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Comment by kondro | Hacker News Reader

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kondro

I've watched them, they are random.

If they aren't screening someone, they choose the next person to walk out from the x-ray screening area.

If they are screening someone, then they are busy.

Given the fact that they probably screen 5-10% of people travelling, I think you've just gotten lucky.

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Not sure why this is downvoted. I think it's probably right.

I get randomly selected for the bomb test almost 100% of the time in Australia. I don't think there is anything about me that is being discriminated against (typical white male).

I think they just screen a high percentage of people. Also, I think the longer you hang around after the x-ray (repacking your bag, getting dressed, etc), the more likely they are to approach you.

Even if it there was a 50% chance of being picked, to have it happen (I've been counting) 8 times in a row so far is highly, unlikely -- 3 in a thousand. At 10% we're talking millions-to-1 that it's purely random.

I just don't buy it. Humans are involved. Humans are not cryptographic-grade RNGs.

You're either very lucky, go through security at quieter times or self-selecting (subconsciously) by choosing the optimum time for you to be chosen.

Airports bunch flights together so they can cut costs. It's always busy. As for "self-selecting the optimum time", I don't have to. I can self-select an interesting beard.

Canberra by any chance? Much, much heavier screening there.

If they alter the screen times based on the incoming queue's composition, then it may not be so "random." (ie. "Oh, there's a scruffy bearded guy in line; hurry up and shoo this clean-shaven fellow right on through.")

I do the opposite. I have to divest a lot of stuff to go through the screener. On the other side, I note how far through the current screening the staffer is, and either speed up or slow down my collection based on that (belts can be quite fiddly if you are determined!). Just make sure you never look directly at them to give the game away.

It's only failed the once, when one screener tagged me and let heaps of people go before nabbing me. Apart from that, it seems to work okay.

Yep. I do the same thing. It's quite easy to make sure you pass through without a screening if you time things and do not look at them.

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