<p>High resolution x-ray cameras of the type used for baggage scanning would likely be able to read stamped metal.  For an example, <a href="https://www.safeagle.com/news/948-can-the-x-ray-machine-be-able-to-see-the-metal-in-the-metal-bottle" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this Chinese security manufacturer</a> shows an example image where you can pretty easily make out a lot of detail.  Looking at their product line shows they have a variety of x-ray technology that would be capable of producing high resolution images from metal contained in your bags.</p>
<p><a href="https://physics.stackexchange.com/a/112736/34975">This</a> answer over on the Physics Stack Exchange site says:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The X ray detectors work by sending a beam of X rays through the stuff they are probing. The higher the density, the more X rays gets absorbed, the less one detects on the other side. In fact, we are not measuring density, but integrating it along the line of sight; the total mass the ray had to go through.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So assuming the stamping slightly modifies the density of the metal or the thickness of the metal, presumably anything written on a metal surface might be read.</p>
<p>Multisig wallets are a way around this particular security concern in that you only have an individual piece of the private key required to spend coins.  <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/a/120417/10658">This answer has some details about that</a>.  Check the list of questions tagged with <a href="/questions/tagged/multi-signature" class="post-tag" title="show questions tagged &#39;multi-signature&#39;" aria-label="show questions tagged &#39;multi-signature&#39;" rel="tag" aria-labelledby="tag-multi-signature-tooltip-container">multi-signature</a> for even more info.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-11-16T23:12:56.907Z
2023-11-16T23:12:56.907Z
Hannah Vernon
<p>If I put a steel plate with seed phrase in bag and it goes through TSA's x-ray machines at the airport, am I at risk of them being able to read the words?</p>

<security><seed>
Can punched-in seed phrase on steel plate be read by airport security x-ray?
Runeaway3
# Can punched-in seed phrase on steel plate be read by airport security x-ray?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-11-16)

If I put a steel plate with seed phrase in bag and it goes through TSA's x-ray machines at the airport, am I at risk of them being able to read the words?

**Tags:** security, seed


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-11-16. Score: 2

High resolution x-ray cameras of the type used for baggage scanning would likely be able to read stamped metal. For an example, [this Chinese security manufacturer](https://www.safeagle.com/news/948-can-the-x-ray-machine-be-able-to-see-the-metal-in-the-metal-bottle) shows an example image where you can pretty easily make out a lot of detail. Looking at their product line shows they have a variety of x-ray technology that would be capable of producing high resolution images from metal contained in your bags.

[This](https://physics.stackexchange.com/a/112736/34975) answer over on the Physics Stack Exchange site says:

> The X ray detectors work by sending a beam of X rays through the stuff they are probing. The higher the density, the more X rays gets absorbed, the less one detects on the other side. In fact, we are not measuring density, but integrating it along the line of sight; the total mass the ray had to go through.

So assuming the stamping slightly modifies the density of the metal or the thickness of the metal, presumably anything written on a metal surface might be read.

Multisig wallets are a way around this particular security concern in that you only have an individual piece of the private key required to spend coins. [This answer has some details about that](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/a/120417/10658). Check the list of questions tagged with [multi-signature](/questions/tagged/multi-signature "show questions tagged 'multi-signature'") for even more info.


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