Kryptonite keys are interchangeable?

[GirishH]

Not sure if this is a Kryptonite issue or an issue with other bicycle locks too.

I have an interesting story. I got a Kryptonite U-lock from a friend but wasn't too inclined on it as it was too bulky. One day while riding down a bike trail, I found a Kryptonite Keeper (chain lock) lying on the path. Don't ask me why, but my intuition made me try using "that" U-lock key on this Kryptonite Keeper. Guess what? Sadly and scarily, it worked. So, as crazy and simple as it sounds even Kryptonite locks are this easily hackable.

I have tried this on my friends' U-lock and fortunately no success. But I'm still surprised that a Kryptonite U-lock opens a random Kryptonite Keeper lock.

I plan to contact Kryptonite to see how it is possible and will keep you all posted.

Feel free to pitch in if you had an idea how this could be possible.

[enkei]

I look forward to hearing what Kryptonite says. You are not alone.

[Jesper]

Thanks for the info.

[GirishH]

I have contacted Kryptonite but haven't heard back yet. I will keep you all posted when I hear back.

[TomC]

(07-27-2023, 07:34 PM)GirishH Wrote:  Not sure if this is a Kryptonite issue or an issue with other bicycle locks too.

I have an interesting story. I got a Kryptonite U-lock from a friend but wasn't too inclined on it as it was too bulky. One day while riding down a bike trail, I found a Kryptonite Keeper (chain lock) lying on the path. Don't ask me why, but my intuition made me try using "that" U-lock key on this Kryptonite Keeper. Guess what? Sadly and scarily, it worked. So, as crazy and simple as it sounds even Kryptonite locks are this easily hackable.

I have tried this on my friends' U-lock and fortunately no success. But I'm still surprised that a Kryptonite U-lock opens a random Kryptonite Keeper lock.

I plan to contact Kryptonite to see how it is possible and will keep you all posted.

Feel free to pitch in if you had an idea how this could be possible.

I'm not sure what the odds are for Kryptonite locks but no off-the-shelf lock company has keys that are unique to each lock. Did you ever notice that most of the budget-to-mid-price padlocks and door locks have keys marked with a 3, 4, or occasionally 5 digit number -- that's the key number. Higher priced locks generally don't make it so obvious, but any mechanical lock has a limited number of possible keys.

Up until the 1980's each American car manufacturer had only about 1000 different keys. In the 1980s they increased the number of possible keys, but there were still a better than 1:10,000 chance that your key would fit another car of the same manufacturer (and theirs would fit yours). It wasn't until the electronic "chip" keys that this problem was even close to solved, but with millions of cars sold every year, there are still going to be some other cars that you key will fit, and vice versa.

[GirishH]

Hello @TomC, that's interesting insight. Who knew that even car keys were interchangeable..

That explains a lot about my Kryptonite situation and also when they never replied back to my query..

(11-26-2024, 05:31 PM)TomC Wrote:  

(07-27-2023, 07:34 PM)GirishH Wrote:  Not sure if this is a Kryptonite issue or an issue with other bicycle locks too.

I have an interesting story. I got a Kryptonite U-lock from a friend but wasn't too inclined on it as it was too bulky. One day while riding down a bike trail, I found a Kryptonite Keeper (chain lock) lying on the path. Don't ask me why, but my intuition made me try using "that" U-lock key on this Kryptonite Keeper. Guess what? Sadly and scarily, it worked. So, as crazy and simple as it sounds even Kryptonite locks are this easily hackable.

I have tried this on my friends' U-lock and fortunately no success. But I'm still surprised that a Kryptonite U-lock opens a random Kryptonite Keeper lock.

I plan to contact Kryptonite to see how it is possible and will keep you all posted.

Feel free to pitch in if you had an idea how this could be possible.

I'm not sure what the odds are for Kryptonite locks but no off-the-shelf lock company has keys that are unique to each lock. Did you ever notice that most of the budget-to-mid-price padlocks and door locks have keys marked with a 3, 4, or occasionally 5 digit number -- that's the key number. Higher priced locks generally don't make it so obvious, but any mechanical lock has a limited number of possible keys.

Up until the 1980's each American car manufacturer had only about 1000 different keys. In the 1980s they increased the number of possible keys, but there were still a better than 1:10,000 chance that your key would fit another car of the same manufacturer (and theirs would fit yours). It wasn't until the electronic "chip" keys that this problem was even close to solved, but with millions of cars sold every year, there are still going to be some other cars that you key will fit, and vice versa.