Re: AKICIF: Exploding Pagers

On Fri, 20 Sep 2024 16:01:54 -0000 (UTC), Torbjorn Lindgren wrote:

Charles Packer  <mailbox@cpacker.org> wrote:

On Thu, 19 Sep 2024 13:31:28 -0400, Evelyn C. Leeper wrote:

Are there any SF stories that predicted the sort of attack via
exploding pages/walkie-talkies/etc.?

>
I wonder what effect these (news) stories will have on airport security
procedures. Up until now I haven't flown often so I was surprised in
August when the agent asked me if I had any tablets or laptops in my
carry-on and when I answered yes asked me to take it out (a Kindle Fire)
and place it in the tray to run through the x-ray separately from the
bag. I don't recall this happening on a trip last November.

 
This has been "best/standard practice" for more than a decade now in
pretty much every airport I've flown via. That includes dozens of EU
airports, dozens US airport (both domestic and international flights)
and a couple of Asian ones.

 
Subsequently I found on the TSA website words to that effect.
One practice that happened last November that was not repeated in
the August trip was the following: Passengers were marched
abreast in groups down a gangway while an agent walked a dog
back and forth behind us. Sniffing for heinous odors in our
wake, presumably.