Duplicating Your Housekeys, From a Distance 287
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.
wow (Score:5, Funny)
Who? (Score:4, Funny)
Fine, go ahead... (Score:5, Funny)
make copies of my keys. Have fun "playing" with my pitbull waiting for you on the other side of the door.
Re:Interesting but pointless (Score:2, Funny)
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...
Hubble's purpose! (Score:3, Funny)
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.
Ha! (Score:2, Funny)
A boon for swingers! (Score:5, Funny)
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!
I'll believe it when I see it. (Score:5, Funny)
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.
Re:Fine, go ahead... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:wow (Score:1, Funny)
Not really. The rock was a pet rock and it ran away.
You are now "key-less". You may go back to Sto-Vo-Kor.
Re:Interesting but pointless (Score:5, Funny)
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.
Who needs keys (Score:5, Funny)
The best antitheft device on my car is the manual transmission. ;)
Re:wow (Score:3, Funny)
You know, they can clone you from DNA, no need for a photo.
Re:Eyeballing my Cadillac (Score:5, Funny)
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.
Re:Interesting but pointless (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Interesting but pointless (Score:2, Funny)
What? If what?? Don't leave us hanging, NO CARRIER man!!
(CAPTCHA is dramatic.)