Massive TSA Security Breach As Agency Gives Away Its Secrets
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/massive-tsa-security-breach-agency-secrets/story?id=9280503

Quote :

"In a massive security breach, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inadvertently posted online its airport screening procedures manual, including some of the most closely guarded secrets regarding special rules for diplomats and CIA and law enforcement officers. The most sensitive parts of the 93-page Standard Operating Procedures manual were apparently redacted in a way that computer savvy individuals easily overcame. The document shows sample CIA, Congressional and law enforcement credentials which experts say would make it easy for terrorists to duplicate. "

12/10/2009 8:09:42 PM

a worthless government agency is terrible? I am shocked!

12/10/2009 8:22:25 PM

Opsec fail.

12/10/2009 8:24:36 PM

So, is it Obama's fault or Congress's fault that the TSA doesn't have anyone in charge right now?

I've lost track of who hasn't been appointed and who hasn't been confirmed

12/10/2009 10:33:28 PM

Yes

12/10/2009 10:50:03 PM

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/12/03/senator-blocks-tsa-confirmation-in-fight-over-unionizing-airport-luggage-screeners/

Quote :

"Sen. Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina, is blocking the confirmation of Erroll Southers to head the Transportation Security Administration, saying Southers would permit screeners to seek full union representation, a move DeMint says would weaken the effectiveness of the agency."

12/10/2009 11:24:37 PM

And blocking the appointment of someone to head the department apparently IN NO WAY compromises their effectiveness. Hypocrite. I wonder if DeMint needs a "waterloo" moment of his own.

12/11/2009 7:23:27 AM

The TSA is worthless and all the security precautions are worthless. They should just get rid of the agency entirely instead of wasting more money on feel good bullshit.

12/11/2009 9:52:40 AM

Pretty good video of just what the scanners can see now:

http://shock.military.com/Shock/videos.do?displayContent=208570

1/15/2010 12:48:55 AM

can i get this manual please? link?

1/15/2010 8:35:01 AM

^Someone call Jack Bauer.

1/15/2010 9:51:49 AM

hahahaha... gullible...

1/15/2010 1:25:14 PM

I really don't like how the posted manual and the recent incident at Newark are called breaches. Lapse is probably a better word--both incidents had more to do with a TSA failing (publicly posting the manual, guard leaving his post) than someone overcoming various security measures.

Given the TSA's propensity for publicly pointing fingers at everyone else, I have to imagine the characterization as a breach is deliberate.

Also, shoot this kid if you see him. He's a terrorist.



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/nyregion/14watchlist.html

1/15/2010 5:44:46 PM

fucking hilarious. they frisked a 1-year old. fucking brilliant

1/15/2010 6:18:34 PM

No, it's fucking pathetic, and not in any way effective at preventing anything other than hassle free travel.

1/16/2010 12:43:12 AM

if i were a scanner operator, I would definitely be taking and selling pictures of the hot girls. I would also make them go through it every time.

1/16/2010 1:41:58 AM

^^ the system is working how it’s supposed to.

People were complaining that the underwear bomber wasn’t on the list, and now they’re complaining that someone named “michael hicks” IS on the list.

You can’t really have a list like that one, and have situations like this NOT happen, because, GASP!!!, people might share names!

I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t know what more than half of the people on the list looked like. If that’s the case, then we can’t really make the list any better. I think we could do away with it if we do other things, but people (especially the right) would never let that happen, they’d bitch about it all the way.

[Edited on January 16, 2010 at 1:46 AM. Reason : ]

1/16/2010 1:46:22 AM

So let's see, people might... GASP... share names, and they're just now figuring out that perhaps more information than just a name might be helpful in identifying potentially dangerous people? If you aren't already also checking things like DOB, gender, and physical characteristics that are available then it's a shit system. How many additional fuckups do they need to have before people will admit that it's not doing anything to really deter the folks who want to blow shit up. Eight years after the worst domestic terror incident in history they are still getting onto planes with explosives! How can a reasonable person say that TSA is being effective?

To be quite frank I don't understand these folks. If they really wanted to inflict maximum damage why are they waiting until they get on the plane to pop off some little half assed homemade bomb? A much deadlier route would be the conventional suicide bomber or rigged piece of luggage. Set a bomb off at one of those congested security check points on a busy Friday and you'd kill quite a few and shut down national air travel for a bit.

1/16/2010 3:19:37 AM

Quote :

"Eight years after the worst domestic terror incident in history they are still getting onto planes with explosives!"

Yeah in Africa.

1/16/2010 9:58:01 AM

I thought he went through additional screening in the Netherlands?

But yeah, I don't know how TSA is supposed to physically screen people getting on planes in other countries.

[Edited on January 16, 2010 at 10:09 AM. Reason : ]

1/16/2010 10:07:20 AM

so i happened to come across a TSA posting on USAjobs--apparently the only requirements to be a screener are:

Quote :

"Applicants must be proficient in English (e.g., reading, writing, speaking, and listening); and * Have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent; OR * Have at least one year of full-time work experience in security work, aviation screener work, or X-ray technician work."

I mean I knew they weren't hiring geniuses, but that's roughly on par with a Walmart door greeter...Lord help us

[Edited on February 3, 2010 at 2:06 AM. Reason : it's in Greenville, if anybody needs an easy job making $30k]

2/3/2010 2:05:34 AM