Craig Burton

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Unbeleivable Privacy Threat

August 17th, 2009 · Comments

Programmers from USCD have figured out how to replicate keys from photos–even bad photos.

“You only need to click a few control points in the image of the key and the ‘Sneakey’ program does the rest,” programmer Benjamin Laxton told a UCSD reporter, “It normalizes the key’s size and position so that each pixel then corresponds to a known distance. From this information the height of each of the key cuts can easily be computed and likewise the bitting code can be extracted.”

Word to the wise, keep your keys protected. Don’t post them or publish pictures of them.


Tags: Daily Thesis

  • jenni06
    thank you for the information
  • very good article, I will add in my favorites
  • impression that the key replication was not even remotely closed to being hacked. Time flies.
  • violetnataly
    That is amazing and appaling at the same time. It seems to me there is no way to avoid risk to be hacked. Where there is a wish there is a way for a hacker. Besides, thanks for advice about the keys.
  • You only need to click a few control points in the image of the key and the ‘Sneakey’ program does the rest,” programmer Benjamin Laxton told a UCSD reporter, “It normalizes the key’s size and position so that each pixel then corresponds to a known distance.
  • programmer Benjamin Laxton told a UCSD reporter, “It normalizes the key’s size and position so that each pixel then corresponds to a known distance.
  • what people can do today with image technology is fightening.

    and to think my locksmith couldnt cut a working copy when he actually had my key
  • bernardcornwell
    Do you usually post pictures of you keys with your address ?

    Its interesting but no what I would see as a secuirty risk.
  • Technology now a days sure do know how to amaze people, key replication is next to hacking right? we should be really careful for there are so many softwares that can hack ones account
  • Are you kidding? I was under the impression that the key replication was not even remotely closed to being hacked. Time flies.
  • Thanks for the interesting article brother thanks for sharing
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