Shrinky Dinks As a Threat To National Security 257
InflammatoryHeadlineGuy writes "What do Shrinky Dinks, credit cards and paperclips have in common? They can all be used to duplicate the keys to Medeco 'high-security' locks that protect the White House, the Pentagon, embassies, and many other sensitive locations. The attack was demonstrated at Defcon by Marc Weber Tobias and involves getting a picture of the key, then printing it out and cutting plastic to match — both credit cards and Shrinky Dinks plastic are recommended. The paperclip then pushes aside a slider deep in the keyway, while the plastic cut-out lifts the pins. They were able to open an example lock in about six seconds. The only solution seems to be to ensure that your security systems are layered, so that attackers are stopped by other means even if they manage to duplicate your keys."
More power to Homeland Security (Score:5, Funny)
You can copy keys? (Score:5, Funny)
OMFG!
Getting the key picture, is the key to success (Score:5, Funny)
Sorry about that, Chief (Score:1, Funny)
The only solution seems to be to ensure that your security systems are layered, so that attackers are stopped by other means
Maybe the White House and Pentagon need to have a look at the opening theme sequence to "Get Smart".
Re:Getting the key picture, is the key to success (Score:5, Funny)
Sure, if their password is *******.
Re:More power to Homeland Security (Score:5, Funny)
Thank you, I'll be here all week.
Re:More power to Homeland Security (Score:4, Funny)
Re:They protect the White House? (Score:4, Funny)
Wrong again, Dave. It's sharks with lasers. Everyone knows that.
Re:More power to Homeland Security (Score:2, Funny)
So now they'll not just confiscate my laptop when I arrive in the US, they'll also pinch my paperclips and credit cards ?
Everyone with a credit card is now considered a potential terrorist and will be added to the "do not fly" list.
Re:the actual threath (Score:4, Funny)
Shrinky dink of course!
It must be banned to protect national security!
Visa cards as well.
Hmm a idea.
I am a Visa card confiscator from the NSA. Can I please have your card?
Picking locks with Shrinky Dinks? (Score:3, Funny)
Errrm...
The places guys insert their shrinky dinks... crazy stuff.
Sure they can copy keys... (Score:1, Funny)
...but can they also repair shoes?
Re:Getting the key picture, is the key to success (Score:4, Funny)
Yep. Those little RFID tags are really good since you cant copy them. .....SHIT!!!!
Secret Service... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Is this surprising? (Score:5, Funny)
Elminate the clean bright keys from the pool. Eliminate zero and one; the remaining pool has the combination. It's probably just four numbers, could be five.
Now take your Timex/Sinclair and do the math.
Let' see... *taps madly into his Timex/Sinclair*
And the result is...
12345
Am I the only one? (Score:3, Funny)
The real news I got out of this is: they still make shrinkydinks!?!
Who knew?
I woulda thought they woulda been classified as toxic by now...
Re:More power to Homeland Security (Score:3, Funny)
I was in the pool!!!!
Dammit (Score:4, Funny)
That's the code on my luggage!
I love this stuff (Score:5, Funny)
Kids didn't have credit cards when I was in high school but every lock in our school except the outside doors (which we could sometimes tape or the like) and the principal's office were simple spring locks. Take seconds to open any of them with a piece of plastic. We got so fluid at it we were observed once from a distance and just lied, "Hey, what do you mean? It was unlocked. We were just snooping around." and he didn't push it. Did stupid stuff like swapping teachers' home room desks on different floors or laying out chairs in the auditorium to spell out expletives. A separate group we taught unfortunately got into more hardcore vandalism.
Re:Getting the key picture, is the key to success (Score:3, Funny)
Sure, if their password is lesbian.
Good thing none of us can see your password [bash.org]. Only you can. As long as you type in your Slashdot password into Slashdot, it will hide it from us.
(This would have worked so much better if you weren't posting as an Anonymous Coward.)
Re:More power to Homeland Security (Score:4, Funny)
And if don't use a credit card to buy your tickets, you were already considered a potential terrorist.
On the bright side, now that everyone is a potential terrorist, we can at least stop maintaining the list.
Re:More power to Homeland Security (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Is this surprising? (Score:2, Funny)
Your Timex/Sinclair is wrong. I got 58008
Oh wait... I might have had that upside down.
Re:Is this surprising? (Score:5, Funny)
You, sir, just reduced the security of your PINs to 34.93% of the original value.
Have a nice day.
Re:Is this surprising? (Score:3, Funny)
an excessively extravagant security system preventing unauthorized pooping.
Preventing? A lockable toilet lid would only make unauthorized pooping much, much worse.
Re:More power to Homeland Security (Score:1, Funny)
No, that would be logical.
Re:More power to Homeland Security (Score:4, Funny)
Good call leaving out "You put it in the oven."
After all, this is /. -- people with ovens don't let the kids here play.
Re:Is this surprising? -- No. (Score:2, Funny)
"My granddad was a blacksmith who taught his trade to young crims at a borstal in the 1950s. One of them showed how he could open a Yale lock in about 30 seconds."
It shouldn't take that long for a *blacksmith* ... one hammer blow should do it.