Amazing Huge RV Scandal: ‘751′ keys unlock most outside security boxes

Posted by Joe Vandal
April 28, 2006

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Our local Idaho 8 NBC ABC affiliate Local News 8 has done an awesome job uncovering a scandal in of all places, RV locks!

Reporter Josh Davis discovered that the little keys used to lock outside-accessible security boxes on RV travel trailers are nearly all the same, each stamped with the number ‘751′. He demonstrated going up to random RVs in a sales lot and random RV owners in a neighborhood, and how each time his ‘751′ key opened up the security boxes.

When the RV dealers were asked about the unsecured practice, they said manufacturers do it to save money. They claim if customers do not know about the practice, then everyone’s locks should be safe, right? Local locksmiths echoed the rationale.


This theory is called ’security by obscurity’, and the problem is that eventually it is not so obscure. Does anyone believe locksmith and RV sales employees loyally work those jobs their entire lives? Of course not, didn’t local pedophile Brad Stowell work at a local RV lot before going to prison?

So RV owners will spend a fun weekend changing out their security box locks. Idaho 8 reported each lock is about $6, with 4-8 locks needing to be changed on each RV. Until you can change your locks, be sure to remove your valuables.

As for the RV manufacturing industry, would the Attorney Generals kindly line up on the right and trial lawyers please line up on the left? Let’s do this in an orderly fashion, people.

I would recommend reading Kevin Mitnick’s Art of Deception for amazing information on social engineering techniques used to infiltrate and steal information.

Design Matters, Open Sores, Privacy Protection

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Comments

Comment # 1 by Josh Davis on April 28, 2006 @ 9:48 am  
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Dear Joe,

I saw your story on here, but wanted to point out, we are no longer known as “Idaho 8.”
We’re “Local News 8.” And we’re an ABC affiliate, not NBC.

Thank you for watching.

Josh Davis
KIFI Local News 8

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Comment # 2 by Joe Vandal on April 28, 2006 @ 9:56 am  
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derrr, that and i still refer to the old ernst building, thanks for the correction and thanks for such a great story, i posted it also to digg.com

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