Schneier on Security

Pete • December 10, 2014 5:09 AM

So … I’ve never gone through any of these new-fangled security machines. Not once in about 50 overseas trips.

Leaving the USA, the TSA usually delays me about 4 minutes waiting for a pat down check. They have always been professional.

Returning to the USA, most places in the world either don’t have them or opting out is easy.

Leaving AMS returning to the USA, I’ve been hassled verbally by the security agent who was convinced that I was trying to sneak something through. She really believed their millimeter-wave machines were not harmful. Perhaps – but I’ve been lied to enough in my life to risk any additional exposures for something that can easily be avoided.

Leaving Prague returning to the USA, I was fondled (in a bad way) twice. Once in public, then again behind a curtain near the gate. 2 other passengers (man and woman) were behind the curtain being fondled as well. Ok – they were just doing a pat down, but I suspect the security guy was former state police from the Soviet days. I was physically upset by this sitting on the plane a few minutes later. None of the other pat downs anywhere else in the world made me feel this way.

There has been coverage of the different TSA machines both in videos and blogs. The lack of security for these devices is just scary. The vendors are lying to the government. I suspect the sales people are simply clueless, which isn’t unusual.