DailyDirt: Keep It Secret. Keep It Safe.

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Not that long ago, a very common bike lock was rendered ridiculously insecure when it was revealed on the internet that a cheap plastic pen and some twisting skills were all that were needed to open the lock without a key. Lock picking has been around for centuries with some locks being easier to crack than others, making some people distrust various lock-makers or distrust certain lock-pickers. Whoever the "bad guy" is, keeping things secret and safe has been a challenge and will continue to be one. Here are just a few more examples of locks and insecure locks. After you've finished checking out those links, take a look at our Daily Deals for cool gadgets and other awesome stuff.
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Filed Under: alfred charles hobbs, bike locks, chubb detector lock, combination locks, lock picking, locks, locksmith, padlocks, perfect security, soda can shim
Companies: kryptonite, master lock, xpuzmag


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  1. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2015 @ 5:05pm

    Encryption is a more difficult 'lock' to pick assuming you can scan your documents and the software you're using has been audited

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2015 @ 7:34pm

    PSA: The XPUZMAG is odd looking, but as easy to pick as a tubular lock (which it effectively is.) The locks have no security pins and the fake pins are very easy to identify based on feel. They are case of security through obscurity; now that videos on them are on lockpicker YouTube channels and discussions on them are on forums they are a novelty.

    The Forever lock, on the other hand is pretty epic.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2015 @ 7:59pm

    Re:

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. icon
    MrTroy (profile), 12 May 2015 @ 10:38pm

    Re:

    and the software you're using has been audited

    By this you mean every piece of software running on your OS as well as the OS itself? Unless you're running an OS which truly implements process sandboxing, in which case you only need to audit the OS, the encryption software and the OS installation/configuration.

    Not to mention maintaining physical security to avoid anyone beating you into decrypting the document for them. https://xkcd.com/538/

    Just like physical locks, it's usually easier to go around the lock than to open it directly.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. icon
    John Fenderson (profile), 13 May 2015 @ 10:20am

    Ironically

    All of the usual style locks (of the sort used on doors and deadbolts) can be picked. The ironic thing is that the higher quality locks are more vulnerable than the cheaper ones to the two easiest lock-picking methods: bump keys and pick guns.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 May 2015 @ 9:42am

    Re: Re:

    That video is the only one showing it being picked that I've heard of, and is full of jump cuts and bad angles. You may trust it, but I trust those that try without said theatrics and fail.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 May 2015 @ 2:42pm

    Re: Ironically

    The tighter the tolerances are the harder it will be to pick, bump, or snap gun the lock. The more security pins there are the harder it will be to pick the lock (with no impact on bumping or snap gunning.) The more key control features there are the harder it will be to pick, bump, or snap gun the lock.

    I'm not sure how you're defining quality here.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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