Jazmin Li
Airport security has evolved significantly since the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001. Today, passengers are often required to remove laptops from their bags during security screening, prompting questions about the safety of electronic devices when exposed to airport scanners. While some travellers have reported issues with their laptops after X-ray scanning, others have had no problems. So, can a computer go through airport scanners without sustaining damage?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can computers go through airport scanners? | Yes, computers can go through airport scanners. |
| Do computers need to be removed from bags? | Yes, computers should be removed from bags and scanned separately. |
| Can airport scanners damage computers? | There are mixed reports. Some sources claim that airport scanners have damaged their computers, while others state that computers are impervious to all forms of light, including X-rays. |
| Can computers stay in bags if they are TSA-approved? | Yes, TSA-approved bags have special laptop compartments that prevent laptops from interfering with other bag contents. |
| Are airport scanners X-ray machines? | Yes, airport scanners use X-rays to create images of bags and detect potential threats. |
| Are airport scanners safe? | Airport scanners use non-ionizing radiation and do not emit X-rays. The intensity of X-rays used is low, and there is no lingering X-ray residue. |
| Can airport scanners be automated? | Currently, human reviewers are required to identify potential threats. However, advancements in AI systems may allow for automated threat detection in the future. |
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What You'll Learn
Computers and airport scanners
Airport scanners use X-rays to create images of the objects inside bags. These X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation with a shorter wavelength and higher frequency than visible light. They can pass through objects like plastic, skin, and tissue but not bones or metal. X-rays are not radioactive and do not leave any residue, so their effects are limited to exposure.
Laptops and computers are dense with materials, and they can block X-rays, which is why they are often removed from bags during security checks. However, this does not mean that they cannot go through the scanners. Hard drives, for example, store data as magnetic media, and airport X-ray machines use a specific wavelength of light that does not affect hard drives. Solid-state drives, SD cards, and USB thumb drives use transistors to store data and are also unaffected by X-rays.
While computers and laptops can go through airport scanners, some airports are upgrading to advanced computed tomography (CT) scanners that produce high-definition 3D imagery. These scanners may be further enhanced by AI in the future to detect threats faster. Additionally, some countries are moving towards non-ionizing technology, which uses lower-energy millimeter waves instead of X-rays to image passengers. As technology advances, the process of going through airport security with a computer may become more streamlined and efficient.
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X-ray damage to computers
X-ray scanners at airports are used to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. While they are an essential security measure, many travellers worry about potential damage to their electronic devices.
X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, similar to visible light but with a shorter wavelength and higher frequency. This increased energy allows X-rays to pass through objects like plastic, skin, and tissue, but not metal or bone. X-rays are ionizing radiation, meaning they can knock electrons out of atoms, creating positively charged ions. While this can harm biological tissue and DNA, electronics are not made of biological tissue, so they are not affected in the same way.
Airport scanners use a specific wavelength of light, and while electronic devices are sensitive to magnets, they are impervious to all forms of light, including X-rays. Computers and tablets do not contain any components that are photosensitive to visible light or X-rays. Therefore, passing through an airport scanner will not damage your laptop or tablet in any significant way.
However, some travellers have reported issues with their laptops after going through airport security. For example, one person reported that their laptop would not start up after going through a scanner, while another experienced poor Wi-Fi reception. In these cases, it is recommended to contact the manufacturer's support services or take the device to a certified repair shop.
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Airport security and metal detectors
Airport security systems use metal detectors, backscatter X-ray machines, millimeter wave scanners, and cabinet X-ray machines to ensure the safety of travellers. Metal detectors are commonly used at airports because they provide a level of security that is necessary in a high-risk environment. They can detect even the smallest metallic items with precision and have become more sensitive, faster, and better integrated with other security technologies.
Almost all airport metal detectors are based on pulse induction (PI). This technology sends powerful, short bursts (pulses) of current through a coil of wire. Each pulse generates a brief magnetic field. When the pulse ends, the magnetic field reverses polarity and collapses, resulting in a sharp electrical spike. This spike lasts a few microseconds and causes another current, called the reflected pulse, to run through the coil. A sampling circuit in the metal detector monitors the length of the reflected pulse and compares it to the expected length to determine if another magnetic field has caused interference. If an item is found, the individual is asked to remove any metal objects and pass through the detector again.
