Slashdot Mirror
Duplicating Your Housekeys, From a Distance
Roland Piquepaille writes "Some clever computer scientists at UC San Diego (UCSD) have developed a software that can perform key duplication with just a picture of the key — taken from up to 200 feet. One of the researchers said 'we built our key duplication software system to show people that their keys are not inherently secret.' He added that on sites like Flickr, you can find many photos of people's keys that can be used to easily make duplicates. Apparently, some people are blurring 'numbers on their credit cards and driver's licenses before putting those photos on-line,' but not their keys. This software project is quite interesting, but don't be too afraid. I don't think that many of you put a photo of their keys online — with their addresses." I wonder when I'll be able to order more ordinary duplicate keys by emailing in a couple of photos.
looks like hiding your key in that rock was a good idea after all :)
Who uploads photos of themselves (or others) holding credit cards or keys? In my entire life, I don't think I've EVER even TAKEN a photo like that, let alone thought about sharing it. Am I just bizarre or is it the people on Flickr? Ok, admittedly it could be both, but still....
make copies of my keys. Have fun "playing" with my pitbull waiting for you on the other side of the door.
Attention all planets of the Solar Federation! We have assumed control! - Neil Peart
I'm sure a stalker could get get all except for 'method of duplicating key with picture accurately enough to be of use' without much work, now if the they happen to be reading slashdot today...
I have a great idea: use Hubble to get a picture of the key to the universe and ask walmart to make it very cheaply.
Get into my house however you want, my wife is going through menopause, she's bi-polar, and she has my shotgun.
In my other life, I eat cats.
Remember the old days when swingers used to have "key parties?"
For the young and innocent who have never been exposed to such debauchery -- they would get together and throw all the mens' motel room keys in a hat. Then the ladies would pick them out of the hat and go to that key's room....
Well, now the possibilities for adultfriendfinder dot com have just been expanded... Just post a picture of your key and wait for your new friends to show up!
In times of universal deceit, telling the truth gets you modded -1 Troll
I can't even get those chumps at home depot to give me a copy that works when they're using the original, much less a photograph.
Wise men say, "Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza."
But, of course, why bother having a particularly secure lock, when your all-metal steel-bolted door is right next to a 6 foot plate-glass bay window?
For some new houses use a utility knife cut thru the vinyl siding, foam sheeting, and kick thru the drywall for easy access.
The best antitheft device on my car is the manual transmission. ;)
The ratio of people to cake is too big
I call bullshit.
I've had locksmiths get my key out, and they have a flat piece of metal (cops carry them too) that they can slide down where the window goes and have the door open in five seconds. No need whatever to make a key to open it.
Twenty bucks to come out to the car, a buck fifty for a new key. Yet he's going to go to that trouble to make a key?
How fucking stupid do you think we are?
Hello, and welcome to the Post-80s world! This is a brave new place where car doors are designed for this absolutely not to work any longer, even if you could get past all the crap and to the mechanisms. Also, we have this thing called the "internet" where you can see naked pictures. Oh, and Molly Ringwald is no longer hot.
No. We still don't have flying cars.
No wonder they told us not to bring cameras to all those Key Parties in the '70s. They saw this coming.
Momentarily, the need for the construction of new light will no longer exist.
What? If what?? Don't leave us hanging, NO CARRIER man!!
(CAPTCHA is dramatic.)