Key cloning software

[rbcp]

Software can clone keys from single photo!

Hundreds of Flickr users like to show off high-rez pictures of their keys!

[greenhippo33]

Saw this on giz a while back very interesting stuff

[ApprenticePhreak]

I guess my question would be who would have the understanding to this and then full access to the technology required to do such things. It's a neat idea, no doubt, but unless you've got a digital ready key cutter laying around, it's useless. I'm also sure anyone interested into breaking into a home to gain cash and various other items isn't going to have the intelligence to create this device.

After all, if they can code their own system and then have their digital key cutter recognize the program and then run it with that sort of precision, they're probably not interested in breaking into houses at all. They hopefully have a real job that pays well and aren't total douche bags.

[Nod]

They could make a ton of money selling car keys though.

[Zazen]

I guess my question would be who would have the understanding to this and then full access to the technology required to do such things.

Law enforcement. It's conceivable that they'd use a photo, maybe even from flickr, to make a key for a covert search or to plant bugs.

[compromizer]

Software can clone keys from single photo!

Hundreds of Flickr users like to show off high-rez pictures of their keys!

Actually common keys like kwikset and schlage can be decoded by looking at them and reading the cuts. I have been a locksmith for 3 years now and my grandfather has even looked in the window of a car that had the keys locked in, read the cuts of the key by sight - and punched a key out on the spot! Kwikset for example has cuts that are each a different depth, lets say 1-6 as an example. Where a 1 cut would not be very deep in the key, a 6 would be a deeper cut. They make key decoders that can fit in a wallet that you can stick and key in and decode the cuts. As a locksmith, I have never heard of software that can do this although in theory - I think it is very possible. However, other keys such as various car keys are not as obvious as to what they go to. For example, you could look at a car key sitting on a table sideways however just by looking at it you would not be able to tell what key blank you need to cut the keys onto. However if its sitting inside a Blue Crown Victoria in the seat, you can look up the key blank number and possibly get an idea of the cuts by a picture of the key or looking at the key.