home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
/ NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #16 / NN_1992_16.iso / spool / comp / security / misc / 846 < prev    next >
Encoding:
Internet Message Format  |  1992-07-28  |  1.2 KB
  1. Path: sparky!uunet!europa.asd.contel.com!darwin.sura.net!mips!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!venice!reuter
  2. From: reuter@venice.sedd.trw.com (Joseph Reuter)
  3. Newsgroups: comp.security.misc
  4. Subject: Re: COMPUTER DISKS THRU AIRPORT X-RAY ? ASAP
  5. Message-ID: <1992Jul28.145210.11015@venice.sedd.trw.com>
  6. Date: 28 Jul 92 14:52:10 GMT
  7. References: <15844@pitt.UUCP> <pkershaw-270792112759@192.94.50.51> <1992Jul28.041326.5664@eng.umd.edu>
  8. Organization: TRW Systems Engineering & Development Division, Carson, CA
  9. Lines: 14
  10.  
  11. It appears that most of this discussion centers on the effect of X-rays on
  12. magnetic media.  What about the *magnetic* environment around an airport
  13. X-ray machine?  When I went to school (admittedly, a long time ago), X-rays
  14. were generated by a high-current electron beam striking a metal target.
  15. Airport X-ray machines appear to limit the X-ray exposure by limiting its
  16. duration, which would involve switching this high-current electron beam on
  17. and off.  I wonder what this *magnetic* pulse would do to a disk if the
  18. *magnetic* shielding of the X-ray machine were inadequate or compromised?
  19.  
  20. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you!
  21.  
  22. -- 
  23. Joseph A. Reuter, Wizard-in-Training
  24. Speaking for myself from reuter@venice.sedd.trw.com
  25.