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'Sneakey' software can duplicate keys from images — even crummy ones
Computer programmers at UC San Diego have whipped up software that poses a serious threat. Called "Sneakey," it can use an image of a key from almost any angle to create an exact replica. It doesn't have to be a good image, either. Cellphone pictures work and, in a chilling example, the team successfully reproduced a key using a shot taken with a telephoto lens from 200 feet away.
"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."
It's devilishly simple, which is worrying. The "Sneakey" software was used last night as part of a presentation at the Conference on Communications and Computer Security, as an example of how new technology changes the game when it comes to security. What can you do to guard against it? Not much, save treat your keys like you do your credit card. Don't publicize its image, because that's all "Sneaky" and software like it would need.
Via UCSD
By EnOne at 12:18 PM ON 10/31/08
this becomes more interesting with the article from a couple of days ago about Diebold putting photos of the keys that unlock the electronic voting booths with their voting booth advertising. Could you also copy the keys from a video screen grab? that's pretty low resolution as well.
By Unique Gift Ideas at 12:29 PM ON 10/31/08
This is kind of.. freaky if you ask my opinion. It makes me wonder why one would go public with information, such as the development of a new program like Sneakey, when it could potentially cause a security crisis..
By EnOne at 1:52 PM ON 10/31/08
RE: Unique gift ideas
You go public with this information so people don't put pictures of their keys on flickr or other picture sharing sites.
By greatcomet at 2:09 PM ON 10/31/08
Now seriously,the people who need this technology are the people who cut keys at hardware store. These people have my key in their possession and still they can't give me a duplicate that works. LOL
By SiteSleuth at 2:16 PM ON 11/06/08
For more technical details the paper is available via one of the publishers websites:
By not real at 12:00 PM ON 11/11/08
I'm pretty sure I just don't believe this at all. Not very likely.
By bill at 2:54 PM ON 12/02/08
I see little difference between publicising this and the chortling idiots who hack your machine 'to prove that you need better security'. What benefit has this person generated?
By hobs at 7:45 AM ON 07/05/09
All the people here questioning the usefulness at the expense of normal security obviously has no idea what they are talking about.
If some random dudes can create thing tech, that means it is most likely already in use somewhere else, stealing your stuff.
So, informing of a threat, or blissful ignorance, your decision. (it looks like you already made it)
By Borellus at 12:52 PM ON 07/06/09
This is a rather concerning security threat. Ah well, I will be more worried when software it made to scan erisis from 200 feet away.
By thegnu at 6:10 PM ON 07/06/09
@hobs, concur.
The fact that you can break into about 90% of houses with a set of 10 bump keys is well-known among common thieves. If you think controlling the flow of information is the way to keep your country happy and peaceful, I have some travel brochures on China, N Korea, and Iran you might consider checking out.
This information, if not shared among regular people, will remain the sole domain of people who are VERY INTERESTED in it, eg security professionals and criminals.
By robb at 2:56 PM ON 07/11/09
bah this is rather scary.
image processing to the next level.
By relic at 6:46 PM ON 07/11/09
Another nail in the coffin for non digital security systems. USB Keys with identity recognition software issued by the corp. Nothing is perfect (save quantum encryption as far as my understanding goes) but anything is better than a purely mechanical lock.
Dont act like Mechanical locks
By Jbizme at 1:15 PM ON 07/16/09
That is sneaky...
Save your life with an
Electronic Cigarette
By website copywriting at 8:16 PM ON 07/16/09
This will revolutionize espionage. The government should buy the patent and seal up all the research documents. Imagine if this became common knowledge? Breakins... everywhere :(
By Aenjel at 10:32 PM ON 07/16/09
Over 15 years ago, a friend of the family, who is a locksmith, got into my parents house in about 5 seconds without damaging the locks. I'm sure that his tools have improved since then, but the doorknob lock technology hasn't improved much...nevermind the 15+ year old locks that are still in use.
Who's worried about the potential security threat of this program?
By Ruggy at 12:24 AM ON 07/17/09
Ha ha!!! This is hilarious. Geeks rule!
By InfiniteDoLoop at 12:31 AM ON 07/17/09
download link?
By Gijs at 8:55 AM ON 07/17/09
By SantasLittleHelper at 10:27 AM ON 07/17/09
About a year or so ago, a major ATM manufacturer took down the image of its master key from their website after someone did essentially the same trick by hand.
By lockpro at 5:54 PM ON 07/17/09
ANY locksmith can do this. All he needs to see is your key for a few seconds. The bow design tells him the manufacturer (Kwikset, Schlage, Yale, etc) from which he then knows the possible depths of key cuts, i.e 1-5, or 0-9, etc. Simple to deduce the cuts, as easy as reading these words. Never leave your keys in plain sight. Even works on Medeco. What they have done here is apply software to solve the problem for someone not schooled in the locksmith craft.
By DietBroccoli at 1:45 PM ON 07/20/09
This isn't worrying at all. One of my hobbies is lock picking, and I can get through doors in just a few seconds with 2 small pieces of metal... and it doesn't just work on one thing at a time like a key.
Not worrying at all, because locks only keep honest people honest.
By :P at 5:32 PM ON 08/29/09
why is everone so worried about this?
Picking the lock on an average house is actually kinda easy. Bumping can be guarded against with an anti-bump lock, but most homeowners don't know what these are, or what bumping is.
But even if you have an anti-bump lock, the lock can easily be picked using a different method.
Just hide your valubles (like jewellery) and stop worrying, if a theif really wants what's in your house, he'll get it.
By Matt at 2:53 AM ON 09/23/09
Not much can be done to hide this technology. Can't seal away the patents or anything. Reason being it's so simple. Simply by reading this article I can already do this... assuming I have access to a key cutter. Give me a photo of a key and I can apply what I've learned in college math and easily reproduce it. It's only a matter of proportions. Use trig. Don't even need a computer program. Give me a pencil and graphing paper.
Now we've learned a valuable lesson. UPDATE OUR SECURITY SYSTEMS!
By Itsashirt T shirts at 2:05 PM ON 01/13/10
Time to think of a good alternative for keys... fingers or irisscan?
By ropeitgolf at 2:52 AM ON 02/16/10
Enhance...
By fuzzycup at 8:54 AM ON 03/06/10
Totaly photoshoped you can tell by the aspect ratio and the fps.
on your cellphone!
Text DVICE to 72434
editor@dvice.com
fuzzycup:
Totaly photoshoped you can tell by the aspect ratio and the fps....More »