Using your phone as a card substitute via NFC

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At my college dorm, we use a certain type of lock in which we put our keys up to the lock, and it unlocks. I figured it used NFC, but I wasn't sure. Then I found this article.

androidauthority/forgot-your-olympic-hotel-room-key-use-your-s3-103325/ (NOTE: As a new user, XDA won't let me post outside URL's. Type in .com after droidauthority for the link to work)

I've got no clue what kind of hardware is in those locks, but I can say that it looks EXACTLY THE SAME as the locks used in my school. For me, that essentially confirmed they use NFC. I don't know who makes those locks, but my school uses the same looking handles and lock mechanism. When the card is held up to the lock, the lock flashes green. If I had to guess, the card acts as an NFC tag. When held up to the door, it will activate my card as any other NFC tag, verify it's me, and then let me in.

Using NFC on my phone, I was wondering if it was possible to do the same! From a logical standpoint (not a dev's standpoint), I would need to somehow steal the info off my card, have it stored in my phone as a usable format for the lock, and then I should be able to just hold the phone up to the lock to have it open!

You guys think this is possible? How would I go about doing it?

sorry that i don't have the answer, but i had this same idea! also wondering if it's possible.

Originally Posted by Can.I.Haz.Jelly.Bean?

At my college dorm, we use a certain type of lock in which we put our keys up to the lock, and it unlocks. I figured it used NFC, but I wasn't sure. Then I found this article.

androidauthority/forgot-your-olympic-hotel-room-key-use-your-s3-103325/ (NOTE: As a new user, XDA won't let me post outside URL's. Type in .com after droidauthority for the link to work)

I've got no clue what kind of hardware is in those locks, but I can say that it looks EXACTLY THE SAME as the locks used in my school. For me, that essentially confirmed they use NFC. I don't know who makes those locks, but my school uses the same looking handles and lock mechanism. When the card is held up to the lock, the lock flashes green. If I had to guess, the card acts as an NFC tag. When held up to the door, it will activate my card as any other NFC tag, verify it's me, and then let me in.

Using NFC on my phone, I was wondering if it was possible to do the same! From a logical standpoint (not a dev's standpoint), I would need to somehow steal the info off my card, have it stored in my phone as a usable format for the lock, and then I should be able to just hold the phone up to the lock to have it open!

You guys think this is possible? How would I go about doing it?

I dont think these use the same frequency. Here in my office we use the HID Prox cards, but its not the same, the easiest way to know if you could do this is get the NFC tag reader software on your phone and try to read the card/key if it will see it I would think you might have a chance, if it doesnt see the card to read it, its not the same and you will not be able to do this.

Originally Posted by wiz4769

I dont think these use the same frequency. Here in my office we use the HID Prox cards, but its not the same, the easiest way to know if you could do this is get the NFC tag reader software on your phone and try to read the card/key if it will see it I would think you might have a chance, if it doesnt see the card to read it, its not the same and you will not be able to do this.

Lol first thing I tried when reading this thread, but no go, we use the HID Prox cards to. Tried almost every NFC app in the market.

sent from my iPhone killer

from what i've read...

doing what you're suggesting would pose a major security threat to all electronic door locks around the world. you're essentially duplicating your electronic key, which is not unlike duplicating an old school lock/tumbler key. unlike a traditional key however, this is an electronic key which means if you're able to duplicate it, you're also able to send/share it with friends around the world. in other words, we can set up a database of all the dorms / offices locks around the world and we can all have free access. doesn't sound like a pretty picture.

in reality, what our phones are capable of doing is READING the NFC tags. so if anything instead of thinking of your phone as the key, your phone can do the exact same thing as the lock, which is read the info off of the NFC tags. i know we have the ability to WRITE info onto NFC tags as well... but as others have posted there are issues of frequencies and i believe encryption which I HOPE makes this not possible for my security sake.

I'm sure if its physically possible(frequency wise) someone will make it happen. Its just like droid sheep, air crack, wifikill and the likes. Doesn't make it right but throw the technology out there and someone will make use of it.

sent from my iPhone killer using tapatalk 2