Smartphones Pose A New Threat, Airports Tighten Security

Devices that don’t power on will not be permitted on board U.S.-bound aircrafts

They say technology complicates life. Well, while that remains open to debate, it sure has added yet another step to the already lengthy list of security procedures that one has to go through at airports.

Your smartphones and tablets are now on the radar of airport security and if your device is out of battery or you cannot turn it on for some odd reason, be prepared to leave it behind.

Reports suggest that militants belonging to a Yemen-based Al-Qaeda group are developing sophisticated and undetectable bombs which are disguised as smartphones and tablets. This has led to a tightening in security for US-bound flights, especially those originating in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

According to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, powerless devices will not be permitted on board the aircraft, as material for a bomb could be implanted in the battery compartment of the smartphone or tablet.

In case a traveller is found in possession of such a device, he would be required to undergo further screening.

This begs the question, that isn’t there a possibility that if the terrorist organisation is capable of developing such high-end bombs, they might as well fit them in with a secondary battery? This would render the security measures entirely ineffective.

Well, no one’s going to answer that one for sure, so we’ll all just have to put up with the premise that the security authorities know better than us!

Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy owners will be specifically targeted, as suggested by reports. The reason behind this is unknown, but one can only speculate that perhaps U.S. intelligence agencies have uncovered smartphone bombs mimicking these models.

In any case, while these additional procedures maybe cumbersome, there’s little one can do but comply. After all, it is a case of security and there’s nothing else that the US Government takes more seriously.

Originally published at Chip-Monks.