A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer checks a traveler's bag at a screening location at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S., on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. George Frey Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Transportation Security Administrations (TSA) new security regulations , requiring all electronics larger than a cell phone to be placed in bins for x-ray screening in standard passenger lanes, is the latest move in the technology war against terrorists.
The American public may balk at longer lines at airport security when traveling due to the inconvenience of unpacking tablets, laptops, e-readers, and other electronics from carryon bags. This is possibly the first of many tighter regulations from the TSAand travelers should brace for that.
The heart of the issue is technologys maxim of Moores law , a 50-year-old prediction about the doubling of computer power every year (then every few years). Today, Moores law can be applied to faster, more sophisticated technology being packed into smaller electronic footprintsfor example, smaller, thinner, and lighter laptop computers.
What benefits consumers (no more lugging around an eight-pound laptop) has been a challenge to terrorist groups that have to find ways to put explosives into smaller devices . But many terrorist groups are on the cutting edge of technology, using next-generation explosives that are smaller and more powerfuland potentially less detectable , which is a critical concern for the airlines and TSA.
The U.S. government has a more methodical pace than terrorist groups to respond to these technological capabilities that could put the traveling public at greater risk.
TSAs own technology allows for screening of electronics, which must be placed flat on bins (nothing on top or below them), by comparing the image of what is inside (like a CT scan does for the human body) to what the typical iPad or Kindle reader should look like. While screening lines will no doubt be longer and slower, as people unpack electronics from hand baggage and then pack them up again, its far more efficient than having to power on all devices to prove they are legitimate.
In addition, TSA is also testing new luggage-scanning technology to look through luggage for bombs or weapons. The technology also creates 3-D images of contents to allow screeners to get a full and rotatable view of objects. The capability of screening luggage for electronics may become even more crucial as travelers, in an attempt to keep from hauling out several electronic devices at security, check them in their luggage instead.
By deploying more technology, TSA is trying to keep ahead of terrorists in their capabilities to turn benign-looking electronics into weapons. This is good news for the public for the obvious reasons that more efficient and thorough screening and detection makes traveling safer. In my conversations with airline executives, I expect that technology upgrades will continuehopefully at a faster pace than terrorists capabilities. Just as large corporations are learning how agility is critical to their survival, I would not be surprised if TSA policies also remain fluid and subject to sudden change, such as in reaction to a credible threat or a terrorist incident somewhere in the world. One such reaction might be to withdraw some privileges from TSA Pre passengers who are not required to remove laptops or other electronics from their carryon bags, which speeds their screening at airports.
Travelers who remember the former days of going to the airport at the last minute and speeding through light security might bemoan the added layers of what feel like inconvenience. But the fact is, the U.S. is comparatively more passenger-friendly when it comes to airport securityperhaps to its own potential detriment. Israel is known to have some of the toughest airport security and one of the best track records on travel safety.
The U.S. has been tightening security to target specific potential risks; for example, greater screening for inbound flights from 280 airports into the U.S. These new rules affect about 2,000 daily flights carrying 325,000 passengers, and reportedly are in response to terrorists developing new ways to hide bombs and infiltrate airport staff.
While tightening defenses at the international gateways and larger, busier airports makes sense, in any war, the most vulnerable point is the weakest link. Here the nations smaller, regional airports could be vulnerable to either attack or as an entry point for terrorists trying to enter the air travel system. For TSA, this could be an opportunity to further tighten security.
TSA security changes may be as disconcerting for travelers as longer check-in lines are infuriating. But in the current tech war being waged by airlines and security on one side and terrorists groups on the other, passengers will need to be more agile, accommodating, and flexible than ever.
Dean DeBiase is adjunct lecturer of innovation and entrepreneurship at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a co-author of the best-selling book The Big Moo.
See original here:
How the TSA Is Fighting a Tech War With Terrorists - Fortune
- HD Moores Law - Video - July 24th, 2012 [July 24th, 2012]
- Moores Law - Transistor Graph - Video - July 24th, 2012 [July 24th, 2012]
- Moores Lane road construction project begins - October 2nd, 2012 [October 2nd, 2012]
- Orono man totals pickup while reaching for cellphone - October 2nd, 2012 [October 2nd, 2012]
- 2 in Charlotte face fake ID charges - October 4th, 2012 [October 4th, 2012]
- Why there may be more to computing than Moores Law - October 11th, 2012 [October 11th, 2012]
- VR pioneer invents 'illumination-as-a-service' - October 12th, 2012 [October 12th, 2012]
