News - Renewed terrorism threat may halt in-flight wireless

[Steve]

If the ILS hardware is so hopelessly buggy, shouldn't they.. oh I don't know.. fix it? It's not like they haven't had more than 40 years or something. :\

Lots of planes in service are old and lack decent protection against certain RF transmission methods. However, such planes are usually used by cheaper airlines, on which you're not likely to find wifi or onboard GSM anyway.

As for phones detonating bombs. It's really, really not hard to build a wireless transmitter and receiver, and a solution you build yourself doesn't tend to register with a GSM network or have an IMEI, unless you're more of a procrastinator than a bomb builder. Actually scrap that, you don't really have to build much yourself. There are plenty of amateur traceiver kits for various hobbyist purposes, so the truth is you don't really have to know any comms engineering at all.

[aidanjt]

Lots of planes in service are old and lack decent protection against certain RF transmission methods. However, such planes are usually used by cheaper airlines, on which you're not likely to find wifi or onboard GSM anyway.

Yeah, you should get a sticker with "I travelled in a flying antique!" on it. Never the less, ILS should have been fixed or replaced before I was born, much less today's world of ridiculously inexpensive and accurate electronics.

As for phones detonating bombs. It's really, really not hard to build a wireless transmitter and receiver, and a solution you build yourself doesn't tend to register with a GSM network or have an IMEI, unless you're more of a procrastinator than a bomb builder. Actually scrap that, you don't really have to build much yourself. There are plenty of amateur traceiver kits for various hobbyist purposes, so the truth is you don't really have to know any comms engineering at all.

My thoughts exactly, that was the reason for the array of facepalms. Hell, these days radio receivers are getting so efficient that they virtually power themselves and you'd be lucky to be able to scan them at all. And even if they didn't they can have an altimeter switch to arm (or detonate them without radio entirely) them.

[cameronlite]

pfft... wouldnt it be easier to get one spy to plant 16 bombs on different planes and detonate them all on the same day?

[Platinum]

Im waiting for the terrorist that hides a bomb in there bra

[vinnyT]

Im waiting for the terrorist that hides a bomb in there bra

The Israelis have already suffered from this, female suicide bombers packing their bras and waists with explosives.

[cameronlite]

The Israelis have already suffered from this, female suicide bombers packing their bras and waists with explosives.

Anyone up for a lap dance?

[peterb]

Two significant words in the NS article: "May" and "Could" - not "Will" and Would"

[aidanjt]

Two significant words in the NS article: "May" and "Could" - not "Will" and Would"

Which politicians, pundits, and the gullible will read as "definitely" and "certainly".