3D printer software developed to copy keys without seeing original (video)

 September 1, 2014 - 10:45 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - 3D printer software has been developed to copy keys without ever seeing the original, Digital Spy reported.

Photobump only needs a picture of the lock and other information such as the lock's depth to create a perfect replica.

"You don't need much more to make a bump key," engineer Jos Weyers said at the Hackers On Planet Earth conference in New York City last month alongside co-creator Christian Holler. "Basically, if I can see your keyhole, there's an app for that."

The pair do not intend to make the software available to the public, but warn that keys are "no longer enough".

However, Ikon owner Assa Abloy told Wired that the technique is expensive and unreliable.

"We view this as an interesting exercise, but not particularly representative of the real world of covert entry by criminals and burglars," Joachim Gillert from the company explained.

"Yes, you can open some locks, some of the time with bump keys, even made with hard plastic. But…the use of such keys depends on many variables and is not particularly reliable."