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NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - Hackers say they were able to take pictures of the TSA's master lock keys that appeared in a news article and ultimately make blueprints and replicas of them. The master set of keys open the locks that we put on our suitcases.
Sen. Charles Schumer says it puts travelers in danger if someone is able to gain access to their luggage.
Johnny Christmas says he is one of the hackers and their goal is bigger than just luggage locks. It's a wake-up call for government agencies that want master keys to unlock encryption on everything from our social networks to our phones.
The TSA released a statement to Fox 5 saying the digitally produced keys do not pose any threat to security. "These consumer products are convenience products that have nothing to do with TSA's aviation security regime. Carry on and checked bags are subject to the TSA's electronic screening and manual inspection."
Fox News legal analyst Arthur Aidala agrees the luggage locks are just cosmetic to help make the public feel safe. In addition, he says it would be impossible for someone to plant something in your luggage without being detected. He says someone would have to enter an airport with the guns, bomb, explosives, then get through security with it, then gain access to your luggage and take it to a private location.
However, Aidala points out that if someone was able to plant explosives or drugs in your luggage and authorities detected it, these hacked luggage lock keys would be a credible defense. You could say 'just look online, anyone can make the keys and someone else put the contraband in my suitcase.'