A sort-of new threat

[somenewguy]

Whenever I see Ebay auctions or YouTube videos with keys shown in them, I wonder if the key's owner understand the risks of showing the bitting of your keys.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/copy-keys-with-photo-cutting-use-phone-copy-keys-iteam--260004391.html

This news spot talks about a 'new' threat, and I guess in a way, they are right; in this case it's a website offering key copies based on pictures that you email them. The (potential thief) now does not need to physically have the key, and the locksmith now does not have a chance to get a 'feel' for the customer and ask questions if the transaction seems suspicious.

I wonder what keys they can duplicate? I did not check the website. They show some common (US) keys in the story (Kwikset, etc). Of course, there are some they couldn't do no matter what; for example magnetic keys (or keys with magnetic elements), or the Medeco and Emhart keys (unless you can take a picture of the top), or the M3 (unless you could see the right side), or Cyberlock, or any key with side bitting (such as some Mul-T-Lock, etc)...

The Industrial Locksmith they show in the story has an obvious Best key (you can tell by the bow and the length of the key), I bet even that one wouldn't work if you submitted it to that site

[ckc123]

With the resolution of camera's now, it would be possible to determine the depths of each cut for a key..

it should be pretty trivial to write an application for a phone (eg Android) to get the cut depths. it wouldn't be used by anyone who has the proper tools already (locksmith), so it's use as a stand alone app is limited.

when they've done it tie it into a business which can cut the key for you and mail it.. the challenge they will have is the costs or and "errors" or keys which are just a little off, and need to be redone etc.. the cost of shipping will be more then the blank is worth..

[ckc123]

After about 30 mins of hacking around.. I have everything but the calculations to determine the cut depths (should take another 30 mins to do that)

and no.. it's not a key that is in use





if anyone is interested in the program/source let me know

[ckc123]

Updated now with depth and cut calculations for a Schlage SC1/4. will add kwikset later tonight

[ARF-GEF]

I think that's a cool program, I would be interested in it

[MacGyver101]

Some of the folks at UC San Diego were looking at something like this a few years ago, with similarly "good" results. In their case, they were using a good DSLR mounted on a telescope and reading keys at significant distances.

[ckc123]

In their case, they were using a good DSLR mounted on a telescope and reading keys at significant distances.

Here is the same key at 25 meters with a zoom lens on my Cannon DSLR.

[ckc123]

I've posted a working version (binary) if anyone is interested.. (Windows .net 3.5)

you can download it Here

[somenewguy]

Ummm why is ckc123's work not getting more attention?? This is pretty cool!

[ARF-GEF]

He definitely got my attention
BTW thanks, it's a very cool little program!