Technology

Travelers: Hotel Safes Not as Safe as You Think

Think your jewelry, passport, cellphone and any other items are protected in the little 17“ by 14” safe hidden in your hotel room closet?

Cracking the security code on these safes could be as easy as 000000 or 123456, if the hotel has set an easy-to-figure-out override code. This video shows you just how easy it could be for those in the know to get into your personal belongings:

Gizmodo reports a manufacturer of hotel safes, Nationwide Safes, as saying the safe in the video is not made by them and that most hotel safes have two codes: one for the user and a second override code:

When a guest forgets [his or her] code, the safe may be opened by hotel security using the override code.

It is important to note that only the most negligent of hotel operators would leave the override code set to all 0′s, a default code, some other easy to guess code. The override code can (and must for obvious reasons) be changed to something difficult to guess prior to putting the safe into operation.

So next time you’re trusting a hotel safe with your valuables, check the usual easy codes (000000, 123456) or ask the hotel if the default code for their safes is difficult and secure.

Comments (13)

  • David-999
    Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:38am

    Keeping your valuables safe in a hotel room safe obviously has its weaknesses. Their is a product that you can buy that allows you to put your own lock on the outside of the hotel safe – it is called a Milockie. You can see a video of this hotel safe lock on youtube – and it can found at CorporateTravelSafety.com

    Report Post »  
  • islandlady
    Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:24pm

    Or the hotel maintenance can just turn off the power.

    Report Post » islandlady  
  • wampanoag
    Posted on September 8, 2011 at 8:05am

    Isn’t that how newspaper hackers in England hacked into cell phone? Because the default code was too simple, or people never changed the default password.

    Report Post »  
  • Mikev5
    Posted on September 8, 2011 at 7:31am

    MollyTheWhiteWolf is so correct I have had many small things disappear out of my room like colas drugs sleep aids food pens pencils.

    Do not leave anything of value in a Hotel room I take everything with me and leave nothing in the room

    Use a room safe you have to be an idiot to do so

    Report Post » Mikev5  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on September 8, 2011 at 6:00am

    Have never used them, didn’t trust them, Now I know why. The old saying holds true. If you have a bad feeling about doing it, its the wrong thing to do……

    Report Post »  
  • MollyTheWhiteWolf
    Posted on September 8, 2011 at 1:06am

    000000 also seems to be the IQ of most of the hotel staff that I deal with. Heheheh.

    This is juat another reason why I never bring anything with me to a hotel that:
    1.) I can’t carry around with me at all times,
    2.) Is of any real value,
    3.) I am ready to lose, or
    4.) Is of any real value, unless it’s hidden in something that is disgusting to touch.

    One thing that I’ve actually done is hide stuff in tolietries (in baggies, of course). I have designs for tolietry containers that double as mini-safes, but look completely normal. Think of the “shaving cream” container in Jurassic Park.

    Report Post » MollyTheWhiteWolf  
  • sissykatz
    Posted on September 8, 2011 at 12:38am

    .

    I tell the Hotel I do not want anyone in my room. I put the do not disturb sign up, which of course they do not pay any attention to.

    I have something that is quiet effective to keep Hotel Staff out of my room. I have a sign that I take
    with us on trips for this reason. I put it on the door and it seems to help more than anything else I have tried.

    The Sign reads ” Please be careful when entering the room unless I am here, my pet SNAKE does not
    like strangers” Thank You. Of course it is written in English and Spanish.

    As you can tell I do not want strangers in my room, even to change sheets and clean bath unless I am there.

    Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on September 8, 2011 at 6:07am

      I recently stayed in a motel and the staff was from India….you might want to add whatever language they speak.

      Report Post »  
    • sissykatz
      Posted on September 8, 2011 at 7:48am

      Loriann

      I will thanks for the advise. I have traveled extensively and have found those two languages sufficient so far but I have not run into maids from India. Even in Paris and England the Philliipines I was covered. I guess I just need to get an eraser board. lol Hope to go to Japan soon so I will have to add that also.I will need a bigger poster or the eraser one.lol

      Report Post »  
  • MartinLutherBling
    Posted on September 8, 2011 at 12:31am

    I wouldn’t leave my nutsack in one of those!

    Report Post »  
    • Banana Republic Capitalist
      Posted on September 8, 2011 at 3:40pm

      You have much bigger problems if your sack’s detachable. Definitely time to go to the doctor’s office, big fella.

      Report Post » Banana Republic Capitalist  
  • WireWizard
    Posted on September 8, 2011 at 12:27am

    I service security systems and you would be surprised how many are left with the installer program code set to default. Most systems allow adding and changing user codes with the installer program code.

    Report Post » WireWizard  

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