Walk-through metal detectors are frequently used at security checkpoints to quickly screen passengers and detect metal objects on their bodies. Hand-held metal detectors, on the other hand, are used for more targeted and detailed inspections, allowing security guards to conduct secondary searches. While metal detectors are essential for identifying metal objects, they cannot detect non-metallic threats like explosives. Therefore, X-ray machines are also used to screen carry-on items and checked luggage for non-metallic items that are not approved for air travel.
It is important to note that some security devices use ionizing radiation to scan luggage, while others, such as metal detectors and millimeter wave machines, use non-ionizing radiation to scan travellers for hidden items. The FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) ensures that all X-ray systems and radiation-emitting equipment are safe and correctly calibrated. While airport X-ray scanners are generally considered safe for laptops, some people have reported issues with their laptops after passing through airport security.
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Advanced imaging technology
The HD-AIT passenger screening system and shoe scanner were commercialized and licensed to Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. of Atlanta, Georgia, in early 2021. The shoe scanner, which operates similarly to the HD-AIT system, uses harmless millimeter waves to scan through the soles of shoes and create 3D data that is sent to a computer for review. This process takes approximately two seconds, with data processing taking an additional five seconds. The shoe scanner could be incorporated into the floor of passenger screening systems, allowing for the simultaneous screening of passengers and their shoes.
The Screening at Speed Program is also working on developing new concepts and technologies to improve detection performance and meet the needs of passengers. This includes the Real-Time AIT system, which won an R&D 100 Award in the Software/Services category in 2024. Modular Real-Time panels can screen passengers as they move in front of them, and Passenger Screening Retrofit Kits have been observed in lab demonstrations using mannequins.
While Advanced Imaging Technology offers many benefits, there are also concerns and controversies surrounding its use. Full-body scanners, for example, have been criticized for creating images of virtual strip searches on minors, potentially violating child pornography laws and the Protection of Children Act of 1978 in the UK. There are also concerns about the effectiveness of the technology, as it can be bypassed, and the potential exposure to radiation, with recommendations that alternate screening methods should be used for pregnant women, babies, children, and people with disabilities.
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Airport scanning and privacy
Airport security systems use metal detectors, backscatter X-ray machines, millimetre wave scanners, and cabinet X-ray machines to ensure the safety of travellers. Some security devices use ionizing radiation to scan luggage, while others use non-ionizing radiation to scan travellers and ensure they are not carrying hidden items. Airports may use different kinds of screening equipment, and some of the equipment used during the screening process can emit low levels of radiation.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has established protocols that dictate how screening information is handled. Images produced during scans are not stored or transmitted; they exist only for the duration needed to ensure security. Agencies often seek partnerships with companies specializing in detection technologies when crafting policies and deploying equipment for airport screenings.
To address privacy concerns, airport security measures are designed with privacy safeguards. For example, the images produced by full-body scanners are often generic figures or 'mannequin-like' representations rather than specific images of individuals to protect their privacy.
As technologies evolve, so do the strategies to safeguard security and privacy. Ongoing discussions and innovations will likely continue to shape the way airport scanners balance rigorous security measures with the preservation of passenger privacy.
Regarding the safety of electronic devices, airport X-ray scanners are generally considered safe for laptops and other electronic devices. Laptops and similar devices are impervious to all forms of light, including X-rays, and do not contain any photosensitive materials that could be affected by the scanners. However, there are some reports of laptops experiencing issues such as screen discoloration and WiFi reception problems after passing through airport security. In one case, a laptop's hard drive was "fried" after going through an airport X-ray scanner, although this may be an isolated incident. Overall, while airport X-ray scanners are not expected to damage electronic devices, there may be rare cases where issues arise.
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Frequently asked questions
Computers and tablets do not have any components that are photosensitive to light or X-rays. However, there are reports of laptops being damaged by airport scanners.
A laptop inside a bag can shield other items from view, including dangerous ones. Scanning it separately reveals its internal components on the screen.
Computers are scanned separately from their bags. In some cases, you might be asked to turn on your computer to prove it's a working device.
Airport metal detectors use non-ionizing radiation and cannot emit X-rays. The larger body scanners are X-ray machines and can be active, passive, or a combination of both.
