Vaultek LifePod: The Fork Exploit and What Vaultek Fixed

Vaultek LifePod 2.0 portable gun safe review

Unsafe safe yesterday, safest safe today.

Is it just me, or do you also want to keep your small treasures secure? Not all of us have chests of gold or an Everest of valuables to store, and big heavy safes would be overkill. Sometimes all you need is something that can lock up your jewelry, personal diary, compact armory, or whatever else, and travel with you when you leave the house.

When it comes to comfort, durability, and security in one package, nothing beats a portable safe.

But what happens when a portable safe falls into the hands of, say, a world-class locksmith? Or in this case, a lock-picking lawyer with a popular YouTube channel who is always in search of something to tinker with?

Every atom of the safe gets scrutinized and a security flaw usually gets found. That is exactly what happened with the Vaultek LifePod: a YouTube video exposing a way to open it with a fork went viral.

With that kind of incident, you have to ask: is storing your valuables in a safe really safe, and can you still trust Vaultek LifePod safes?

Fair question. If you're trusting a safe with your valuables, you want to know it has no obvious way in. What good is a safe if it can be opened with something lying around in the kitchen?

So let's look at what actually happened, what Vaultek did about it, and why the ending is better than the beginning.

The Security Vulnerability

If you're new to the world of safes, Vaultek has been a go-to for both tactical operators and security-conscious civilians. For years the Vaultek LifePod dominated the portable-safe market thanks to its compact, lightweight, built-like-a-tank design (even EMP-resistant, thanks to its key backup).

The reality, though, is that even the best products stumble. Samsung had the exploding Galaxy Note 7. General Motors had the ignition switch that killed engines mid-drive. Toyota had unintended acceleration. Firestone and Ford spent months blaming each other for defective tires.

You see the pattern.

In 2020, the LockPickingLawyer tinkered with a Vaultek LifePod and found its Achilles heel. In his video, he slipped a fork through the gap between the lid and the case, reached the program button inside the locked safe, reset the combination, entered a new one, and opened the safe.

Source: The LockPickingLawyer

Vaultek's Response

Here's the thing. Where most companies would go quiet and pretend nothing happened, Vaultek took the issue seriously, professionally, and without excuses.

Their statement on the exploit, verbatim:

"Vaultek stands behind our customers and products 100%. We are aware of the exploit and have taken quick action to develop effective solutions to address Lifepod's programming function. All Lifepods produced, and shipping from now on are upgraded with new firmware to disable the program button when locked, and we are also providing a solution for our current Lifepod customers. We're listening and will make every effort to improve our products continually. Any additional inquiries can be directed to our support team for more information." Vaultek

Kudos to the accountability. Right off the bat, they gave assurance and a real solution. No games, no blame-shifting. That's what a trustworthy company does.

A Blessing in Disguise

The flaw being discovered publicly was actually a good thing.

If the weakness had never been surfaced, we might still be relying on an unsafe safe. A vulnerability that a YouTuber found in public is much better than one a burglar found in private. A public discovery gets patched. A private one gets exploited.

And Vaultek's response was the right one: they updated the firmware on every unit shipping after the exploit was announced, and sent security-attachment kits to existing customers to block the program button when the lid is locked. Net result for the customer: a patched original LifePod that no longer has the fork vulnerability.

The LifePod 2.0: Vaultek's Current Full-Size Portable Safe

Vaultek's current lead portable safe is the LifePod 2.0. It's a bigger, more refined evolution of the original LifePod platform, and by design it doesn't have the fork vulnerability that hit the first-generation product.

On top of all the good stuff from the original (weather-resistant, dustproof, airtight, floats, TSA compliant), here are the major upgrades that live on today's product page:

More room. Fits a full-size handgun up to 9.25" long, plus spare mags and small valuables.
Two layers of storage. Removable interior tray with Velcro attachments lets you organize gear on two levels.
Interior LED light. Kicks on when the lid opens so you're not fumbling in the dark.
Fork-proof by design. The program button is now automatically disabled when the lock is engaged. The front manual keyway can also be disabled to prevent lock picking.
Micro-USB backup power. Hidden under the front rubber keyhole cover, so a dead battery doesn't lock you out.
Submersible. Rated for 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.

Original vs. 2.0 comparison by Chrispy Things

Advantages of a Portable Safe

Whether you're a traveler who needs to secure a passport and jewelry, or a responsible gun owner storing a CCW, a portable safe can be a lifesaver.

Take your valuables (and your firearm) with you

LifePod safes are designed to fit in a bag or a piece of luggage. That helps if you're not comfortable leaving valuables at home or in an apartment.

And everywhere really does mean everywhere. LifePods are water-resistant and floatable, so a fishing trip, kayaking, or a day at the pool no longer requires leaving your gear behind.

Related: Top 5 Vehicle Gun Safes

Better accessibility and comfort

Everything inside your portable safe (medical kit, blade, pistol, phone, or a Bluefin tuna if that's your thing) is one combination lock away when you need it. The LifePod 2.0 weighs just over three pounds, so you barely notice it's there until you do.

Prevent moisture damage

LifePods are airtight. Whatever you store inside is shielded from sunlight, air, and moisture. Metals don't rust, wood doesn't rot, mold doesn't grow, and paint doesn't flake.

Guarantee your right to privacy

Whatever happens in your LifePod stays in your LifePod. In today's world, portable safes keep both dirty hands and prying eyes at bay. All anyone can see from the outside is the safe.

Save money on a bigger safe you don't need

Full-size safes have their place, but a portable safe delivers similar day-to-day protection for a fraction of the price. Worried someone will grab it and run? The steel security cable included with every LifePod anchors it to a fixed object (just pick something that isn't easy to move).

Related: Top 10 Pistol Safes

Can You Trust Vaultek LifePod Safes Today?

Before Vaultek resolved the exploit, the honest answer would have been "not really." After they patched the firmware, released a hardware fix for existing customers, and shipped the redesigned LifePod 2.0, the answer is a confident "yes."

Since the fork incident, no one has posted a successful lock-picking video of the current LifePod. The 2.0 lineup no longer has the vulnerability that the original had.