TSA approved Luggage Locks

by **Scatman** » 17 Sep 2004 20:27

I saw this on the http://security.org/ site and found it interesting.
Enjoy.

by **Wesson357** » 17 Sep 2004 22:35

Ill have to remember that. Thanks

by **thertel** » 17 Sep 2004 23:00

I'm off to wal-mart to get 5 locks, one with each code number...

Thomas

by **DeadlyHunter** » 18 Sep 2004 0:35

Nice to know considering that TSA has been caught steeling massive amounts of items out of peoples bags. I think Iâ€™ll drive next time I need to travel.

by **randmguy** » 18 Sep 2004 9:30

I think maybe people are missing the point of these locks. I've seen ads for these locks for several months. The big marketing play from Travel Sentry (the first company to make a TSA approved lock) has been that little green dot you see on the bottom right of the lock. The idea is that if TSA does open your luggage that little dot turns red. So if you get your luggage back and the little dot is red you know someone has used the to open your lock. I don't know if all the locks in the picture have the alert feature. The other selling angle is simply that now you won't have to buy a new luggage lock when your bags are searched because TSA won't have to use the bolt cutters on it.

Can we seriously expect a 6 oz. lock to prevent anyone opening our luggage? Its luggage...a large percentage of it is probably "soft sided" luggage that can be opened with a pen knife. (if someone manages to get one through security) All I have ever depended on a luggage lock to do was keep the zipper on a bag closed. These TSA approved locks aren't designed to keep a determined thief out. They were designed to let the "proper authorities" search your bags without destroying your lock. I believe that the TSA will replace your lock if it is broken. Unless we want to go back to the Greek system of fancy knots this is probably the best way to go. Considering some of the ludicrous ideas that were given serious consideration in the wake of 9/11, I think the luggage locks are pretty mild.

{edited for boring rant and rabid political content}

by **Buggs41** » 18 Sep 2004 15:58

The lives that are put on the line, are those that have volunteered. The reason they, and myself have done this, is so you can say what you want, when you want to say it. Please remember what many have given up so that you have this freedom.

by **thertel** » 18 Sep 2004 17:30

That is a phrase I truely hate hearing/reading. It implies we shouldn't criticise a public official because people died for the country he leads.

But I'm not here to discuss politics or to respond to flamebait. I bought a couple of these locks last night and cut them open and started to shape a key for them. then realized something......I had just opened the plastic lock body with my multitool. Screw picking these locks just cut them open.

thomas

by **Buggs41** » 18 Sep 2004 19:22

No, no, no. Criticise all you want. That is what we are all about.

I agree we can all disagree. And then blame someone else.

Let's get back to lockpicking now.

by **Murph** » 19 Sep 2004 19:48

I tell you folks, I went on a business trip about 4 weeks ago from Maryland to California and I don't even bother to lock my luggage. If my clothes they want, my clothes they can have. All my stuff of value went into my briefcase and into the cabin with me. I figured if they want to look into my suitcase, they are going to do it whether it has a lock or not. Oh and by the way, they tell you at the TSA's website that if they open your luggage, they leave a piece of paper stating they were rooting through your stuff. It doesn't matter to me, my underwear was clean. :lol:

Those TSA locks are a waste.

by **hzatorsk** » 19 Sep 2004 20:40

I use wire ties. They keep the undies from spilling onto the conveyor belt.

by **logosys** » 20 Sep 2004 0:37

randmguy wrote:<Begin Rant>

...

Does the public really think that our safety is a real concern for GeeDubbya?

...

I find it sad that a country that was founded by a bunch of rich white guys who wanted to preserve personal freedoms is now being led by a man whose goal in life is to make as much money as he can no matter whose rights he has to trample or whose life he has to put on the line.

<End of Rant>

***WARNING - POLITICAL STATEMENT AHEAD***

Yes, security is a HUGE deal to Bush. And the country realizes that (or at least the 78% of them that said they think that Bush is doing a good job of protecting America and the 83% of them that said they would feel safer with Bush in command than Kerry) If you were thrown 9-11, what would you have done? On that day, the unspeakable happened. It was unexpected and I pray that nothing like that ever happens again. I believe that Bush handled it as best as any man could. He displayed America as a country of strength. The truly sad thing is how the country has fallen into such huge division since that woeful day...

Bush's goal in life is is not to make as much money as he can. I can vouch for that personally. If Bush is to be defeated on Nov. 2, he will happily retire to Crawford and live the rest of his days there. I've met "GeeDubya" on more than one occaision, and I can assure you that his goal in life is to serve his God as well as he can, and bring glory to Him. Sadly, through media and misunderstandings, perceptions often are skewed by the time that they hit the public...

by **Chucklz** » 20 Sep 2004 8:38

Hey guys, I hate to interrupt here, but please no more politically themed discussion. Lets keep this about locks. Lets get this thread back on track.

by **DeadlyHunter** » 20 Sep 2004 22:22

I just wanted to post some links to what I was saying before. When it comes to TSA; WATCH YOUR BAGS!!!

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_0 ... urity.html
http://cbsnewyork.com/investigates/loca ... 02913.html
http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1162747/posts
http://cbsnewyork.com/cbs2investigates/ ... 70632.html
http://news4colorado.com/investigates/l ... 94943.html

:shock:

by sj » 25 Oct 2004 17:49

There is an interesting article about TSA approved locks in Bruce Schneier's Cryptogram. I'm not sure if I agree with his analysis though. I lock my luggage, but I am not trying to stop someone stealing the contents, if they wanted to do that they could easily break the cheap padlock or cut the suitcase. What I am trying to do is allow me to notice whether the suitcase has been tampered with before I leave the baggage reclaim.

Insurance companies are a lot happier (and some require) that you report any loss in hold luggage to the baggage handling company desk in baggage reclaim, and get a form from them. Sure a thief could pick the lock - I can do so in a few minutes, but it is far more likely he will use force or pick a different suitcase. Similarly if TSA open my suitcase I want to know about it, if they do that by breaking the lock then that's fine, it is not expensive and can be cut without damaging the suitcase.

Also not mentioned in the article is the threat of something being put in the luggage, rather than being taken out (Marc Weber Tobias does deal with this on http://www.security.org/). Hopefully a cheap lock will encourage someone to move onto someone else or break the lock, so I notice before I get near to customs. Again he could pick the lock, but it greatly reduces the risk of someone slipping something in while I am distracted.

TSA approved Luggage Locks

TSA approved Luggage Locks

Schneier on TSA-Approved Locks

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