newyork masterkey

[rai]

SCHNEIER .COM has an interesting post from the oct 15 on the so called "new york masterkey"
that the fire and perhaps police and others have to open doors apartment buildings elevators etc, probably like a common knox box type of key.
this was in the news when a retired locksmith from new jersey was selling them on e bay.
theres interesting discussion in the comments section. apparently some of them were cut on common blanks like a yale 1
In minneapolis, knox boxes are old and use an ace key or new and use a medeco key.

Comments section is always interesting.

[clearmoon247]

Honestly, you can find completed listing of the keys in question, high quality photos, with a detailed description of what they do. Frankly, this seems like a rehash of the MTA master key release. Yes people had them, but to hold one up for a high res shot saying here's the bitting is partially the problem. Any news outlet that decides to post on their site that its bad that this locksmith is trying to sell the keys with a picture of the keys in question needs to think twice. I personally feel that they are the ones who are taking a kind of bad situation and making it so much worse by shining the light on these keys. If they dropped the story it wouldnt be as bad as it is now.