Airport Security Laptop .. swab?

[mercifulpenguin]

Flew recently, and noticed that they took a cloth and sort of swabbed my laptop and put in some testing thing or something. Just wondering if anyone knew what they were doing. Just thought it was weird, lol

[LadyNina]

LOL Maybe they were checking for viruses? j/k of course. I always wondered as well. I've seen it done several times.

[Kittie]

LOL!!!!

[skibunnie64]

after 911 i asked them what it was for when seeing it done to someone's computer...they told me it was checking for explosive devices, and they check to make sure itis in working order...i don't know how it detects explosive devices but that is what i was told

[Flawless Disaster]

They are probably swabbing for chemicals. Criminals are thinking of every way to transport illegal goods and if that laptop has come in contact with any illegal substance, some residue would most likely be on the outside. Its a quicker way to check for drugs or even bomb material.

[mercifulpenguin]

lol, government virus check, maybe it's a service for my benefit!
thanks

[everywoman]

Hmmmm...I've never had that done to my laptop when I've flown. They just ask that I take it out of the bag and put it in the plastic bin. Interesting.

[metal_gods]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mercifulpenguin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Flew recently, and noticed that they took a cloth and sort of swabbed my laptop and put in some testing thing or something. Just wondering if anyone knew what they were doing. Just thought it was weird, lol </div></div>

They are doing their jobs of keeping the air safe.

[Chako]

Just checking for explosives.

[Toto]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mercifulpenguin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Flew recently, and noticed that they took a cloth and sort of swabbed my laptop and put in some testing thing or something. Just wondering if anyone knew what they were doing. Just thought it was weird, lol </div></div>

A couple of years ago I was picked out of the crowd for "special" attention when I flew out of Kinross. I got the special hand-held scanner (even though I made it through the doorway scan with no problem). Then, they emptied my purse and confiscated my hand-sanitizer and some breath spray. After that, they swabbed the inside of my purse - all compartments! I didn't think I looked like a criminal - I guess I was wrong!

[hyway01]

They don't pick you as a person. It's totally random, unless you set off some flags from the detectors or if there is something suspicious in your bags, etc. 2 of 5 times I flew last year I got extra screening done, but it was explained that the airlines randomly choose passengers to be screened and it showed it on the bottom of the ticket with "sssss" (not sure how many s's but you get the point"

btw the pad swab is for explosive testing

[Toto]

[quote=hyway01]They don't pick you as a person. It's totally random, unless you set off some flags from the detectors or if there is something suspicious in your bags, etc. 2 of 5 times I flew last year I got extra screening done, but it was explained that the airlines randomly choose passengers to be screened and it showed it on the bottom of the ticket with "sssss" (not sure how many s's but you get the point" [quote]

Well, I bought my ticket online and printed off my receipt and my boarding passes. There were NO "sssss" on the bottom of either those documents therefore NO indication that I would be chosen for extra screening.