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more on Vancouver Airport Risks Digest 24.44
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2006 07:32:50 -0400
Begin forwarded message: From: Frode Hegland <frode () hegland com> Date: September 26, 2006 7:25:29 PM EDT To: dave () farber net Subject: Re: [IP] Vancouver Airport Risks Digest 24.44This might be TIPS, developed by http://www.qinetiq.com/ which inserts images during normal use, to make sure the operator stays alert. The operator must press a button and the system will then say wether there is an 'inserted' image. Maybe it is something else described here though, as TIPS is not just for training, it's also for on the job alertness.
On 26 Sep 2006, at 18:37, David Farber wrote:
Begin forwarded message: Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 10:01:42 -0700 From: Karl Klashinsky <klash () cisco com> Subject: Vancouver Int'l Airport locked down due to software glitchOn 17 Sep 2006, Vancouver International Airport was locked down for several hours because a security guard noticed what appeared to be an explosive on an X-ray screen. The bag in question could not be located in the screening area, so the decision was made to re-screen all passengers in the waitingareas.The "lock down" procedure also required many flights that had just taken offto return to Vancouver so that all passengers could be re-screened.As it turns out, the bag was not found because it did not exist. The image seen by the guard was from training software installed on the screening machine. The image in question should have appeared only during a training exercise, according to a spokesperson from Canadian Air Transport SecurityAuthority (CATSA). Furthermore: "They're investigating how that feature of the tool got inadvertentlyactivated. And while they're doing that investigation, they've deactivatedthe tool itself."None of the basic facts here will be a surprise to RISKers. However, one thought crossing my mind is whether the training software was executed as aprank, and if so, how (i.e., I have no idea whether it's possible tointeract with the screening machines remotely). But if a "false positive" image could be inserted into a live, in-service screening machine, then it'spossible that a "false negative" could also be inserted. The CBC story shortly after the incident, describing the lock down:http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/09/17/ vancouver-airport.htmlAnd the recent story describing the cause:http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/09/22/bc- airport-screening.html[Also noted by Robert Israel, UBC, Vancouver]http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060921/ yvr_security_060921/20060921------------------------------------- You are subscribed as frode () hegland com To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ipArchives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting- people/
Frode Hegland ceo The Hyperwords Company www.hyperwords.net ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as lists-ip () insecure org To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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- more on Vancouver Airport Risks Digest 24.44 David Farber (Sep 27)