Airbnb Adds New Wi-Fi Speed Test Feature to App

On Thursday Airbnb announced it added a Wi-Fi speed test tool to its app to let Hosts easily advertise their speeds.

While Hosts have been able to manually add wifi speeds to their listing pages for some time, we’re now providing an easy and efficient in-app solution to allow them to measure the wifi speed in their listing using the Airbnb app.

Hosts can test their listing’s connection speed right within the Airbnb app, and easily have their wifi speed information posted on their listing page, making their listings more appealing to guests looking for connected stays.

Suspicionless Searches of Travelers' Devices Ruled Unconstitutional

A federal court ruled that suspicionless searches of travelers’ phones and laptops is unconstitutional, a win for privacy rights.

The ruling came in a lawsuit, Alasaad v. McAleenan, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Electronic Frontier Foundation, and ACLU of Massachusetts, on behalf of 11 travelers whose smartphones and laptops were searched without individualized suspicion at U.S. ports of entry.

Photos of Travelers, License Plates Stolen in U.S. Customs Breach

Photos of travelers and license plates were stolen in a U.S. Customs breach. A subcontractor for the agency was hacked, but CBP won’t say which one. One hypothesis says it might be Perceptics.

CBP said copies of “license plate images and traveler images collected by CBP” had been transferred to the subcontractor’s company network, violating the contract’s security and privacy rules. The subcontractor’s network was then attacked and breached. No CBP systems were compromised, the agency said. It’s unclear whether passport or facial-recognition photos were included in the breach.

2019 FlexSafe Portable Travel Safe: $59

We have a deal on the 2019 FlexSafe Portable Travel Safe. This is a clever little device designed to keep your valuables secure on the go. It features a reprogrammable lock, is cut-resistant, and it’s made with RFID blocking material to help keep your digital assets secure, too. It’s $59 through our deal.

Apple Maps can Navigate You Inside Airports

Navigating airports is a little easier because Apple’s Maps app has been adding floor plans for many terminals as part of its indoor mapping project. Right now indoors maps are available for many U.S. airports, along with a few other cities such as London, Berlin, Hong Kong, and Toronto. The maps include restaurants and shops, directs to gates, and more. It’s all just there, so you don’t need to worry about any app updates before your next trip.

iPads, other Electronics Banned on Flights to US from Several Islamic Countries

If you’re planning on working on that big project on a flight to the U.S. from several airports in Muslim-dominant countries, think again because the Trump administration just banned anything larger than a smartphone in the passenger cabin. The ban restricts iPads and other tablets, Kindle ebook readers, laptops, and other larger electronic devices to checked luggage over terrorism concerns.