RFID keys and security?

[jiminyfan]

I was wondering how close must someone be to the door for it to unlock. Concerns if my child would lose their band or ticket at the resort and someone would find it. Could they just walk down the hall and listen for a lock to go off.

Seems that this change is really taking away from secure room access. If all you have to do is walk by the door, one could cover a large portion of the resort in no time at all. Smart thieves could do a few quick picks of keys and bands from the pool area and make sweeps thru the building.

I read all the time about people getting things stolen poolside. This will not make the take even more beneficial for thieves.

I cannot believe more people are not concerned over this RFID technology use at WDW. From what I am reading the information on RFID is easily stolen and cloned as well.

Any information from those who used the new keys is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Sammie]

I was wondering how close must someone be to the door for it to unlock. Concerns if my child would lose their band or ticket at the resort and someone would find it. Could they just walk down the hall and listen for a lock to go off.

Seems that this change is really taking away from secure room access. If all you have to do is walk by the door, one could cover a large portion of the resort in no time at all. Smart thieves could do a few quick picks of keys and bands from the pool area and make sweeps thru the building.

I read all the time about people getting things stolen poolside. This will not make the take even more beneficial for thieves.

I cannot believe more people are not concerned over this RFID technology use at WDW. From what I am reading the information on RFID is easily stolen and cloned as well.

Any information from those who used the new keys is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

You have to touch the door pad with the key/band. I have no concerns at all. There will be no info on the actual band/card to copy. If you lose your key/band you are responsible for letting Disney know so they can block it.

 

[Polydweller]

RFID comes in several versions and some do allow long range access. But Disney's are very limited range. You have to come within about a 16th of an inch of the door lock and be right in front of the sensor. We had it in October and you couldn't be off the sensor by any distance. Up down left right etc more than 1/16 th and it wouldn't work. They would be very hard for thieves to steal and do anything with.

The cards contain no personal information just a code numbers that only provide a link for Disney computers to access your purchasing and usage rights lie tickets and rooms. But remember, the rfid card does not contain any cc info, no room numbers or anything else, just the code number.

If the thief could even get close to the card and get the cod number then what? They have no way of knowing which door to try and since they don't know your pin they are extremely limited in purchasing. And since your finger scan is needed for park entrance they can't do that either. Frankly, not worth the effort to any thief.

 

[fla4fun]

I have a wallet with one of those clear DL pockets on the outside, which is where I put my key. Half the time, I had to take the key out of the wallet because the clear plastic was preventing it from unlocking the door, even with the wallet touching it - so they aren't as sensitive as you think.

However, they could do the same with the other type of key - put it in every door until it unlocked one, so there really isn't a difference there.

Remember, they don't put the name of your hotel on the key - just a code number. So if you lost your key, no one who picked it up would know which resort you were staying in. That would be A LOT of doors to have to try to unlock! It's the same if they try to use a remote reader - all they get is a code number. I don't think they are any more or less safe than the previous cards (in fact, with the PIN required for purchases, they could be a little more safe than the old ones).

 

[maxiesmom]

Used RFID keys during my stay at CBR. You really had to get close to the little icon on the door in order for it to open. A sixteenth of an inch sounds about right.

I have no concerns about it at all.

 

[Tekneek]

However, they could do the same with the other type of key - put it in every door until it unlocked one, so there really isn't a difference there.

There is a major time savings in merely having to touch the RFID device to the sensor, rather than having to insert a card into a door. For the legitimate user only trying one door, the time savings is minimal. If you're walking along and trying every door, the time savings is tremendous.

This was my primary concern around the change to RFID.

Obviously, they would need some prior knowledge if they found it in a park. However, if they take it at a resort pool, it is extremely likely that it is for that resort. If it is one with multiple pools, then the odds increase that it is for a building in close proximity to this particular pool. Inserting a card into door after door is bound to generate more suspicion than simply getting very close to each door (occupants can hear cards going into the doors, but might not hear anything from an RFID device simply touching the sensor).

 

[dvcHammer]

Could someone in theory take a key and try random doors before it was reported missing and deactivated? Yes
Most hotels and resorts are using or moving towards this type of key card for room entry. In a very few years it will be the standard.

Since the odds of this happening to an individual are remote at best and there are so many better ways for a thief not to stick out on a security camera (you are almost always on a security camera at a Disney resort) I would not even begin to worry about this. You have about the same odds of being hit by lightning. There are better things to worry about.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes, someone could pick up a lost key card and theoretically try every door in the resort.

Could they do it easily and without being noticed? Probably not.

Thieves look for easy targets. They aren't going to wander around a large resort trying every door. They don't know if there are going to be people in the room (thieves want an empty room) and they can't hang in the hallway and watch the room. There are always housekeepers and other guests in the hallways, except for late at night when it is more likely there will be people in the room, something a thief doesn't want to encounter. Do people go door to door in the resorts, sure, because sometimes you get those fake pizza flyers shoved under your door. But going around wtih a room key and trying every door is probably going to get noticed just as much as it would if the keys had to be swiped.

 

[disnut8]

I'm old enough (but not that old - only 51) to remember way back when there were actual keys to a hotel room. And not only a key but it was attached to a ring that had (1) the name of the hotel on it and (2) the room number. I don't think anyone walked around thinking "ohmygosh, I lose the key and my entire life is ruined!"

