Re: Flight Baggage

"Rob Steere" <steerr@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

"Anne - EZ Fun Guide to WDW" <anne-easterling@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
message news:1178541272.825741.173080@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The TSA-approved locks are available at most stores that carry
luggage. Although as someone else said, they don't really provide that
much security because the master keys are not too difficult to get. I
don't lock my luggage because I carry my valuables with me.


Actually, I asked my friend who worked for the TSA for a couple years (and
now works for an airline) about the locks. He said that only the TSA has
access to the keys, not airline employees. So while a dishonest TSA employee
could still potentially take things, there's only a limited number of people
who can get the keys. And most of your suitcase's trip is through locations
where it's being handled by airline handlers anyway.

That's the theory. I would have to imagine that the underground has plenty of
the master keys (all you need is one rogue person and the whole thing falls
down like a house of cards). I tend to agree with Bruce Schneier who coined
the term "Security Theater" that most of the security that you see is window
dressing.
http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram-0404.html

Actually read a couple reviews of these locks online, and there were a
couple stories of the "TSA-approved" locks being cut off (one of them
allegedly because there was only one set of keys in the entire airport and
the screener didn't want to wait...) Because the manufacturer guarantees
that the locks won't be cut off, they'll replace it if you send them the cut
lock.

Well given most airports I've flown into have no security officer checking that
the bag you pick up is actually yours (though there are a few that check the
bag number), a bad guy could just wait at the head of the turnstile and just
grab the bag before it gets to you.

A well organized group of theives with an inside person working as a baggage
handler, could just route the luggage they want to steal to a smaller airport
with less security.

Most luggage these days is soft sided, and a box cutter could make quick hash
of the bag without affecting the lock.

If I recall, the airline claims no responsibiliy if certain high price items
don't make it through your checked luggage. In particular, laptops and cameras
aren't covered.

--
Michael Meissner
email: mrmnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.the-meissners.org
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Weight is Weight.
    ... They only suggest that you not lock your luggage. ... TSA to open them with their own keys. ... And if we assume that a small percentage of baggage handlers may have ...
    (rec.travel.air)
  • Re: Weight is Weight.
    ... They only suggest that you not lock your luggage. ... the TSA to open them with their own keys. ... I doubt the same percentage of TSA employees would be tempted. ...
    (rec.travel.air)
  • Re: M$ exec calls XP hack, "Frightening"
    ... Do you lock your front door, and take your keys out of the ignition when you ... Computers don't leave your house and security for them is vastly ... different than for your car. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: [Full-Disclosure] Vulnerability Disclosure Debate
    ... You see, with a lock, the primary purpose of it is ... or of other requirements than personal security. ... there is only one vendor that I'm aware of that can do that -- Microsoft ... code for every vulnerability eliminates the notion of difficulty to exploit, ...
    (Full-Disclosure)
  • Re: [Full-Disclosure] Vulnerability Disclosure Debate
    ... You see, with a lock, the primary purpose of it is ... or of other requirements than personal security. ... there is only one vendor that I'm aware of that can do that -- Microsoft ... code for every vulnerability eliminates the notion of difficulty to exploit, ...
    (Full-Disclosure)