going to get on the no-fly list. I dread that happening.

[bikebloke]

19. Keys and Watch

I accidentally walked through with keys and watch in my pocket. They never caught them.

[intheflow]

21. Some places don't make you take off your shoes.

Others do. Some airports make you walk through the puffer machine to detect bombs, at other airports, walking through the bomb-detection machine is voluntary. You can't take liquids in containers over 4 oz., unless it's an open bottle of saline solution, because saline solution is considered medicine for contact lens users--as if no one would ever think of substituting liquids!

:crazy: The whole system is completely arbitrary.

[tavalon]

30. Yes it is. And I suck at pretending

My husband starts gentling me down as we get to the airport because he knows how hard it is for me not to be a smart ass in the best of situations and TSA has always chapped my butt. I play their game but only to get through without a cavity search (and to please my overly docile but very kind, hubby). It is extremely hard for me, though.

[MineralMan]

14. This was discussed here yesterday afternoon, when

the document was still online. I had a look at it, and could easily see all the redacted content, including images of various ID card blanks in full color. Interesting, but scary. I haven't checked to see if the document has now been removed, since my interest was only academic.

Edit to add: The document is no longer online.

[panzerfaust]

20. No, it is still there as of 2100Z 08Dec09

Suppose that, given the nature of the internet, really no point in pulling it.

Ah yes, the TSA "professionals"

[Earth_First]

23. Still available for 'academic purposes only' here:

http://cryptome.org/tsa-screening.zip

redactions removed...

[Crabby Appleton]

22. Here's the GD thread from 2 days ago about it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=7168444

[tavalon]

31. Oh, goodie! We are safe again! Thank the Gods!!!

And so on.

[Hekate]

24. At what point does it stop being incompetence and become criminal sabotage?

:shrug: What?!

Hekate

[tavalon]

32. With the TSA, it never stops being incompetence

It could be both. It probably is both but the TSA has never risen above incompetence. Ever.

Oops, did I say that out loud?

[newspeak]

35. I think there are many people who forget that we had

security at airports before 9/11. Before 9/11, I was stopped a couple of times so that they could check my bag (I brought my silver belt that set off the machine). I still think the " terrorists had boxcutters" are pure BS. When TSA stopped Ted Kennedy and scanned Gore a couple of times on the same trip, I felt that their job was more in the lines of intimidation, especially the elderly. They have stopped my FIL who is in his eighties more than once to be separately screened. My mom won't fly anymore because she felt intimidated and thought they were being rude to her. Taking a flight home from back east (I was so sick) they targeted me--I didn't need the BS since I just wanted to get home and go to bed. But why me? All I had was my purse, I didn't even have a carry-on.

I feel sometimes that it's all a show because if they really cared about security, they'd be scrutinizing every container that comes into this country-but they don't.