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Scientists copy keys with computer imaging to make sure we feel insecure


Not satisfied with the time-honored traditions of lockpicking or bump keying, computer science professor Stefan Savage and a handful of grad students at the University of California at San Diego have developed a computer system that makes a functional copy of a key based solely on a photograph, regardless of angle or distance -- the image resolution just has to be high enough to make out the details. They claim they did this "to show people that their keys are not inherently secret" so they'll be more careful about flaunting them around in their Flickr photos, but we're worldly enough to know that they really did it to steal beer from rival frat houses. Shame!

[Via Switched]