Re:Hacker Opens High Security Handcuffs With 3D-Printed And ...
by sbov on Monday July 16, 2012 @01:07PM
(#4251535)
According to the article, that's not how handcuffs need to work.
Handcuffs are designed so that one officer can put them on and another can take them off. If that weren't the case this situation of being able to print 1 key for all handcuffs wouldn't exist - they would simply make unique keys per handcuff.
Re:Hacker Opens High Security Handcuffs With 3D-Printed And ...
by sophacles on Monday July 16, 2012 @01:23PM
(#4251624)
Fair enough, although, I think a procedure change and a "transfer authority" function could easily cover this. The transfer function would basically be: original cuffer presses the transfer button, swipes his print, the receiver then swipes his print, and the transfer is done.
However, in a broader view, yeah, there are probably better ways than fingerprints handle keys once electronic locking mechanisms are introduced. Probably something akin to a 2-factor cryptographic mechanism.
Re:Hacker Opens High Security Handcuffs With 3D-Printed And ...
by cswetenham on Monday July 16, 2012 @04:47PM
(#4252566)
Just for interest, this still can be done with unique keys: Officer Alice handcuffs prisoner and wants to hand off to Officer Bob. Officer Bob locks prisoner with his own handcuffs (prisoner is now wearing two pairs), then Officer Alice removes hers.
Re:Hacker Opens High Security Handcuffs With 3D-Printed And ...
by pavel_lishin on Monday July 16, 2012 @02:54PM
(#4251954)
Easy nitpick, what if one of the officers gets sick, gets injured, or just plain forgets and goes home?
Re:Hacker Opens High Security Handcuffs With 3D-Printed And ...
by sophacles on Monday July 16, 2012 @03:11PM
(#4252023)
Good question. I don't know, but perhaps an override key. However now that the physical key isn't an open secret, and needed by everyone, they would be easier to secure. And small batches would have a specific key for that batch, but not for all cuffs, making it even harder for the detainee to have the right duplicate on hand.
I feel though that my larger point is getting lost in this thread. It was/is:
Just because a security technology doesn't work for reason $x in situation $y, that doesn't mean that the weaknesses also apply to situation $z.
Re:Hacker Opens High Security Handcuffs With 3D-Printed And ...
by derrida on Monday July 16, 2012 @12:47PM
(#4251443)
The CCC are onto it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVu5ofv92e0
Of course that says nothing about other ways to defeat the cuffs, which would probably become the prime area of research at that point. (why attack the locking mechanism if there are easier to defeat weaknesses).