Sure, RFID can be used like the OP thinks but I highly doubt it will be. RFID is everywhere these days. Check a book out at your local library - there's an RFID chip in there.

 

[Tekneek]

I am suspicious about people being always on camera. We had items stolen from All Star Movies and nobody talked about having any video they could check.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

There's security built into the lock system. VingCard, Saflok, and Ilco (the 3 most common manufacturers of hotel lock systems) all have RFID products available, and they all include some sort of security mechanism, where if a key is tried on a certain number of wrong locks in a row, it will be deactivated.

 

[Tekneek]

There's security built into the lock system. VingCard, Saflok, and Ilco (the 3 most common manufacturers of hotel lock systems) all have RFID products available, and they all include some sort of security mechanism, where if a key is tried on a certain number of wrong locks in a row, it will be deactivated.

Excellent information. This would be why they require close proximity to unlock the door, else we would potentially lock our device by simply going for a drink.

 

[*~PrincessBelle~*]

I was wondering how close must someone be to the door for it to unlock. Concerns if my child would lose their band or ticket at the resort and someone would find it. Could they just walk down the hall and listen for a lock to go off.

Seems that this change is really taking away from secure room access. If all you have to do is walk by the door, one could cover a large portion of the resort in no time at all. Smart thieves could do a few quick picks of keys and bands from the pool area and make sweeps thru the building.

I read all the time about people getting things stolen poolside. This will not make the take even more beneficial for thieves.

I cannot believe more people are not concerned over this RFID technology use at WDW. From what I am reading the information on RFID is easily stolen and cloned as well.

Any information from those who used the new keys is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

What difference would it make if it was an RFID card or not? If found at the pool someone could still potentially use that card going door to door swiping...albeit a little more obvious that someone is trying to break into someones room but still a viable threat all the same.

I have no concerns with RFID technology and think this could be a step in the right direction for Disney - once the kinks are worked out.

 

[ls3015]

I am suspicious about people being always on camera. We had items stolen from All Star Movies and nobody talked about having any video they could check.

Yes There are cameras just about everywhere at disney, In the parks you are on camera everywhere except in the rest rooms, on the rides every inch is monitored, that's how they can stop rides and take people off who are acting up. In the resorts, you are on cameras almost everywhere, the pool area, the walks, even on the room balconey walks going to your rooms. You can spot them if you look hard enough, on the lamp posts and roof tops, on the large Icons. most disney personal would not show you where they are located, but rest assured , smile you are on camera.

 

[ManyMinnie]

There's security built into the lock system. VingCard, Saflok, and Ilco (the 3 most common manufacturers of hotel lock systems) all have RFID products available, and they all include some sort of security mechanism, where if a key is tried on a certain number of wrong locks in a row, it will be deactivated.

Do you know for sure Disney uses any of those?

 

[Lynne M]

Do you know for sure Disney uses any of those?

I find it hard to imagine that Disney has not researched the ins and outs of security with RFID room keys, and has all of these bases covered. And RFID is not new technology for hotel room keys, it's been used all over the world for some time now.

I really can't see how this is any more risky than the keycards they used until now. You have to tap the RFID key on the door plate to open the door. The old keys had to be inserted into the slot on the door. What's the difference, really?

As a PP said, thieves want to get in and out quickly. I can't picture a thief taking a card they found at poolside at ASMu and tapping it on all 2500 doors until they found the right room, on the odds that there was something valuable in the room.

 

[ManyMinnie]

I find it hard to imagine that Disney has not researched the ins and outs of security with RFID room keys, and has all of these bases covered. And RFID is not new technology for hotel room keys, it's been used all over the world for some time now.

I really can't see how this is any more risky than the keycards they used until now. You have to tap the RFID key on the door plate to open the door. The old keys had to be inserted into the slot on the door. What's the difference, really?

As a PP said, thieves want to get in and out quickly. I can't picture a thief taking a card they found at poolside at ASMu and tapping it on all 2500 doors until they found the right room, on the odds that there was something valuable in the room.

I don't assume anything with WDW anymore.

 

[Pixel Dust]

So, the old way of doing things is to have a metal key you put into the door and twist to unlock. Most of the time the room number is printed on the key itself (or on a key fob) so the hotel can give you the correct key, and know which room the key goes to when you check out.

Am I missing something? How is the old way any safer, after your keys are stolen? They would have your keys AND your room number.

If your bag was stolen, the easiest prize for the thief are all your credit cards and cash. The Disney RFID cards/bands are enough of a hassle for them to just ignore it most of the time. Getting into a room runs a greater risk of getting caught. Aren't your valuables in the safe anyway?

 

[Sammie]

Honestly if I was seriously concerned that Disney has not taken the necessary precautions to safeguard this system, then I wouldn't go. As Lynne said the system is as safe as the previous keys, so not sure why the worry.

 

[Tekneek]

I can't picture a thief taking a card they found at poolside at ASMu and tapping it on all 2500 doors until they found the right room, on the odds that there was something valuable in the room.

The items that were stolen from us at All Star Movies were simply Disney merchandise that we had purchased on property. Not high priced items. Disney towels and plush. If a thief wants those items, they can bet they are likely to find them in any room.