The TSA makes another stupid move

[kevstar31]

wanderingaramean.com/2009/12/tsa-makes-another-stupid-move.html

When the TSA make mistakes this egregious it really isn’t all that hard to pick on them.

The latest is that their Screening Management Standard Operating Procedure is published on the internet. I actually like that. I don’t think that security through obscurity is a good idea. Of course the document is marked SSI and includes this footnote on every page:

SENSITIVE SECURITY INFORMATION
WARNING: THIS RECORD CONTAINS SENSITIVE SECURITY INFORMATION THAT IS CONTROLLED UNDER 49 CFR PARTS 15 AND 1520. NO PART OF THIS RECORD MAY BE DISCLOSED TO PERSONS WITHOUT A “NEED TO KNOW,” AS DEFINED IN 49 CFR PARTS 15 AND 1520, EXCEPT WITH THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION OR THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION. UNAUTHORIZED RELEASE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL PENALTIES OR OTHER ACTION. FOR U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PUBLIC DISCLOSURE GOVERNED BY 5 U.S.C. 552 AND 49 CFR PARTS 15 AND 1520.

So the decision to publish it on the Internet is probably a questionable one. On top of that, however, is where the real idiocy shines. They chose to publish a redacted version of the document, hiding all the super-important stuff from the public. But they apparently don’t understand how redaction works in the electronic document world. See, rather than actually removing the offending text from the document they just drew a black box on top of it. Turns out that PDF documents don’t really care about the black box like that and the actual content of the document is still in the file.

 

[stbruno]

OK, so who is accountable for this mess. Why don’t we hand the terrorists the keys to the White House while we are at it. Or call up the interlopers and ask them how easy it is to gain access to our most sensitivity places and information. More reasons to pray!

 

[MugenOne]

Thousand Standing Alone, I really hate the TSA.

 

[Mickey_Finn]

Thousand Standing Alone, I really hate the TSA.

? Hates a strong word. Directing it at the TSA makes one wonder what you do that is inconvenienced by the TSA.

Fill out your profile and we can discuss this further.

Assuming for the moment, that this is true. This is a classic government screw-up. But don’t worry. They have top men working on it.

 

[DaveBj]

? Hates a strong word. Directing it at the TSA makes one wonder what you do that is inconvenienced by the TSA.

Fill out your profile and we can discuss this further.

Assuming for the moment, that this is true. This is a classic government screw-up. But don’t worry. They have top men working on it.

Now THAT’S really scarey.

DaveBj