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Airport security whistleblower attacked by federal government for showing flaw
Originally Posted by joelfreak
Well, I put my money where my mouth is, and gave some cash to this guy to defend himself against ridiculous charges, whatever they are...and even if there aren't any, the guy needs to fix up his apartment after they stormed it...
Any idea on how to send money other than via paypal? Although I don't want to see OLCI eliminated, if I were him then I'd want to get orchestrated media coverage -- beginning locally -- saying "Airport security whistleblower under attack by federal government for showing gaps in aviation security: news at 10/11". |
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Maybe some of these sources can do a follow-up story on this .... especially since the FBI's actions do nothing to shut down this non-threat, but do a lot to harass and try to intimidate someone highlighting that the Security Emperor has no clothes.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4293355.html |
Is the FBI "on target" to pull up the IP addresses and other personally identifying information of those who checked out the boarding pass generator website? :eek:
I say it's a waste and off-target .... but there's an interest there. It'll be interesting to see what they'll do with it other than waste even more resources on non-threats. The FBI needs to learn to focus and execute. And I don't mean focusing on non-threats like people blowing a whistle or just checking out or toying around on a website. |
I just got caught up on this thread and don't know what to say. It's absolutely unbelievable that the FBI "busted" this guy.
As much as we all dislike the TSA, their spokesperson is completely correct, of course -- everyone gets screened at the checkpoint, so it really doesn't matter whether your boarding pass is real or fake. I hope the media coverage is pointing out that you can buy a refundable ticket to get through security, and then refund it, something numerous FTers have admitted to doing... This affair will end up just like the "Kip Hawley is an Idiot" story -- with the government looking like the fools that they are. |
Originally Posted by justageek
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This affair will end up just like the "Kip Hawley is an Idiot" story -- with the government looking like the fools that they are. The name of the game seems to be 'knee jerk reaction'. |
Originally Posted by bocastephen
There is still a risk that Ma and Pa Kettle will agree with legislators who call for an end to OLCI and support some as yet unknown additional security measures to 'add another layer' as the popular saying goes.
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Originally Posted by bocastephen
There is still a risk that Ma and Pa Kettle will agree with legislators who call for an end to OLCI and support some as yet unknown additional security measures to 'add another layer' as the popular saying goes.
The name of the game seems to be 'knee jerk reaction'. Unfortunately, we're going to get more ridiculous nonsense -- including new, "enhanced" laws and harsher crackdowns -- for a while, regardless. Pandering to fears is just too easy. That's why we need the Constitution and the Courts -- as a buffer against the tyranny of the fearful and the fear-mongerers who pander to fear. |
Originally Posted by justageek
Since OLCI is restricted to domestic flights, I don't see the big deal. (For example, OBL will not be able to use OLCI.) I do understand that the government does not use logic to analyze these issues, however, so you could be right.
I have used OLCI on CO and NW to fly to Canada on numerous occassions without passport data or even having my travel docs checked before boarding. |
TSA spokesman Christopher White said other security measures are in place, including metal detectors, even if someone boards under a fake name. He condemned the Web site. "The Web site really has the potential to promote illegal activity," he said. "Showing fraudulent documents to get through security is against the law." Where's the federal government condemnation of computers, Microsoft and Adobe, printers, schools, and libraries? They have the "potential to promote illegal activity" too. Where's the condemnation of electricity and gasoline? Where's the condemnation of planes, trains, buses and automobiles? They all have the potential to promote illegal activity too. |
TSA spokeshole ... said other security measures are in place, including metal detectors :rolleyes: |
Washington Post gets in on the action, with an understatement:
"Boarding Pass Hacker Gets Visit from FBI" http://blog.washingtonpost.com/secur...ts_visi_1.html |
Anyone having trouble opening his blog right now? I am.
This has made the news in the UAE too: http://www.gulfnews.com/world/U.S.A/10078242.html |
Chinese state news agency's take on the story is as follows:
Now boarding Flight 911, Bin Laden/Osama www.chinaview.cn 2006-10-28 16:58:08 BEIJING, Oct. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Others have said it would be easy to modify an airline Web page to print fake boarding passes, a 24-year-old doctoral computer security student at Indiana University did it. And the passenger name on the bogus boarding pass? Bin Laden/Osama. "Before, any 12-year-old could have done it," Soghoian said on Friday. "Now any 30- or 40-year-old could do it as well." ...... Soghoian said he is just trying to show where the real threats are. He said taking nail clippers and liquids away from travelers gives a false sense of security. "When they say 'For security reasons,’ everyone shuts up, everyone follows the rules, and no one questions authority. And I don't think that's right," he explained. |
I can almost picture George W speaking to the FBI director right now:
"Bobby, you're doing a helluva job".... I hope this dude sues the government and is awarded about $3,000,000 for his broken window, his stolen computers, and for his pain and suffering. |
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