The Ineffectiveness of TSA Body Scanners

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."

Stop aiding

[Anonymous Coward]

the enemy by pointing out stupidity!

Re:Surprise it took that long

[Hognoxious]

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

What friends?

Re:Stop aiding

[sjames]

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

Re:Stop aiding

[Narcocide]

I really want to understand this joke.

Re:Frost Piss

[EdIII]

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?

Re:Frost Piss

[Farmer Tim]

I'm not sure flying solo counts.

Re:Stop aiding

[Moofie]

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

Re:SSDD

[funwithBSD]

Silence!

I keel you!

Re:Stop aiding

[JockTroll]

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.

Re:Frost Piss

[Arancaytar]

overpriced masturbatory aids

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

Re:Scanner image hoax

[Anonymous Coward]

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

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

Re:Stop aiding

[Anonymous Coward]

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

Translation

[shiftless]

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"

Re:SSDD

[mSparks43]

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.

Re:SSDD

[stewbacca]

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!

Re:SSDD

[FictionPimp]

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

Re:SSDD

[daem0n1x]

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.