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Safecracking for the Computer Scientist

Posted by michael on from the alternate-lines-of-work dept.

secureman writes "It looks like Matt Blaze (the University of Pennsylvania CS professor best known for finding security flaws in the NSA Clipper Chip and in master keyed locks) is still causing trouble in physical security circles. There's a draft paper (dated December '04) on his web site entitled Safecracking for the Computer Scientist, which is a pretty in-depth look at what computer security can learn from safes (and vaults). The interesting thing is that it describes in detail the different ways that safes are cracked, probably revealing techniques that locksmiths would rather you didn't know about (there's a lot of security-by-obscurity there). The conclusion seems to be that while safes can fail, at least they do so in better ways than computer systems do. Warning: it's a 2.5 meg pdf file with lots of pretty pictures."

6 of 322 comments (clear)

  1. The shocking secret the industry wants covered up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    All safes open using a maintenance combination of 12345.

  2. Re:The shocking secret the industry wants covered by KillerDeathRobot · · Score: 5, Funny

    That sounds like the combination some idiot would have on his luggage.

    --
    Thinkin' Lincoln - a web comic of presidential proportions
  3. Re:cse professor by big+tex · · Score: 5, Funny

    To top it off, his mastery of punctuation and the Shift Key is far better than yours.

    --
    I think I need a new sig here.
  4. Re:The shocking secret the industry wants covered by R2.0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    True story.

    I needed access to secured room of a building my company was renovating. It had a pushbutton type combination lock on it (or some such). I asked the combination, and the maintenance superintendent said "1-2-3-4-5". I immediately blurted out "1-2-3-4-5? That sounds like the combination some idiot would put on his luggage." Straight Pavlovian response to a Mel Brooks straight line.

    It was only after a 5 seconds of being stared at that I realized that the Superintendent had intentionally set that combination, and he was NOT a "Spaceballs" fan.

    --
    "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
  5. Re:Considering the audience... by MrLint · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...is posting safe-cracking techniques on /. responsible behaviour?

    Well i dont think we have much to worry about here. As most /. readers wouldnt be able to get past teh 1st level of physical security around any safe. Namely the door at the top of the stairs to their parent's basement ;)

  6. Re:not that obscure by Arctic+Fox · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ever read /. at -1?
    You'll discover that you are incorrect, Sir.