Copy keys from 200 feet away

by Jason Sanders | October 31, 2008 at 11:31 am

1028 views | 4 Recommendations | 13 comments

Looks like keeping an eye on your keys isn't enough anymore because some scientists at the University of California have devised a way to duplicate keys with a photograph. By using a proprietary computer program, they've successfully duplicated key from photographs taken over 200 feet away.

Makes me wonder if anything is truly secure anymore.

Referred to as Sneakey, the system is capable of "teleduplication--extracting a key's complete and precise bitting code at a distance via optical decoding and then cutting precise duplicates," according to Sneakey's Web site.

Part of the project's mission is to make people realize that traditional keys are not really as safe as they might think. Relatively modest technology is now capable of the imaging and computer vision algorithms necessary to duplicate an image precisely, according to the group.

It gets worse. The group's software was also capable of extracting enough visual data to make a duplicate key from an image taken by a cell phone camera.

Not only that, but the keys photographed do not even have to be in profile. Sneakey's software can determine a key's bitting code--its series of unique cuts--from nearly any angle.

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California Country

at 01:01 on November 12th, 2008

Really not a big fan of the new "sneaky" software... big brother is getting more and more invasive in my opinion.

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irina121

at 09:51 on November 12th, 2008

i very much agree with what you said about Big Brother. it's not just about the keys, but now it's also about the keys. if people stop using keys and say start using code locks, there will be hackers who will break the code anyway.

jasonjerbil

at 01:21 on November 12th, 2008

Building in obsolescence where there is none, this is no doubt funded by credit card style locksmiths to boost their trade outside of the hotel industry. You can copy all my keys, but do you have a code for the alarm. Or a remote control for my car alarm

SamKnox

at 04:34 on November 12th, 2008

I keep my keys in my pocket.
Show me the camera that can photograph them, and then I'll be scared.
Oh, and show me the software that can fend off my territorially enraged dog that was sleeping on the back seat when the car thief climbed into the drivers seat.

SToNZ

at 04:50 on November 12th, 2008

That is rather scary...
but eventually we won't even use keys at all!

Check out my handmade beach stone key rings and jewelry... www.stonz.etsy.com

SToNZ has contributed a photo to this story.

moppetsclosets

at 05:39 on November 12th, 2008

I don't worry so much about my car, as my home and studio keys. I leave my keys everywhere - scary thought!

http://www.handstampedjewelry.com

empee

at 07:11 on November 12th, 2008

walking through uptown Málaga (Andalusia, Spain), i came across a canal which runs almost completely dry in Spain's hot summers. Almost, since there's always this tiny torrent running. In it layed this old Mercedes Benz keychain.

It's served as my girlfriend's keychain for over 7 years now.

empee has contributed a photo to this story.

dibujandoarte

at 07:21 on November 12th, 2008

i collect keyrings since i was a kid, this is my favourite and have to have it whenever i go. i change the others form time to time (have more keyrings than keys sometimes) but this one can't be asbsent.

dibujandoarte has contributed a photo to this story.

amliag

at 01:01 on November 13th, 2008

I've seen in films that people use plastercine and things like that to take impressions of keys so they can then be copied so this is the high tech version of that. But I guess that the program is only of use to people who have a photo of your keys and know where you live!

Luckily those are my old keys in my photo, I've since moved house.

fleurione (not verified)

at 17:40 on November 13th, 2008

seems to me that creating this software to prove you can and to prove that keys aren't safe (and in the process making them far less safe by its mere existance) is rather antisocial!

HannahCrozierPhotography

at 04:26 on November 16th, 2008

Wow... that's a bit scary... We triple lock our door but if you have a key you could get past all the locks...

Phil_Stavri (not verified)

at 07:06 on November 23rd, 2008

SamKnox, the camera that can photo the keys in your pocket is an xray machine. They are at every airport and most major financial buildings throughout the world. However fear not people the software is not for general use, its there to instigate research into better physical security methods, i for one can think of a great invention that would render this optical attack utterly useless and can be made for about ohhh say $1, those folder binders you get that clip paper together stick one over the ridge of your key.

Also its extremely difficult to bring this to bare on the general public as location of the key's lock, i.e your house once the bite code is broken is quite hard unless you know the persons details, though with improve facial searching of images this may become a problem in the future, however right now you're pretty safe unless you give your name and address out and keep leaving your keys at cafes at UCSD.

Phil