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Duplicate your House Keys with your Phone

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Re: Duplicate your House Keys with your Phone

#51

Post by csmattryder »

perlgeek wrote: post #49
csmattryder wrote: post #48

So i'm about to move out next week, I take a snapshot of the key (that's in my possession right now), pay with a prepaid Visa, and take next occupants stuff. Easily s/apartment/office. Flawless, proof that just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Exactly the same thing can be done by visiting a hardware store, or any other store that makes copies of keys.

True, but I'm then on CCTV, shown to be getting a key cut. I could pay someone to go get it cut, but there's an additional accomplice.

Though, the same could be said for a PO box delivery with an anonymous pick-up.

I think at this rate, I'll just break into my old apartment! ;)

Re: Duplicate your House Keys with your Phone

#53

Post by emeidi »

kleiba wrote: post #33
Moto7451 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never had a problem having "DO NOT COPY" keys copied. When I was the manager of a store I had to get multiple copies of the door keys and case keys at various times working there. OSH, Home Depot, etc didn't ask me any questions, just made my copies and sent me on my way.

Interesting. I once tried to get a copy of a key to a security lock (a fact I didn't know) in Germany. The guy in this tiny little shop (which I'm sure would otherwise be happy for every customer) had one look at the key, then handed it back to me straight away. He wouldn't do it. Maybe I should have just gone to a couple of other shops?

I assume European lock smiths are a little bit more suspicious when it comes to copying keys ...

Re: Duplicate your House Keys with your Phone

#54

Post by emeidi »

6d0debc071 wrote: post #40
kleiba wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. I once tried to get a copy of a key to a security lock (a fact I didn't know) in Germany. The guy in this tiny little shop (which I'm sure would otherwise be happy for every customer) had one look at the key, then handed it back to me straight away. He wouldn't do it. Maybe I should have just gone to a couple of other shops?

Same sort of experience in the UK, when trying to get a copy of my front door key made. You needed the original barcode that came with the keys to order copies.

That's probably the reason why a lot of keys here in Switzerland nowadays have chips on them as well.

Re: Duplicate your House Keys with your Phone

#55

Post by raimue »

csmattryder wrote: post #51
perlgeek wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly the same thing can be done by visiting a hardware store, or any other store that makes copies of keys.

True, but I'm then on CCTV, shown to be getting a key cut. I could pay someone to go get it cut, but there's an additional accomplice. Though, the same could be said for a PO box delivery with an anonymous pick-up. I think at this rate, I'll just break into my old apartment! ;)

Woah, are you just saying you like the creepy CCTV everywhere for good?

Also, you could have copied the key any time you lived there. They won't store videos such a long time. Even if they get data that you copied some key, they still don't know which key. Machines used in a home depot or a mall are dumb, they do not work with key numbers and can't store them.

Re: Duplicate your House Keys with your Phone

#56

Post by choult »

philip1209 wrote: post #34
pseudonym wrote: post #25

I'm actually more worried about this[1]. I don't want my key and associated information stored with bank-grade cryptography, I want it deleted after it's cut and sent out. It's easy enough to change a password if you get hacked, it's slightly more difficult to change a credit or debit card but it's more hassle in "changing all the places it's used" than anything else. But changing locks is a huge pain, and not always…

In general I agree for the sake of security, but in all fairness, the types of locks for which they are duplicating keys are pickable in under 60 seconds. It is essentially a waste of time to go through making a duplicate key - it is quite a sobering moment for me when I realized how easily I could defeat the locks on my house. High security locks whose keys need protection, such as BEST Locks, are probably outside t…

There is a vast difference in the number of people who can pick locks and the number of people with cameras.

Re: Duplicate your House Keys with your Phone

#57

Post by xlevus »

Does this really solve a problem? The only time I've needed to get keys cut was when I've either lost a key or moved house and needed a copy immediately.

Why would I risk my security and have to wait for the mailman? I can get a key cut at one of 10 shops near my house, door to door in 15 minutes.

And in the case of a lost key, I'd replace the barrel of the lock too.

Re: Duplicate your House Keys with your Phone

#58

Post by anxx »

olefoo wrote: post #15
nextstep wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If keys are useless, what are we using them for? They're clearly not useless.

Useless, in the sense that they are less than adequately effective; a reasonably able locksmith can open most barrel locks in seconds. If a criminal puts it in mind to acquire the skills, opening the locks is a small part of thievery, getting around the alarm is probably more of a concern.

I don't buy this reasoning. Yes, if someone really wanted to get in, they could probably learn to pick locks. But that doesn't mean locks are useless - now we reduced the pool of potential criminals to people who 1) know to pick locks 2) have been hanging around the area enough to know when the neighbors are away and unlikely to notice anything suspicious while a stranger is picking the locks 3) take greater risks. This is a significant improvement from anybody who saw that the car wasn't parked and decided to waltz in.

Re: Duplicate your House Keys with your Phone

#60

Post by ChrisNorstrom »

Now all I need is a lockable sheath to keep my key in so no one can take a photo of it.

Actually... Damn... http://www.google.com/patents/US7181939. Similar idea is already invented and patented.

Although, it isn't anything like I imagined it would be. My design's a lot more practical and only 1 piece, so the patent won't get in the way but I don't think it's something consumers might want to put up with. Having to enter a combination to use your house or car keys each and every time just doesn't seem worth it. Then again... fear is the easiest thing to sell.

What do you guys think? Would you buy a combination lock key sheath for $19.99?

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