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Two-Keyed Lock: Difference between revisions

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Two-Keyed Lock (view source)

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== Real Life ==
* [[Truth in Television]], this, especially in terms of US ICBM silos. The two key slots are far enough apart that one person can't turn both at the same time. Plus you'll need the launch codes, if they're not [[Broken Arrow (1996 film)|set to 00000000.]] (Yes, that actually happened: [[wikipedia:Permissive Action Link|Permissive Action Link]]. Under the [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy administration]], somebody decided to put PALs on the US nuclear arsenal to prevent unauthorized firing. SAC objected to this practice, fearing the possibility that the launch codes would not be available in time of need. So, SAC very quietly installed these devices, intended to ensure the safety of the free world, and very quietly set the combination on every single one of them to [[Spaceballs|00000000]]. Very trusting people, SAC, although [[Vindicated by History|their trust appears to have been well-placed.]])
*** The logic was that warheads mounted to missiles in either ground-based stations or in ballistic submarines are secure because of the two-man-rule interlocks, and PALs would risk a loss of readiness without significant security benefit. Actual (non-trivially-coded) PALs were (eventually) applied to small warheads - air-dropped bombs and ship/air-launched cruise missiles. These warheads, unlike those forUnlike ballistic missiles, these warheads can be stored or transported in a functional or semi-functional state, and thus maycan be used if lost or stolen. For these weapons, the two-man rule utilizesuses the PALs themselves - two officers must concur with the legitimacy of a nuclear launch order and release their portions of the PAL codes, or else the warheads cannot be armed.▼
** Yes, that actually did happen.
*** [[wikipedia:Permissive Action Link|Permissive Action Link]]. Under the [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy administration]], somebody decided to put PALs on the US nuclear arsenal to prevent unauthorized firing. SAC objected to this practice, fearing the possibility that the launch codes would not be available in time of need. So, very quietly, SAC installed these devices, intended to ensure the safety of the free world, and very quietly, they set the combination on every single one of them to [[Spaceballs|00000000]]. Very trusting people, SAC.
**** [[Vindicated by History|Well, their trust appears to have been well placed.]]
▲*** The logic was that warheads mounted to missiles in either ground-based stations or in ballistic submarines are secure because of the two-man-rule interlocks, and PALs would risk a loss of readiness without significant security benefit. Actual (non-trivially-coded) PALs were (eventually) applied to small warheads - air-dropped bombs and ship/air-launched cruise missiles. These warheads, unlike those for ballistic missiles, can be stored or transported in a functional or semi-functional state and thus may be lost or stolen. For these weapons, the two-man rule utilizes the PALs themselves - two officers must concur with the legitimacy of a nuclear launch order and release their portions of the PAL codes, or else the warheads cannot be armed.
* The Soviets had two launch keys and unlock codes held by the higher-ups (i.e. on shore) for their submarines. Now the case for US subs, but not always.
* For safety deposit boxes, one key is the bank's and one is held by the customer's. This ensures that the bank cannot open your box without you, and that you (or someone with your key) can't open your box without showing ID to the bank. (Banks are adding increasingly more checks to get in. In the case of [http://www.bankofamerica.com/ one large bank], you must enter a PIN, pass a biometric scan, and use a regular old key as well, constituting three-factor authentication.)
** At least, this used to be the case. Banks are adding increasingly more checks to get in. In the case of [http://www.bankofamerica.com/ one large bank], you must enter a PIN, pass a biometric scan, and use a regular old key as well, constituting three-factor authentication.
* Some Soviet nuclear missile silos had three blast doors, each needing three keys, and each key given to a different person. So a total of nine people were needed to actually get access to the missiles.
* In a much more mundane context, most of the rides at the local amusement park won't launch without both operators holding the go buttons, and they can still be locked out by ride sensors.
* Many industrial machines have two start buttons, but they are close enough to be pressed by a single operator so long as he uses both hands. The goal here is to ensure that both of the operator's hands are on the control box, and not in the machine. Depending on the machine, there might also be a footpedalfoot pedal.
* In some poor villages of Africa where they have opted for Food Bank (filled with food aid for use when the harvest is lean and topped up by local farmers when the harvest is good) three people from the community are given keys and required to open it. Because asAs Josette Sheeran says;, [http://www.ted.com/talks/josette_sheeran_ending_hunger_now.html food is gold].
 
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[[Category:Military and Warfare Tropes]]
[[Category:Two Keyed Lock]]
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