Hobbyists print keys for opening luggage

Amazing stuff can be made with 3d printers. For example, scientists recently made an accurate print of the heart. But there are also disadvantages to the technology, US customs discovered.

The Washington Post recently accidentally published raw images of the so-called master keys, which the US Transportation Security Administration uses to check baggage. As the name suggests, these government-approved keys can open an estimated millions of locks for control purposes.

The Washington Post posted the photos with an article about the “secret life” of US Customs. Although the newspaper quickly took the raw images offline, the damage was already done. A group of hobbyists and security experts used the footage to create CAD files, which can be used to recreate the keys with a 3D printer.

The French initiator told Wired that he did not expect to be able to copy the keys. “But if someone says that my 3d models work, that’s cool and shows that a sample photo of a set of keys can compromise the whole system.” Moments later, a Canadian administrator reported that the keys indeed work immediately.

In the meantime, the discussion has been heated about publishing sensitive photos, such as the images of the master keys. Because who is guilty if someone uses 3d-printed keys for a criminal purpose? Anyway, this incident shows that everyone, from companies and governments to individuals, should always be alert to the safety and the false safety of society.