Mesa Pilot Loses his Laptop with Security Codes
Apr 24, 2008 | 9:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
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Mesa Pilot Loses his Laptop with Security Codes
Geez, leave it to Mesa. Just heard on my local news that a Mesa pilot lost his laptop on a uax bhm-iad flight last week. The laptop wasn't stored near him for some reason but was apparently left in the cabin somewhere. They had to change security codes at a bunch of airports as a result --- and *gasp* one security official rushed in from his home that night to make the changes. Give it up - its their job and if there is only one person who could do this, its an issue right there.
Apr 27, 2008 | 9:19 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2001
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Apr 27, 2008 | 9:33 pm
#3
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Some of the comments only serve to show how ignorant and hoodwinked much of the traveling public is. (or just the public)
If I have the laptop, a password or fingerprint reader isn't going to keep me out of the hard drive. One of the first things I'm going to do is remove the hard drive, make an image of it, and then almost certainly break whatever sub-standard protection is on the hard drive, if there's any at all at that level. And the notion of yet another spooky "plot" shows that there is at least one pea-brained coward who should spend his time hiding under the bed instead of dreaming up "plots" every time someone mentions "airport" or "airplane".
Is there something in the water/kool-aid that alters cognitive thinking?
Originally Posted by Yokel#1
How about simply password-protecting the laptop? They can easily be set so you have to put in a specific password in order to use the laptop at all. If this wasn't done, then there is really no excuse for it. Given how much effort everyone goes through these days for security purposes, I have little sympathy for anyone who is so careless with it.
Originally Posted by Yokel#2
The laptops should have biometric fingerprint readers on them.
Originally Posted by Yokel#3
Maybe all these laptops should have fingerprint technology and other sensitive security features so that only a select few can even open or turn on the computer! This sounds like laziness on the pilot's behalf - storing it in an overhead compartment with passengers....maybe there was some plot here.
Is there something in the water/kool-aid that alters cognitive thinking?
Apr 27, 2008 | 10:05 pm
#4
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Does this mean that the overhead bin space above seats 1 and 2 in a RJ be once again available to the flying public instead of crew members or are they going to have a lock and key system where the crew members get to put their stuff and lock it "for our safety"
It winds me up when you board a RJ and find that you need to go 3-4 rows behind to put your laptop bag since crew members hog the first few bins. What are the chances that someone does not steal my laptop if it was placed rows behind where I was seated.
It winds me up when you board a RJ and find that you need to go 3-4 rows behind to put your laptop bag since crew members hog the first few bins. What are the chances that someone does not steal my laptop if it was placed rows behind where I was seated.
Apr 28, 2008 | 9:16 am
#5
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A pilot's laptop, filled with top secret security information...
The 'codes' are the keypad sequence for opening jetway doors. Setting aside how much damage a terrorist could actually do with them, I should point out that anyone sitting in the gate area waiting for a plane can, with moderate powers of observation, ascertain the code (gasp !)
.I don't know how often they get changed, but it isn't daily.
Not a huge deal, and it's happened before but without the media hype.
Apr 28, 2008 | 9:32 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: halfway between JFK and LGA
Posts: 976
Does this mean that the overhead bin space above seats 1 and 2 in a RJ be once again available to the flying public instead of crew members or are they going to have a lock and key system where the crew members get to put their stuff and lock it "for our safety"
It winds me up when you board a RJ and find that you need to go 3-4 rows behind to put your laptop bag since crew members hog the first few bins. What are the chances that someone does not steal my laptop if it was placed rows behind where I was seated.
It winds me up when you board a RJ and find that you need to go 3-4 rows behind to put your laptop bag since crew members hog the first few bins. What are the chances that someone does not steal my laptop if it was placed rows behind where I was seated.
i could not agree with this more
Apr 28, 2008 | 9:45 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Delta SkyMiles, Hertz #1, HHonors
Posts: 105
Some people think that if they can't "login" they can't get to any of the info on the hard-drive.
Unless the laptop drive was also totally encrypted, using something like SafeBoot...or that Bitlocker drive encryption that comes with Vista, you could theoretically mount the drive on another computer and read away...
Unless the laptop drive was also totally encrypted, using something like SafeBoot...or that Bitlocker drive encryption that comes with Vista, you could theoretically mount the drive on another computer and read away...
Some of the comments only serve to show how ignorant and hoodwinked much of the traveling public is. (or just the public)
If I have the laptop, a password or fingerprint reader isn't going to keep me out of the hard drive. One of the first things I'm going to do is remove the hard drive, make an image of it, and then almost certainly break whatever sub-standard protection is on the hard drive, if there's any at all at that level. And the notion of yet another spooky "plot" shows that there is at least one pea-brained coward who should spend his time hiding under the bed instead of dreaming up "plots" every time someone mentions "airport" or "airplane".
Is there something in the water/kool-aid that alters cognitive thinking?
If I have the laptop, a password or fingerprint reader isn't going to keep me out of the hard drive. One of the first things I'm going to do is remove the hard drive, make an image of it, and then almost certainly break whatever sub-standard protection is on the hard drive, if there's any at all at that level. And the notion of yet another spooky "plot" shows that there is at least one pea-brained coward who should spend his time hiding under the bed instead of dreaming up "plots" every time someone mentions "airport" or "airplane".
Is there something in the water/kool-aid that alters cognitive thinking?