Folks, as you know by now whenever I come across security threats I like to share them. And this one is actually pretty pressing.
With a specially modified blank key and a small hammer – or even stick, 90% of home locks can be picked in a matter of seconds. The technique is called Lock Bumping, and the instructions are now all over the Internet.
Take a look at this news report, and then please take appropriate action to ensure that you are not vulnerable.
John has written 1808 awesome articles here, and...
John P. is CEO of Livid Lobster, and Web Analytics company iFusion Labs. He jumps from airplanes with the US Army Golden Knights, has full access to the Indy 500 AND the Lingerie Football League, was invited to the Playboy Mansion, and does plenty of other "ho-hum" stuff. Find out more on John's Google Profile.
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Interesting, but if somone wants to get into your house he will do it anyway, whatever lock you have.
cheers
Rhoody
Well, that is generally true is some cases. There are certainly criminals who are quite bold and are coming in even if they have to break a window or door to do it. But most criminals are simply opportunistic. They do not like attention at all, so anything you can do to slow them down or make it difficult will encourage them to move on to an easier target.
John
I’d seen another video on this and it’s amazing how quick and relatively easy it is. You need to make some modifications to a key, but otherwise the rest is pretty straightforward. Illusions of privacy are really all most doors, windows, and locks are.
I saw this a while back, maybe a different video but the same story. It scares me to watch – but agree that if a criminal wants to get in they will. However I am thinking of getting different locks now!
On another house we used to live in, it has wrought iron doors on two of the three doors. That definitely made me feel safe!
I wonder how many locks really can be picked with this method. I looked around and all the major brands are advertising “bump proof”. It may be a case of scare tactics to make news or popular youtube videos.
It was only a few decades ago when you didn’t even have to lock your doors…. now I feel a home security system is the minimum to feel safe.
Deadbolts. It is all about the deadbolts. They provide protection from this kind of trickery as well as much-needed redundancy :)
Wow, I wasn’t even aware you could do this to locks. Shows you what an honest guy I am! :)
I’d seen a video similar to this. It’s pretty interesting I think. Well firstly because I didn’t really understand the internal workings of a lock until I watched that video. And secondly it made me reconsider all of the safety precautions that I use.
Still remember that as the saying goes,
that is scary, but as Rhoody said, if they wanna get in they will gt in.
We got a yellow labrador running around the premises, that is a fairly big dog for PI, so even though she is as good as the day is long she might disencourage burglars too.
Kim:)
I know someone that has come up with something to help prevent this whitout changing your locks. http://www.matlockllc.com
kinda scary
thanks for posting the story John.
Kim, and you got also a scary thing sitting there, wearing pink sleeping dress and singing mistuned random english words… thats more scary than your dog…
I also think a good relationship to the neighbors, where a the whole community helps each other and have an eye on whats going on helps more then the best lock.
And I don’t mean the old lady sitting behind the curtain and watching everything.
cheers
Rhoody
Rhoody…
You are right, the maid is pretty scary. She stopped singing random words in the house though. It’s about time for another visit up north for you :-P
Kim:)
Locks are made so that kinds and other animals ( :) ) can’t get into your house but I guess now even the most stupid man with the internet connection can get into your home if he wants to… Damn that internet :P
S.
I had no idea about this. Sure people can get in if they break some glass, or drill out a lock. But to have someone walk in silently with 10 seconds work is a whole nother story.
I am going out tomorrow to get bump proof locks.
Thanks a lot John.
dk
Hehe. Yep. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it is pretty scary and I thing we ALL need to get new locks.
John
How much will the new locks protect us? A year until they find a new exploit? ;)
S.
Here is a public service site with a lot of information about lock bumping.
http://www.lockbumping.org
One of the biggest problems with lock bumping is that there is no sign of forced entry so insurance companies are sometimes reluctant to pay damages because they can assume the door was left unlocked. You can avoid this by installing bump proof locks on your outside doors.