- What is reality...M theory vs Moores law creating real universe vs creating a virtual one - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- The Rayz/Moores Law @ Put-in-Bay Final Countdown - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Moores Law @ Beer Barrel Put-in-Bay Hip Hop Medley - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Good explanation of the singularity - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- What you MUST know about the future - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Computer Apple 1 How to tell value KK4WW - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Rise of the transapients - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Moores Law Music Performing Bruce Springsteen - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Moore's Law Ice Cream Man - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Moores Law performs Vehicle at PIB - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Explaining Moores Law [HD] - MOCustoms.co.uk - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Global Challenge Part Fifty - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Towards next-generation devices through computer nanomaterial design for semiconductor spintronics - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Aiming to establish new spintronics - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Correlated electronic materials - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Energy Efficient Electronics: Searching for the Milli-Volt Switch - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Moores Law - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Geeking out aero-style for a hundred bucks - Dan Shapiro - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- moores law visualization - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- how moores law affects conrad shawcross - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- The Everton Autobiography: How the Blues nearly signed the great Ferenc Puskas & when police action thwarted Goodison ... - November 2nd, 2012 [November 2nd, 2012]
- Letters: Guardian 'surrender' on self-regulation - November 7th, 2012 [November 7th, 2012]
- Academics take issue with Guardian editorial on press regulation - November 9th, 2012 [November 9th, 2012]
- Area deaths - November 22nd, 2012 [November 22nd, 2012]
- clip 2012 12 02 19;00;19 - Video - December 4th, 2012 [December 4th, 2012]
- Police news: Twice as many helmeted motorcyclists crash since law repeal, kids pair with emergency responders during ... - December 5th, 2012 [December 5th, 2012]
- Clallam burglaries are on the rise - December 6th, 2012 [December 6th, 2012]
- When exotic investments are too good to be true - December 10th, 2012 [December 10th, 2012]
- Top headlines: Man in custody in deadly drive-by shooting, Genesee County commissioner says judge can pay back ... - December 12th, 2012 [December 12th, 2012]
- Paul Raschke - Obituary - December 12th, 2012 [December 12th, 2012]
- Pitt County Grand Jury - December 17th, 2012 [December 17th, 2012]
- Connecticut school shooting prompts Genesee County schools, police to take extra precautions - December 18th, 2012 [December 18th, 2012]
- MEN Sport review of the year 2012 - December 18th, 2012 [December 18th, 2012]
- 'The police weren't laughing:' Text message 'joke' of gunfire frightens Grand Blanc, county schools deal with 'end of ... - December 20th, 2012 [December 20th, 2012]
- Top headlines: Schools closed in Genesee County amid violence rumors, Flint church holds candlelight vigil - December 21st, 2012 [December 21st, 2012]
- More than $1 million worth of drugs seized in Salisbury - December 21st, 2012 [December 21st, 2012]
- Anatomy of the school-closing decision: Rumors of violence led to all Genesee County schools shutting for two days - December 21st, 2012 [December 21st, 2012]
- Solo rock stars die sooner than those in bands - December 21st, 2012 [December 21st, 2012]
- Lecturer's private research not 'held' by university for purposes of FOI disclosure, rules Tribunal - December 22nd, 2012 [December 22nd, 2012]
- Liverpool Local News: Liverpool John Moores University to handout record £2.1m after trebling student scholarship kitty - December 26th, 2012 [December 26th, 2012]
- University and College News: Liverpool John Moores University to handout record £2.1m after trebling student ... - December 26th, 2012 [December 26th, 2012]
- Storm whips into Northeast bringing snow, rain - December 28th, 2012 [December 28th, 2012]
- Genesee County sheriff says fireplace blockage may have allowed carbon monoxide buildup - December 28th, 2012 [December 28th, 2012]
- Moores Law Experiment 2 - Video - September 18th, 2013 [September 18th, 2013]
- The Skanner Newspaper - Remember the Moores at Christmastime - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- HowStuffWorks "How Moore's Law Works" - Computer - December 20th, 2013 [December 20th, 2013]
- Minneapolis Housing Trend Favors More Residential Home Office Use - December 31st, 2013 [December 31st, 2013]
- Kendal solicitor wins place with top law firm - January 1st, 2014 [January 1st, 2014]
- Prince George’s County home sales - January 3rd, 2014 [January 3rd, 2014]
- Obituary: Loyce Tapp - January 5th, 2014 [January 5th, 2014]
- More charges for WSU grad arrested with bombs - January 11th, 2014 [January 11th, 2014]
- Chemical weapons charge added to man with dozens of bombs - January 11th, 2014 [January 11th, 2014]
- Myths of Moore's Law - CNET News - January 16th, 2014 [January 16th, 2014]
- Team 10 saves war medals from auction - January 22nd, 2014 [January 22nd, 2014]
- Dad who abducted kids, fled to Cuba found insane - January 23rd, 2014 [January 23rd, 2014]
- Calendar: Jan. 23 to 26 - January 23rd, 2014 [January 23rd, 2014]
- After baby's death in Perry County, parents seek answers - January 23rd, 2014 [January 23rd, 2014]
- Simulations to enable novel lithographic patterning techniques - January 28th, 2014 [January 28th, 2014]
- Sullivan sued by victim’s parents - January 30th, 2014 [January 30th, 2014]
- Palm Beach murderer James Sulllivan sued to recover $13.5 million he was ordered to pay 20 years ago for killing his ... - January 30th, 2014 [January 30th, 2014]
- Group: Adult jail no place for juveniles - January 31st, 2014 [January 31st, 2014]
- Sotomayor Presides Over Moot Court Raising Privacy Questions - January 31st, 2014 [January 31st, 2014]
- Harbour Grace mayor under pressure over staffing crisis - February 4th, 2014 [February 4th, 2014]
- Colleens Dream Foundation Grants Over $12,000 to UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center to Fund Ovarian Cancer Research - February 4th, 2014 [February 4th, 2014]
- Crossbar nanowire chips combine to form tiny CPU for ... - February 6th, 2014 [February 6th, 2014]
- New Mexico Blocks Vote on Legalized Pot - February 12th, 2014 [February 12th, 2014]
- Calendar Feb. 17 to Feb.19 - February 18th, 2014 [February 18th, 2014]
- Calendar: Feb. 20 to 23 - February 20th, 2014 [February 20th, 2014]
- IBM Atomic Shorts The end of Moores law 00 12 - Video - February 28th, 2014 [February 28th, 2014]
- MIT Research Looks to Extend Moores Law - March 1st, 2014 [March 1st, 2014]
- Indiana Guardsman's bomb-possession charge moved to federal court - March 4th, 2014 [March 4th, 2014]
- Bomb case moved to federal court - March 5th, 2014 [March 5th, 2014]
- Will 100 become the new 60? - March 9th, 2014 [March 9th, 2014]