Dual key

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Dual Key is a security concept that requires the authorization of two separate parties before a particular action is taken.

The simplest form of Dual Key security is a lock that requires two keys to unlock it. The two keys would be in the possession of two separate persons. The lock could only be opened if both parties agreed to open it and at the same time.

In popular culture this concept can be seen in the nuclear weapons launch procedures depicted in such films as The Hunt for Red October where two keys carried by different officers are required to arm or launch the weapons.

Canada accepted having American W-40 nuclear warheads under dual key control on Canadian soil in 1963 to be used on the Canadian BOMARC missiles.

In software systems Dual Key security requires both the sending and receiving systems to have appropriate codes/keys to encode and decode messages.