US to ban laptops and tablets on flights from eight countries

[HumbleDuck]

The US is banning electronic devices from cabin baggage on flights from eight mainly Middle Eastern and North African countries.

We all know how many people die every year to brown laptops and tablets going wild during flights, good move. Keep it up.

Also who needs a switch on a 15hr flight? That's suspicious behavior!

[HumbleDuck]

Maybe they are trying to drive them mad enough that they hijack the flight?

Or maybe make the flights boring enough so they give up on flying to US.

[Trassk]

I suppose the thinking is to stop plane hijackers from communicating with one another. Problem is these things get set up long before they get on the flight.

[Flarelaine]

I would just make sure to transfer somewhere in Europe.

[Mayhem]

I suppose the thinking is to stop plane hijackers from communicating with one another. Problem is these things get set up long before they get on the flight.

Yeah, what´s the provider called again that keeps communication running 10.000 ft above the atlantic?

[Deleted]

I suppose the thinking is to stop plane hijackers from communicating with one another. Problem is these things get set up long before they get on the flight.

If only mobile phones allowed people to communicate.

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Yeah, what´s the provider called again that keeps communication running 10.000 ft above the atlantic?

Its called the internet, via satellite.

[Puupi]

Yeah, what´s the provider called again that keeps communication running 10.000 ft above the atlantic?

Any satellite internet/phone provider.

[Mayhem]

Wait this only affects 9 airlines? Interesting, i wonder what the supposed terrorists are going to do.

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Any satellite internet/phone provider.

Ok and how do you get a connection without looking terribly suspicious? I mean a satellite phone, yeah do they even work midflight?

[Puupi]

Ok and how do you get a connection without looking terribly suspicious? I mean a satellite phone, yeah do they even work midflight?

Have you like .....ever been on an airplane?

[Collegeguy]

Or maybe make the flights boring enough so they give up on flying to US.

Your link says why if you read it. Not sure how hard it is to find a bomb in a laptop though unless the extremists are tinkering with it explode.

[Kiri]

Wait this only affects 9 airlines? Interesting, i wonder what the supposed terrorists are going to do.

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Ok and how do you get a connection without looking terribly suspicious? I mean a satellite phone, yeah do they even work midflight?

Eh, I know from experience that one of these airlines, Etihad, offers you easy internet access for your mobile while on flight. That's well enough to communicate. That's not exactly anything that arouses suspicion these days

Your link says why if you read it. Not sure how hard it is to find a bomb in a laptop though unless the extremists are engineering it to explode.

You can hide it in there better than in other luggage, since electronics already have circuits etc. Though the people in Abu Dhabi are pretty thorough with their controls, from my experience.

[Mayhem]

Have you like .....ever been on an airplane?

I mean, you don´t have to turn that thing on. That would be vastly easier than to deny everyone the devices that use the service provided by the airlines.

[Wildtree]

All electrical devices except cellphones...

[Puupi]

I mean, you don´t have to turn that thing on. That would be vastly easier than to deny everyone the devices that use the service provided by the airlines.

I'm at a loss here... what are you on about?

[Wildtree]

Ok and how do you get a connection without looking terribly suspicious? I mean a satellite phone, yeah do they even work midflight?

Everyone and their grandma has a cellphone, or as they call it in non-english parts a handy.

And the signal is provided by the airline whose plane you're on. Wireless connections are no miracle anymore. The airplane also functions as roaming spot for the actual phone abilities. At least in the US, every provider offers special features one can add to their plan, to use their phone around the entire globe at no additional charges, other than that little extra feature costs. Without such, you're subject to roaming charges which can be very expensive.

[HumbleDuck]

Your link says why if you read it. Not sure how hard it is to find a bomb in a laptop though unless the extremists are tinkering with it explode.

Your Sarcasmdar is broken mate. Time for a maintenance.

[Mayhem]

Everyone and their grandma has a cellphone, or as they call it in non-english parts a handy.

And the signal is provided by the airline whose plane you're on. Wireless connections are no miracle anymore. The airplane also functions as roaming spot for the actual phone abilities. At least in the US, every provider offers special features one can add to their plan, to use their phone around the entire globe at no additional charges, other than that little extra feature costs. Without such, you're subject to roaming charges which can be very expensive.

Cellphones won´t get a connection at 10.000 ft and a traveling speed of a few hundred mph. The airplanes can turn off the roaming spot and the communication idea people came up with is solved.

[Hottage]

Is one of the countries South Korea? They are know for their suicide mobile devices.

/huehuehue

[Wildtree]

Cellphones won´t get a connection at 10.000 ft and a traveling speed of a few hundred mph. The airplanes can turn off the roaming spot and the communication idea people came up with is solved.

What has the traveling speed to do with anything? Or the height?
You are literally at the roaming spot. It's moving with you. You're a few meters away from the hardware that builds the roaming spot. It's (simplified) like your router at home, just a bit more sophisticated.

Turning it off, that might work for the plebs.. The common rabble in coach class.
But the big money comes from business class. The rich peeps, paying high prices for their luxury flight. Cannot deprive them from these features.
Now, you can handle the access via wireless access password, quite simple. But.. That would again open the risk to have a terrorist in that class getting access.
That's the crux with terrorism, it adapts.


Yet, the problem is more with turning the tool itself into a bomb. A cellphone is too small to put C-4 in it and cause a significant explosion.
Whereas a laptop might just provide enough space for some damage.
That's their concern. Whether it's warranted or paranoid, well that's the question.
Without insight on the intelligence we can only guess.

[Trassk]

If only mobile phones allowed people to communicate.

the report said all electronic devices, so if they allow phones on the plane anyway it really becomes pointless to ban other devices from those countries when a phone does it all.