Re: Duress

At  2:49 PM 3/3/96 -0500, Dr. Dimitri Vulis wrote:

>As a side remark, every burglar alarm connected to a phone that I've ever seen
>has this feature: a code that one can type under duress that will both turn
>off the alarm and call for help. I wonder how many users will remember this
>code when under duress.

The air-transport system has had a Hijack transponder code for years.  The
pilot dials it into the air traffic system radar transponder when the plane
is hijacked.  However there is a problem.

One of the private pilot magazines reported that a small plane operator
used the code (because his airplane was, in fact, being hijacked).  When he
landed the airplane, it was surrounded by LEA, and in the ensuing gun
battle, everyone on the airplane died.  The went on to say that the safety
of the passengers and airplane are the pilot's primary responsibility and
that pilots should consider this incident when deciding to use the code.

Duress codes need to be designed to minimized the chance of such responses
when they are used.

Regards - Bill


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz       | The CDA means  | Periwinkle  --  Computer Consulting
(408)356-8506     | lost jobs and  | 16345 Englewood Ave.
frantz@netcom.com | dead teenagers | Los Gatos, CA 95032, USA

On Sun, 3 Mar 1996, Bill Frantz wrote:

> At  2:49 PM 3/3/96 -0500, Dr. Dimitri Vulis wrote:
> 
> >As a side remark, every burglar alarm connected to a phone that I've ever seen
> >has this feature: a code that one can type under duress that will both turn
> >off the alarm and call for help. I wonder how many users will remember this
> >code when under duress.
> 
> The air-transport system has had a Hijack transponder code for years.  The
> pilot dials it into the air traffic system radar transponder when the plane
> is hijacked.

Of course, all smart air piracy buffs know the transponder code is 7600, 
and refuse to allow the pilots to use it.

> However there is a problem.
> 
> One of the private pilot magazines reported that a small plane operator
> used the code (because his airplane was, in fact, being hijacked).  When he
> landed the airplane, it was surrounded by LEA, and in the ensuing gun
> battle, everyone on the airplane died.  The went on to say that the safety
> of the passengers and airplane are the pilot's primary responsibility and
> that pilots should consider this incident when deciding to use the code.
> 
> Duress codes need to be designed to minimized the chance of such responses
> when they are used.
> 
> Regards - Bill
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bill Frantz       | The CDA means  | Periwinkle  --  Computer Consulting
> (408)356-8506     | lost jobs and  | 16345 Englewood Ave.
> frantz@netcom.com | dead teenagers | Los Gatos, CA 95032, USA
> 
> 
> 

---
My prefered and soon to be permanent e-mail address: unicorn@schloss.li
"In fact, had Bancroft not existed,       potestas scientiae in usu est
Franklin might have had to invent him."    in nihilum nil posse reverti
00B9289C28DC0E55  E16D5378B81E1C96 - Finger for Current Key Information

On Sun, 3 Mar 1996, Black Unicorn wrote:

> Of course, all smart air piracy buffs know the transponder code is 7600, 
> and refuse to allow the pilots to use it.

Typo on my part.  This should, of course, read 7500.

> ---
> My prefered and soon to be permanent e-mail address: unicorn@schloss.li
> "In fact, had Bancroft not existed,       potestas scientiae in usu est
> Franklin might have had to invent him."    in nihilum nil posse reverti
> 00B9289C28DC0E55  E16D5378B81E1C96 - Finger for Current Key Information
> 
> 

---
My prefered and soon to be permanent e-mail address: unicorn@schloss.li
"In fact, had Bancroft not existed,       potestas scientiae in usu est
Franklin might have had to invent him."    in nihilum nil posse reverti
00B9289C28DC0E55  E16D5378B81E1C96 - Finger for Current Key Information

> 
> At  2:49 PM 3/3/96 -0500, Dr. Dimitri Vulis wrote:
> 
> >As a side remark, every burglar alarm connected to a phone that I've ever seen
> >has this feature: a code that one can type under duress that will both turn
> >off the alarm and call for help. I wonder how many users will remember this
> >code when under duress.
> 
> The air-transport system has had a Hijack transponder code for years.  The
> pilot dials it into the air traffic system radar transponder when the plane
> is hijacked.  However there is a problem.
> 
> One of the private pilot magazines reported that a small plane operator
> used the code (because his airplane was, in fact, being hijacked).  When he
> landed the airplane, it was surrounded by LEA, and in the ensuing gun
> battle, everyone on the airplane died.  The went on to say that the safety
> of the passengers and airplane are the pilot's primary responsibility and
> that pilots should consider this incident when deciding to use the code.

Sorry, but what's LEA stand for?

> Duress codes need to be designed to minimized the chance of such responses
> when they are used.
> 
> Regards - Bill
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bill Frantz       | The CDA means  | Periwinkle  --  Computer Consulting
> (408)356-8506     | lost jobs and  | 16345 Englewood Ave.
> frantz@netcom.com | dead teenagers | Los Gatos, CA 95032, USA
> 
> 
> 


-- 
Have you ever taken pride in and cultivated a wrongness?

At  2:49 PM 3/3/96 -0500, Dr. Dimitri Vulis wrote:
  One of the private pilot magazines reported that a small plane operator
  used the code (because his airplane was, in fact, being hijacked).  When he
  landed the airplane, it was surrounded by LEA, and in the ensuing gun
  battle, everyone on the airplane died.  The went on to say that the safety
  of the passengers and airplane are the pilot's primary responsibility and
  that pilots should consider this incident when deciding to use the code.

Actually, that is an urban legend which grew out
of a real incident. What actually happened was
that they thought the private pilot couldn't
really have been hijacked, so when he landed *he*
was arrested for creating a public nuisance or
something. It wasn't till later, when they found
the shotgun-toting druggie, that they believed
him...

Greg Travis was the pilot's name, I imagine
AltaVista might find his original posting.

Greg.

Greg Rose               INTERNET: greg_rose@sydney.sterling.com  
Sterling Software       VOICE:  +61-2-9975 4777    FAX:  +61-2-9975 2921
28 Rodborough Rd.       http://www.sydney.sterling.com:8080/~ggr/
French's Forest         35 0A 79 7D 5E 21 8D 47  E3 53 75 66 AC FB D9 45
NSW 2086 Australia.     co-mod sci.crypt.research, USENIX Director.