A team of researchers from the University of California, San Diego, the University of Michigan, and Johns Hopkins University have discovered several security vulnerabilities in full-body backscatter X-ray scanners deployed to U.S. airports between 2009 and 2013. In laboratory tests, the team was able to successfully conceal firearms and plastic explosive simulants from the Rapiscan Secure 1000 scanner. The team was also able to modify the scanner operating software so it presents an “all-clear” image to the operator even when contraband was detected.
The researchers presented their study Aug. 21 at USENIX Security '14 in San Diego. Naturally, they have attracted plenty of media attention.
A list of links for your reading pleasure:
Wired, Aug. 20, 2014, Researchers Easily Slipped Weapons Past TSA's X-Ray Bodyscanners
BoingBoing, Aug. 20, 2014,Security researchers buy pornoscanner, demonstrate how to sneak in guns & bombs
The researchers presented their study Aug. 21 at USENIX Security '14 in San Diego. Naturally, they have attracted plenty of media attention.
A list of links for your reading pleasure:
Wired, Aug. 20, 2014, Researchers Easily Slipped Weapons Past TSA's X-Ray Bodyscanners
UT San Diego, Aug. 20, 2014,Full-body scanners miss guns, explosives
Popular Science, Aug. 21. 2014,Weapons Can Be Carried Easily Through The TSA's Full-Body "Naked" Scanners
Ars Technica, Aug. 21, 2014, Got weapons? Nude body scanners easily defeated
CNNMoney, Aug. 21, 2014,Body Scanners Problem: Fails to Detect Guns, http://money.cnn.com/2014/08/21/technology/rapiscan-gun/index.html
PC Magazine, Aug. 21, 2014, Report: Researchers Spoof TSA Airport Scanners
Computerworld, Aug. 21, 2014, Retired US airport body scanners fail to spot guns, knives
MarketWatch, The Wall Street Journal, Aug. 20, 2014, Airport scanners failed to detect guns, knives, explosives
Businessweek, Aug. 20, 2014, TSA Scanners That Saw You Naked Can Be Tricked to Miss Guns, Bombs
Gizmodo, Aug. 20, 2014, It's Shockingly Easy to Hide Guns and Bombs From Backscatter Scanners
Science 2.0, Aug. 20, Low-Tech: Security Flaws In Airport Backscatter X-Ray Scanners
New York Daily News, Aug. 20, 2014 Naked full-body scanners failed to detect weapons: study
New York Post, Aug. 20, 2014 TSA machines failed to detect guns and bombs
CBS Local, Aug. 20, 2014, Study: TSA Full-Body X-Ray Scanners Miss Guns, Explosives, Knives
The Hill, Aug. 20, 2014, Study: TSA full-body scanners failed to detect guns, explosives
SlashGear, Aug. 21, 2014, Those TSA scanners were literally only good for seeing you naked
BoingBoing, Aug. 20, 2014,Security researchers buy pornoscanner, demonstrate how to sneak in guns & bombs