Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mcvax!ukc!stl!stc!root44!hrc63!pj
From: pj@hrc63.co.uk (Mr P Johnson "Baddow")
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Laptops and Airports
Summary: Probably can do damage.
Message-ID: <592@hrc63.co.uk>
Date: 16 May 89 16:24:02 GMT
References: <39382@bbn.COM>
Organization: GEC Hirst Research Centre, Wembley, England.
Lines: 24

In article <39382@bbn.COM>, cosell@bbn.com (Bernie Cosell) writes:
> 
> In particular: CAN the metals detectors harm microcircuits?  How about the
> xray machine... can zapping a laptop hurt it?  Does the answer change if the
> laptop has, say, an internal hard disk?
> 

Disclaimer: I am NOT an expert.  This is just me talking through my hat.

Metal detectors work by measuring the inductance in a coil.  You do this by
making the coil part of an oscilator and measuring the frequency.  Any metal
object in range will have current induced, changing the inductance of the
coil.  The alternating magnetic field generated is probably good for erasing
things like hard disks, but would depend on intensity.

X-rays: Most airports have notices saying that tapes, disks & co are not
affected.  How this affects computer circuitry I do not know, but would not
like to try.

Having your computer hand-checked is probably the best plan.  I would expect
that most guards would co-operate on something like this.  Also, back up
your data & leave the copy at home.

Paul.