Can you hack hotel key cards?

HELSINKI (Reuters) - By getting hold of a widely used hotel key card, an attacker could create a master key to unlock any room in the building without leaving a trace, Finnish security researchers said in a study published on Wednesday, solving a 14-year-old mystery.



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No, you cannot copy your hotel card key. It is against the law to duplicate a hotel room key without permission from the management. Furthermore, it could be dangerous as someone else may gain access to your room and belongings if they have a copy of the same key.

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Some hotels will ask you to return them because even keys which no longer open a particular room may still be used to access other key-card secure areas like the pool, business center, or gym. Basically though, the hotel buys keys in crates of several thousand, and expects that most guests will not bother to return it.

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Hotel key cards contain sensitive information, such as guest names, room numbers, and credit card information. If a guest fails to return their key card, it can fall into the wrong hands and be used to access their room or make unauthorized purchases.

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Cards with scratches, exposure to debris, and other types of physical damage can be rendered unusable. Key cards may become inoperable when the magnetic stripe is demagnetized through exposure to magnets. Name tags, signs, and purse and wallet closures, and mobile phones are all potential sources of magnet exposure.

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Many people believe that storing hotel room keys near electronics, such as cell phones, can demagnetize them. However, this is also a myth. Hotel room keys are typically made of materials that are not easily affected by the electromagnetic fields generated by electronic devices.

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Common Hotel Card Types Some hotels use access cards with magnetic strips, ('mag stripe cards' for short). Magnetic stripe cards are also known as 'swipe cards'. But there are other alternatives to hotel access, such as proximity (RFID) cards, access cards with holes, photo ID cards, barcode cards, and smart cards.

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Yes, a hotel can tell if you are actually in the room. Hotels use key cards to track when guests enter and exit their rooms. When a guest swipes their card at the door, it registers with the hotel's system that they have entered or exited the room.

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Experts say you also don't need to worry about turning your key card in at the end of your stay; the information expires so the hotels can reuse the cards.

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Additionally, some hotels may require a deposit when checking in which will be refunded upon return of the key card. So while it's unlikely that you'll get charged for simply forgetting to return your key card at check-out time, it's always best to double-check with the hotel before leaving just in case!

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You can add a hotel room key to the Apple Wallet app. Then use your iPhone or Apple Watch to view booking details, check in and unlock your room. To add a hotel room key on your iPhone, you'll need: The latest version of iOS or watchOS.

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You can leave the card keys in the room, or at the front desk when you leave. BUT, to be sure that there are not charges added to your bill that may not be correct, it is always wise to ask for a final bill as you leave.

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Key cards might be programmed to deactivate at noon on the date of your check-out. If you have two back-to-back reservations the front desk hostess might not have connected them so your key might stop working when your first reservation is over.

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Hotel staff have emergency keys that allow us to override the deadbolt - it's either a physical key or an electronic key depending on what type of lock it is. We have a tool that disengages the chain/security lock. Those tools and keys are kept in a safe with limited access, but they are available for emergencies.

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There is an increasing trend in hotels,started in Spain, to require the hotel room card in a slot for the electronics to work. This is a widespread energy saving move. The only way the air conditioning continues to work after you leave the room is if you have 2 cards. People often misplace a card.

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You can issue temporary keys to contractors or cleaners, and you receive a notification whenever one of the temporary keys is used. In the same way, when you check in to a hotel using your phone, they can send your hotel key directly to your phone.

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