NBC's TODAY show had a segment recently on what they described as an easy way for thieves to make duplicate keys. A new website offers a system for people to take a picture of their key using a cell phone. The digital picture is then sent in by E-mail to a service called Keys Duplicated. NBC claimed that if keys were momentarily available, a thief could also take a cell phone photo and order a cut key. A similar service is called Key Me. Both services have software which can read the cuts on a key by measuring depth and space dimensions taken from the digital photo. Apparently Keys Duplicated is an instant duplication service. KeyMe can also save the key measurements and furnish a duplicate key at a later date in case of a lockout. You can view the NBC story at: http:/com/www.today.com/news/new-technology-could-give-thieves-key-your-door-literally-2D80161986.
Years ago locksmiths had to stock hundreds of different key blanks in order to be prepared for every residential and commercial key type in use. Now you can predict that almost every key which comes in for duplication is going to be an SC1 or KW1 keyway. This has produced several unwanted outcomes.
- First, customer security is not enhanced when only two keyways are consistently used nationwide.
- Second, keyway standardization has allowed every non-professional key cutter to stock two blanks, look like a pro, and add to declining foot traffic at every locksmith establishment.
- Third, SC1 and KW1 vertical keyways using standard pin tumblers and drivers have always been vulnerable to picking and bumping attacks.
- Fourth, the use of only two different depth and space dimensions allows internet companies such as those described above to easily read key cuts electronically.
If everything remains the same, these two companies will not be the last to take advantage of that situation.
At one time almost every household door contained one key-in-knob lockset and most tract homes used SC1 or KW1 keyways. It made sense for every deadbolt manufacturer to use KW1 or SC1 keyways so their locks could be keyed to the existing house key.
Today almost every new home has secondary deadbolts installed during construction. The requirement for SC1 or KW1 keyways is much less necessary.
Since we are security specialists, it seems logical that we should be selling key systems which are not readily available from any other source. With few exceptions, very few domestic or imported locksets offer anything but SC1 or KW1 keyways as standard equipment. Why is that? It is time to change to dimple key locks or the use of some other mass-produced high security key type which can bring security and the duplication of keys back under control.
