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Brilliant-but-scary iOS app can 3D print a copy of any key you have a picture of

Updated Feb 12th, 2015 2:20PM EST

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Imagine never having to worry about losing your keys again just because you have a picture of it stored on your smartphone? That’s the premise behind KeyMe, a new iOS app that will 3D print you a copy of any key that you have a picture of stored on your mobile device.

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We know what you’re thinking: This has disaster written all over it. CNET’s Nick Statt asked KeyMe to talk about about some of the safeguards it’s putting up to make sure that people can’t just take pictures of your keys and have them 3D printed to use for nefarious reasons. The company responded that while it considers such a scenario unlikely, it has still taken some steps to prevent it from occurring.

“I asked KeyMe about this and the company responded that it’s always found that kind of incident unlikely,” writes Statt. “Few traditional key-skimming techniques leave as much of a digital trail as KeyMe, which requires a fingerprint to use its kiosk, an email account to sign up and a credit card and address to print a new key.”

Whether this is enough for you to put your trust in the app is entirely at your discretion. Check out KeyMe’s official App Store page by clicking here.

 

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.