3-D Printed Skeleton Key Can Open Almost Any Lock in Seconds

3-D Printed Skeleton Key Can Open Almost Any Lock in Seconds

So, last year, all the rage around 3-D printing was the 3-D printed gun. Now we welcome the 3-D printed skeleton key! Whether made from plastic or metal, this key that can unlock high-security locks in seconds. The trick is to print a “bump” key with a 3-D printer.3-D Printed Skeleton Key Can Open Almost Any Lock in Seconds

The term “bumping” isn’t new and refers to filling a key blank into a set of teeth that rest against each of the pins in a pin and tumbler lock. When this key, the bump key, is tapped with a hammer, those teeth actually bump the pins, causing them to move. The bottom portion stays put, while the top halves of the pins jump just a few millimeters. A skilled lock picker can catch those jumping pins outside the lock’s cylinder and open the lock.

Using this same principle, German engineers Jos Weyers and Christian Holler created software called Photobump in which they say it is possible to bump open a wide range of locks using keys based on photographs of the locks’ keyholes.

According to Weyers, the only tools needed to pick a lock are: software, a picture of the lock’s keyhole and the depth of the keyhole.

Don’t have a 3-D printer? Not to worry, because bump keys can be mail-ordered from 3-D printing services, such as Shapeways, which has no restrictions on printing keys.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • Planning for Your Perimeter

    Planning for Your Perimeter

    The perimeter is an organization’s first line of defense and a critical element of any security and surveillance program. Even if a building’s interior or exterior security is strong, without a solid perimeter surveillance approach any company or business is vulnerable. Read Now

  • The Key Issue

    The Key Issue

    It is February 2014. A woman is getting ready in her room on a cruise ship when she hears a knock on the door; it is a crewmember delivering breakfast. She is not presentable so she tells him to leave it by the door. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Communications

    Achieving Clear Communications

    Technology within the security industry has adapted to numerous changes through the years, from the early days of analog devices to today’s IP-based solutions, networked cameras, and access control solutions, in addition to analytics, cloud-based products, virtual security guards, and more. Read Now

  • Taking Flight

    Taking Flight

    Airport security is a complex system that incorporates multiple technologies to ensure the safety and security of travelers, employees and the facility itself. Sound-based technologies are integral pieces of this system, providing means of communication, notification and monitoring. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • Genetec Security Center

    Genetec Security Center

    This major new release allows more system components to run in the cloud, reducing the gap between cloud and on-premises security systems. It also makes it easier to connect external systems and tap external data for use in dashboards, maps and investigations without relying on complex, specialized integrations. 3

  • ComNet CNGE6FX2TX4PoE

    The ComNet cost-efficient CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is a six-port switch that offers four Gbps TX ports that support the IEEE802.3at standard and provide up to 30 watts of PoE to PDs. It also has a dedicated FX/TX combination port as well as a single FX SFP to act as an additional port or an uplink port, giving the user additional options in managing network traffic. The CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is designed for use in unconditioned environments and typically used in perimeter surveillance. 3

  • Paxton10 CORE Cameras

    Paxton10 CORE Cameras

    The new CORE Series cameras feature edge processing for ultimate scalability, built-in edge storage, and plug-and-play installation. The addition of the CORE Series gives installers new hardware, better choice, and more value than ever before. 3