MythBusters Episode 59: "Crimes and Myth-Demeanors 2"
Air Date: August 23, 2006
The optical fingerprint reader the Mythbusters installed can be fooled by a copy of an approved fingerprint etched in latex.
confirmed
Licking the latex sample (to simulate sweat) was enough to fool the scanner.
(This was the only method that also fooled the Mythbusters’ computer-based biometric sensor.)
The optical fingerprint reader the Mythbusters installed can be fooled by a ballistics gel copy of an approved fingerprint.
confirmed
Licking the gel sample (to simulate sweat) was enough to fool the scanner.
The optical fingerprint reader the Mythbusters installed can be fooled by a paper copy of an approved fingerprint.
confirmed
Licking the paper sample (to simulate sweat) was enough to fool the scanner.
A heat detector can be fooled by cooling the body down using a CO2 fire extinguisher.
busted
Not only was the sensor not fooled, using a fire extinguisher on a person is dangerous.
A heat detector can be fooled by a neoprene diving suit.
busted
The neoprene suit did insulate body heat from its surroundings, until the suit itself warmed up.
A heat detector can be fooled by being covered in mud.
busted
Like the neoprene suit, it only worked until the mud warmed up from body heat. Also, Tory left behind mud tracks while attempting this.
A heat detector can be fooled by heating the room to body temperature.
busted
Heating the room from the ceiling immediately set off the sensor, while heating the room from the ground did not. However, the sensor was still sensitive enough to detect the difference between human body temperature and the ambient temperature.
A heat detector can be fooled by wearing a highly insulated fire proximity suit.
confirmed
The suit blocked the body heat, preventing the sensor from seeing the wearer. However a small breach in the suit triggered the sensor when pointed towards it.
A heat detector can be fooled by placing glass between the intruder and the sensor.
confirmed
Glass blocks out infrared light (i.e. heat).
An ultrasonic motion detector can be fooled by wearing thick-padded clothing.
busted
The sensor was still able to pick up Kari’s movement.
An ultrasonic motion detector can be fooled by holding a bedsheet in front of you.
confirmed
The bedsheet absorbed enough of the ultrasonic waves to mitigate any return signals.
An ultrasonic motion detector can be fooled by moving extremely slowly.
confirmed
Although it took Kari 20 minutes to cross a relatively short hallway, she moved slow enough to stay below the detector’s sampling threshold.
A thief can drill into a safe with a thermal lance, fill the safe with water, and detonate an explosive inside without damaging the items inside or prematurely activating the glass relocker.
plausible
Drilling into a safe using thermal rods takes far longer than the myth states. Also, the heat from the thermal rods completely destroyed the items inside. Secondly, the safe was not watertight and had to be sealed from the inside in order to completely fill it with water. Finally, even though the explosion successfully dislodged the safe door, none of the items inside remained intact. It was deemed plausible for historical precedent and police reports, even though the MythBusters themselves could not replicate any of the conditions.
I would think that moving extremely slowly would only be plausible, because if you need to be fast, you don’t have 20 minutes to go across a hallway.
June 27, 2007 at 3:24 PMFor the alarm system defeat attempts you did not trying two variations I learned while working in the security industry for a decade.
July 4, 2007 at 4:31 PMWith most Ultrasonic motion detectors there is a walking pace that can be used successfully to defeat them. We confirmed this in our employers showroom many times. The pace is slightly faster than a medium walking pace but the speed must be controlled very tightly and directed straight on toward the sensor. It is virtually impossible to do reliably.
For infrared motion detectors, extreme low temperature arctic rated thermal wear including full face bellaclavas, gloves and socks can be used. Although the average thief may die of heat frustration prior to successfully getting in and out of a building.
He is respected Mythbusters!
August 8, 2007 at 11:29 AMIt would be written down for me who is his manufacturer it for imprint lock?
Thank you.
For the “An ultrasonic motion detector can be fooled by holding a bedsheet in front of you” myth might have omly worked because it was a white sheet used in a white room.
August 23, 2007 at 5:23 PMSince an ultrasonic detector uses high-frequency sound waves, I find it highly doubtful room and sheet color would have an effect on the result.
September 5, 2007 at 5:03 PMWho cares? Grant wasn’t wearing clothes! WOOO!
September 17, 2007 at 4:40 PMI dont know wether this is the one i am thinking of but if you etch a circle in glass and try to take it out with a suction cup it should probably be smaller than the area that you are trying to extract.
September 19, 2007 at 11:53 PMUmm, yeah Melissa, that was pretty dumb. Actually it was really dumb considering the defintion of ultrasonic. The myth had absolutely nothing to do with visuals; it is entirely based on sound waves. I really hope what you wrote was a joke.
October 25, 2007 at 2:43 AMthe waterfiled safe exploding… I am journeyman locksmith… wath was the make of the safe and class rating… 1 2 3 or 4
(tl15 or tl30) fire rated or composite..
I am interested in maybe revisiting this myth by possiblly donating a class 4 jewlery safe!!
and I totally dig the show… !!! keep up the safe and awesome work guys and gals!!
Mike
January 2, 2008 at 1:16 AMPLS Security
hola minombres es andres lopez y me gusta mucho su programa … y puesto que no encontre otra forma para comunicarme con ustedes lo hago por este medio espero lo vean y lo leean … hace un tiempo me llego un correo donde decia que un miño avia muerto corque seavia tomoado una cocacola y minutos mas tarde se comio una menta y minutos mastarde murio por que el estomago le exploto porfavor me gustaria saber que tancierto es eso pues
January 29, 2008 at 1:16 PMendres lopez … no es posible que te mueras por eso.. este cuento tiene desde los 1970s con un dulce llamado “pop rocks” lo muerdes y truena en tu boca.. el cuento empeso que alguin murio por tomar coca-cola con el dulce… es un cuento solamente.
April 8, 2008 at 11:06 AMI really liked this one. They also had a glass re-locker in the new version of the Italian job. There’s going to be a sequel to the new version of the Italian job called the Brazilian job.
October 29, 2008 at 11:06 AMA heat detector can be fooled by a neoprene diving suit.
They need to keep exterior of neoprene suite down.
-> Cover exterior of neoprene with cooled jell packs like the ones used to apply cold to injuries.
November 29, 2008 at 8:27 PMbut that’s not really using the suit is it?
April 11, 2009 at 7:51 AMI liked all the heat detector ones.
April 11, 2009 at 8:10 AM