Leaked TSA Documents Uncovered By Blogger, Investigation Launched

U.S. Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, is conducting an internal investigation after a blogger uncovered the existence of documents containing sensitive security information that were mistakenly posted to the agency's website. The documents contained sensitive information on passenger screening procedures as well as technical settings for X-ray machines and explosives detectors. The leaked document stayed on TSA's website for nine months without anyone realizing the information contained in the document can put the lives of thousands of people at nation's airports in risk. TSA is investigating, while officials responsible for the leak are currently on administrative leave pending the outcome of internal investigation.

However, TSA did say that the document is outdated and does not contain any information that is sensitive anymore, but the question is -- was it sensitive nine months ago in March when it was first posted? And, are not there areas that are still pertinent today, like X-ray machine parameters? Well, TSA is investigating. But, according to the latest statement from the TSA, the version of the document that was posted was neither implemented nor issued to the workforce. TSA also says six versions of the document have been drafted since the release of the version at stake.

The existence of the document online was discovered by a blogger who writes The Wandering Aramean, a traveler's blog.

In the original post dated to December 6, the blogger goes on to bash TSA for making "egregious" mistakes and posting their Screening Management Standard Operating Procedure online. He says the document came with "sensitive security information" markings on every page. Although the content was redacted, one could still view the pdf version of the document with all information still readable.

The information that the leaked document contained included criteria for screening passengers and exceptions that can be made under different circumstances, something any individual or group with malicious intentions could easily make use of.

According to the blogger themselves, the story they broke is getting massive traffic. They talk extensively about how the story went mainstream, noting that "to say that this one has legs is a bit of an understatement." He says he hopes "the correct questions are asked as a result of the leak and hopefully we can move towards a system that actually represents security rather than security theatre."

The blog links to the original document, but the page where the document was hosted appears to have been shut down. Despite that, there are copies of the un-redacted document circulating on the Internet.