Why Combination Padlocks Are Totally Insecure

by John P.

Here is a demonstration of how to open a padlock in 1 minute or less using nothing more than scissors and a coke can.



{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

1 hthth April 22, 2007 at 8:13 am

On similar notes, here’s a demo on how to minimize potential combination sequences from 46.000 to 100.

Reply

2 The Man April 23, 2007 at 1:39 am

That was an awesome demonstration of how to actually pick a combo lock Hrafn. Though I must say I think I’d be too impatient to do it and probably end up breaking out a can and making a shim. :-)

John

Reply

3 hthth April 26, 2007 at 8:21 am

Haha. Yeah.

I guess all we need now is a video on how to get away with murder and we’re all set to become super-villains *grin*

Reply

4 Tiffany January 28, 2009 at 3:11 pm

Interesting… takes some practice to get it right. I asked a friend of mine who works at Master Lock about it, he said that by summer of 2009 their style of these combo locks will have an internal device to prevent this, so pick ‘em while you can!

Reply

5 bikerider June 18, 2009 at 2:56 pm

um, yeah.

the “no real security” statement is a joke, right?

For starters, that might work on the lock in the video, but it won’t work on my masterlock, I just tried it and it will chew up your pop-can shim just like his chewed up the “commercial” shim.

Second, when the lock is on a hasp or otherwise used to secure something, you don’t always have room to screw with it the way you do when it is loose and in your hand.

Third, why not cut the chain or tear the hasp off the door/whatever? A bolt cutter is quick and easy and will work purely by giving you enough leverage to pry open a cheap lock, you don’t need to cut anything.

No lock is impervious, they just keep things closed against casual fiddling. One can usually find a way around a padlock easier than trying to open the lock itself.

Reply

6 mtnbkr October 29, 2010 at 4:14 pm

I’ve picked a few of those in high school with a filed down bobby pin in about 2 seconds. Nothing to it.

Reply

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: