USB Door Entry System

[Troy Martin]

I know some people came in here expecting one to already exist and a link in here.

I had an idea for a USB door. Basically, it's like a key with a USB device that transmits a key code (obfuscated and such inside the device, and you can't get the code without the lock and fingerprint ID) into a receiver inside the house. If it works, the door slides open (doors go into the wall and slide horizontally.) If not, it fails, and the system may trigger a silent
(or noisy) alarm.

Of course, you can't just stick any drive in there and expect it to work. The device has a fingerprint scanner installed and a special "lock and key" attachment soldered on.

Thoughts? This was just an idea I came up with on the walk home from school.

[Dex]

Why would it be any better than a set of keys ?, as any fingerprint device can be got round with readlly available stuff, do you not watch mythbusters .

[Troy Martin]

Sure, but it took them way too long to hack their simple cheap scanner effectively. What if the technology became readily available within the next few years that would be like one of today's multi-thousand dollar ones?

[piranha]

Dex: Because I want my front door to cost $2000, thats why.

Oh, maybe we should add DNA analyzer. You know, cut off a piece of your finger and the door checks it out to make sure it's you.

-JL

[Combuster]

Even with DNA, access to the person means access to the 'key', and gives the circumstance to copy that key.

The advantage of a key is that you know when it's gone.

[piranha]

No, cause it's all of the things + retinal scan + typed password + key code + hand print + you have to stand perfectly on the welcome mat.

-JL

[Brendan]

Hi,

No, cause it's all of the things + retinal scan + typed password + key code + hand print + you have to stand perfectly on the welcome mat.

In that case, people won't bother locking the door because it's too annoying to unlock...


Cheers,

Brendan

[piranha]

Shhh! You'll give away my plan!

-JL

[Brynet-Inc]

Hey! I have a great idea!

A penile identification mechanism!

To unlock a door, one inserts his or he.. oh wait, never mind.

[Troy Martin]

Hey, what about nipple identification?

You'd need to keep some ice by the door, and flash your neighbours, but ah well!

[JackScott]

The real question is, what is it that only I know and/or can do? If you find the answer to that problem, all you need is a way of measuring it. TBH, there is probably nothing that only one individual knows or can do that can't be emulated by somebody else. The whole idea of a password is something that nobody else knows. But of course, it's quite easy (assuming you don't mind immoral or illegal behaviour) to find out that password. Another option is picking an object that there only exists one of, like an Iris or a DNA strand.

[purage]

Impractical. If any improvements are to be done to a door, it should be to the door lock's resistance to bumping and picking. Mainly because, even if the door is electronically controlled, one would still need a key hole to override a dead or failing system; therefore, the door is still vulnerable to old school tricks and the weakness of the lock defeats the practicality of the system.

[AJ]

Also, there's the interface problem. If you use a USB device, it doesn't matter whether you have a fingerprint scanner with high level encryption or whatever - you still have to transmit a certain sequence of bytes to open the door. If someone spoofs that sequence of bytes, they have access to your house. This could be done in the same way as people clone credit cards by putting special devices in to cash machines.

On a similar topic, keyless entry / starting seems to be getting popular for (higher end) cars at the moment - I wonder how long it will take someone to come up with a device that detects the wirelessly transmitted code and can therefore clone the keyfob?

Cheers,
Adam

[Combuster]

There this zero-knowledge-proof thing you can use to cover a secret in plain sight. Including wireless transmissions

[Masterkiller]

Even with DNA, access to the person means access to the 'key', and gives the circumstance to copy that key.

The advantage of a key is that you know when it's gone.

Lets make voodoo magic I'll take a part of you and enter your home

Electrical door locking mechanism? Try an EMP, if you cannot enter after that... well, the original owner will also stay outside. But if the door is unlock with big metal key that weights two times a CRT monitor, you'll have much problems unlocking that door with a lockpick.