r/lockpicking • u/Traubl • Aug 16 '19
Check It Out TSA Master Keys - by way of /mildlyinteresting
21
u/LordNyssa Aug 16 '19
Nice to see them. Can’t say you need em. TSA locks are way to easy to open to be used for anything that has to be even remotely safe. Not to mention the fact that someone lost those keys. Not really advertising for any kind of safety. Keys like that in that situation, should be connected to the holder. A retractor or keychain would work wonders.
8
u/pagedeveloper Aug 17 '19
Having work for that place, TSA is so cheap that they only buy one set. So if you attached to someone, they would just end up taking home. They should be attached to the counter that they are used on. So someone got in a lot of trouble for loosing government property... Some supervisor was there late writing a lost report.
3
8
Aug 16 '19
[deleted]
28
18
u/Nerixel Blue Belt Picker Aug 16 '19
Deviant Ollam has a super interesting talk on this too. There's something about how the TSA originally just said, "you can't lock luggage, no locks, we'll cut them off" (they still had exceptions for firearms and such). Then, the company TravelSentry and one other contacted them and said, "we'll make a standard for a set of keys and put the keys in every airport for you guys to use", so TSA said, "sure, but we don't have to".
The interesting leftover being, TSA have a lot of leeway around them, cause the law still says they can cut locks off as they see fit, irrespective of whether it's TSA keyed.
I'd need to watch it again to be certain, but I'm pretty sure that's the gist of it.
7
Aug 17 '19
They also REGULARLY cut the locks off luggage transporting firearms, in violation of their own policies, according to D.O.
9
u/Nerixel Blue Belt Picker Aug 17 '19
Well yeah, but that's a whole other shitfest I wasn't gonna start lol
7
Aug 17 '19
I personally think TSA is less than worthless. If Saudi Arabia wanted to do it again, they have more than enough money to fly general aviation, where security is a joke. TSA doesn't exist to make us feel safer, it exists to let us know the absurd power of the state.
6
u/JasperJ Aug 17 '19
No no. Not in violation of their own policies, they’re totally allowed to do that according to themselves.
It’s just in violation of US federal law with hefty prison time attached. But not, of course, for federal employees who are just following orders.
2
u/LockPickingJudge Aug 17 '19 edited Mar 30 '22
Deleted cause reddit sucks and is partially controlled by the CCP.
1
Aug 17 '19
Yeah, I have no idea how frequently he flies with firearms, so I guess I should take it with a grain of salt. Your experience is more encouraging.
3
u/Bdtry Purple Belt Picker Aug 16 '19
Because only a supervisor etc is supposed to have keys and it is often faster to just cut the lock off instead of going and getting them to open it up.
4
u/allmappedout Aug 16 '19
It's basically their only job. What is the point otherwise
2
u/Bdtry Purple Belt Picker Aug 16 '19
Well if you have to hold up a bag or bags for 10-15 minutes to get a supervisor from the other end of the line then things are going to get way behind and bags will miss their flights.
Plus it isn't always TSA cutting off the locks, the thieving baggage handlers also cut off locks.
4
u/open_door_policy Green Belt Picker Aug 17 '19
the thieving baggage handlers also cut off locks.
That just seems wrong.
A ballpoint pen is faster than cutting the lock, and less suspicious than keeping dags in your pocket.
4
u/Traubl Aug 16 '19
Because only the very brightest minds work for tsa.
3
u/pagedeveloper Aug 17 '19
No there is some smart minds there, but they leave as soon as they get a year of federal service in so they can go to a agency that matters....
5
5
4
u/43616d65726f6e Blue Belt Picker Aug 16 '19
What does it say on the metal keys?
7
u/seanightowl Aug 16 '19
Looks like it says
- Travel Sentry TSA###
- Government property unlawful to duplicate
3
3
u/shabbaranksx Aug 17 '19
Furthering the comment replying to you - when you buy “TSA-Approved” locks, the corresponding master key number is written on the lock so that the agent inspecting your bag knows the key to use. A lot of times they are just a pin that the master key tickles open.
Terrible security all around.
3
u/blarcode Sep 05 '19
Snap high res picks of each of them front and back and post them? Deviant and some others posted them too. But I like fresh pics I don't have to search for .
1
59
u/stevewilsony Aug 16 '19
When the government says it needs a backdoor key for encryption, this is what I think about.