Is Copying Access Cards Ethical?

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Brian Rhodes
Jul 14, 2014
IPVMU Certified

This lively discussion is raging on a LinkedIn group: "Is it ethical to offer HID card copying services?" Card cloning is available from internet vendors willing to do so with no questions asked:

That discussion has caught a number of interesting responses, ranging from disbelief that it is possible, to admonishing vendors like this one that offer card cloning services.

Essentially, there are two sides to the discussion:

1) Those that think it's unethical (and harmful) and there is no legitimate need to copy a card.

2) Those that see no ethical quandary, and if cloning is possible and an undesired risk for your cards, you should get better (more secure) cards.

It's an interesting question. What do you think?

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Ari Erenthal
Jul 14, 2014
Chesapeake & Midlantic

That's nothing, I heard that there's places you can go and copy keys! Like, physical bits of metal ground in an exact replication of your key! Is there no level these unethical people will stoop to?

RW
Rukmini Wilson
Jul 14, 2014

Name one "you can go" to and have them duplicate a DND key with no questions asked.

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Brian Rhodes
Jul 14, 2014
IPVMU Certified

Here's one for starters.

Those 'DND' statements aren't worth anything, except a minor deterrent for honest people.

RW
Rukmini Wilson
Jul 14, 2014

Thanks, I wasn't making a point, I just really needed one... ;)

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Ari Erenthal
Jul 14, 2014
Chesapeake & Midlantic

A little place I like to call "all of them".

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Mark Jones
Jan 30, 2015

I have a key cutter that belonged to my father. You can buy them by the dozen on the net.

JP
Jason Pfau
Feb 02, 2015
IPVMU Certified

Just because its unethical it doesnt rule out that people will do it.

In fact, those that do it anyway are probably more along the lines of who you should worry about.

MT
Michael Terrizzi
Apr 18, 2016

Is it unethical to copy keys? Even ones that say don't duplicate. I'd have to say it's not unethical. If you own that key and are able to duplicate by any means, ethical or not everyone's going to do it

Now they make keymark, medico and primus keys that can't be duplicated unless it's by an authorized vendor. Illegally duplicating one of these keys would be unethical because you would need to aquire laser cut blank, perhaps without the keyholders authorization.

That same reference goes hand in hand with prox and mifare EV1 / iClass SE cards with corporate 1000 or Aptiq equivalent.

Enuf said?

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