While combination padlocks have never been the most secure locks, they're about to get a whole lot less secure.
A well-known hacker called Samy Kamkar has invented a 3D printed robot that is able to crack almost any code-based padlock. The robot is suitably called "Combo Breaker."
"Combo Breaker is a motorized, battery powered, 3D printed, Arduino-based combination lock cracking device. It is portable, open source, 3D models provided, and exploits a new technique I've discovered for cracking combination locks in 8 attempts or less, but in an even more exciting, automated fashion," said Kamkar on his blog.
Now, it would be one thing if Kamkar had simply created the robot, however he has not only done that but also has posted the blueprint and software code to create the robot yourself.
The robot takes advantage of a small flaw found in these locks. When a user pulls on the u-shaped shackle of one of these locks and turns the rotor, a little bit of resistance can be felt when it passes a number that is in the combination. Once the four numbers have been determined, there are only so many combinations that are possible. While for a human this would require a little patience and practice, Combo Breaker is able to do it in a few short minutes. If, as outlined in the video, you can tell the robot the first number in the combination after feeling for resistance of the first number, the process can take as little as 30 seconds.
"Without doing any work, this can open the lock entirely automatically in 80 combinations," continued Kamkar.
The robot is made up of a stepper motor, an Arduino chip, a lever to pull the shackle, a rotor with a 3D printed imprint designed to clip onto the lock face, and an optical sensor that is able to track where the dial is as it is turned. The prototype was built all for less than $100.
While it is unlikely that the use of this lock will become a widespread issue, it does point out that nothing is completely secure, despite what we may think. In securing something of value or importance, both in the digital world and in the real world, it is important to have more than one method of security in place. If you yourself use these locks to secure important data or objects, maybe it's time to either look for a new security method or think about applying a second way to secure your valuables.
Shown is the video demonstrating the device.
