3 Million Hacked Hotel Keycards – What Could Go Wrong?

The current trajectory of technological advancement points towards a world where everyday objects are increasingly digitized and connected to the cloud, under the guise of immense convenience. From adjusting your fridge temperature with a simple tap to setting your television to your favorite show before you arrive home with your phone, this future is alluring.

However, amidst these conveniences lies a flip side – security concerns. There’s something inherently problematic about this tech-savvy future, especially when it comes to security. Engineers, developers, and designers often fail to prioritize security from the outset, and accountability is lacking. The recent headline-making incident involving the compromise of Saflok’s hotel lock system, potentially exposing three million hotel room locks, for example, clearly highlights this issue.

Vulnerabilities in Hotel Lock Systems

Following the audacious MGM hack last year by the infamous “Star Fraud” gang, which caused a staggering $30 million in potential loss, the hospitality industry finds itself again grappling with security concerns. The recent breach of Saflok’s hotel lock system left as many as 3 million hotel locks susceptible to unauthorized access within seconds, impacting numerous hospitality chains that rely on this system. This sophisticated yet relatively simple hack involved exploiting RFID and encryption mechanisms using a spare keycard.

Fortunately, ethical security researchers unearthed this vulnerability. In doing so, they illuminated weaknesses in both Dormakaba’s encryption and the underlying RFID system they employ, known as MIFARE Classic. Through exploitation of these vulnerabilities, the hackers demonstrated the alarming ease and speed with which Saflok keycard locks can be bypassed. Their method entails acquiring any keycard from a target hotel—whether by booking a room or obtaining a used keycard—then extracting a specific code from that card using a $300 RFID read-write device. Subsequently, they craft two new keycards of their own which, when tapped on a lock, alter a specific piece of the lock’s data then enable the second card to open it.

The full extent of vulnerabilities in unnecessarily web-connected devices remains uncertain. Furthermore, the widespread awareness of how easily these lock systems, among others, can be compromised raises significant concerns. While we remain hopeful that life and property will stay secure until these lock vulnerabilities are addressed, the reality is that resolving interconnected device issues will demand heightened awareness, time, and extensive manual intervention. It’s imperative that swift action is taken to fortify the security of these systems to protect the safety and privacy of guests. They also serve as a warning for other, similar vulnerabilities that exist.

Pitfalls of Over-Digitalization and Neglecting Security

The hotel keycard situation highlights significant concerns related to the rampant over-digitalization present in today’s world, coupled with an excessive reliance on convenience. The escalating dependence on digital security measures, exemplified by keyless entry systems for cars and smart locks for homes, presents a formidable security threat. We find ourselves in a troubling pattern of prioritizing convenience at the expense of security. This trend is exacerbated by the lack of tangible consequences for product designers failing to incorporate security, and the tendency towards abundance often present in many first-world countries.

In the era dominated by physical keys, a perceived sense of security prevailed. Typically only one available copy of a key existed, and duplication required physical access. However, the evolution toward digital keys introduces new vulnerabilities. The prevalence of vehicle thefts, facilitated by the remote copying of entry systems without any physical interaction, underscores this vulnerability. Likewise, the proliferation of vehicle apps enabling remote tracking and control poses significant security risks. The crucial question arises: do the conveniences offered by digital systems outweigh the associated risks? It’s a pressing dilemma demanding our attention, as we continually navigate the trade-off between convenience and security.