Luckily, you can't 3D print an encryption key that would be useful in any way. Although, now I wish the guy from Lavabits had handed in his SSL cert as 3D printed letters and numbers like a puzzle.

3D printing is one of the more useful ways to securely backup up encryption key’s. Just ensure the only place they exist is inside an object and not only are they durable, but tamper resistant as someone can’t just photocopy the key.

Could you elaborate on that? I couldn't find anything from a few Google searches.

3D printers can make solid objects with internal structures.

It’s the same basic idea as an envelope, as in you need to open it to see what’s inside. However, opening it up inherently breaks the object so if you have it unbroken then it’s obvious that nobody has done so. XRay’s being an obvious risk.

That would be a 2D print.

You’re 3D printing inside the object so people can’t just copy the number. Think envelope.

> Luckily, you can't 3D print an encryption key that would be useful in any way.

That's true, you have to rely on Sony executives to tweet them out instead. https://m.slashdot.org/story/147470

You can tattoo an encrypyion algorithm. Someone did that a long time ago with RSA: http://www.geekytattoos.com/illegal-tattoos-rsa-tattoos/

There are many, many ways to print (escrowed) keys with a 3d printer... from punched cards, to "engraved" letters, to chains of 3d numbers, etc.

No you can just print a QR code of it on a 2D printer :P