Same situation as Puppeteer

[Cybernation]

Like my subject says... I am also a "security expert", I wouldn't really go as far as saying I am an expert but more of a person with a passion. I am sometimes hired by companies to test their computer security and have just recently started looking into physical security. For the last 4 years I have dabbled in locks and art of picking but nothing to serious. I have a wide variety of locks and tools that I have collected over time and have been successful in picking most of them. Since I really don’t know where the locks I been tinkering with really fit into a scale of one to ten difficulty. I was wondering if it would be at all possible for you guys to list the top 15 or even 20 locks you come across most often and list them from easiest to the hardest so that I can try to either find them in my collection or go purchase them and try to move down the list as my skills improve. Again I am self taught so take an easy on me.

~Cy


P.S. Yes I am also looking at other forms of security other then locks so no worries.

[Omikron]

Well first and foremost, welcome to LP101!

Even if you feel that you are fairly familiar with lockpicking, you should still read the "NEW USERS PLEASE START HERE" thread at the top of this forum, as it will give you some great information. That would be a very good place to start.

As far as lock difficulty goes, it is a bit unreasonable to list 15-20 locks, as there are so many of them out there. Just to name a few high-security cylinders, you can try Medeco, Abus, Abloy, Mul-T-Lock, BiLock, etc.

Ultimately, you're going to get the most information out of just searching and browsing the site. It will take a bit of time, but I think it is certainly worth it for any new member, regardless of their experience.

Welcome, and happy pickings!

[Cybernation]

Yeah thanks for the heads up about the "NEW USERS PLEASE START HERE" thread... I got done with that right before I posted but plan on going back and looking over it again to see if I missed anything.

[illusion]

you really want to tell us from which country you are from especialy...

because if you're in the UK there are some British Standard lever locks that would give you a run for your money

[Omikron]

Yeah thanks for the heads up about the "NEW USERS PLEASE START HERE" thread... I got done with that right before I posted but plan on going back and looking over it again to see if I missed anything.

Glad to see someone's actually reading them!

[Cybernation]

Oh... sorry about that... I am from the US and reside in the good old state of Kansas

[Omikron]

Oh... sorry about that... I am from the US and reside in the good old state of Kansas

Fill in your profile, it will help us later on...

[hzatorsk]

Oh... I could spend hours replying to this post.


Here is the deal... Physical Security has very little to do with locks and their relative resistance to picking. And practising physical security auditing (or computer security auditing for that matter) for commerical businesses is seriously increasing in liability and risk for those not trained in the field. One should ask themselves if their insurer/bond understand what you they are doing?

Lets back up to your computer security (ie: CEH or CISSP or SANS training)... you are familar with the concept of "security in-depth". Same thing applies to physical security. If a lock is all you have... you do not have an effective physical security plan. I don't care how good the lock is. But, you already hinted at knowing this.

My experience is that commercial physical security auditing has never recommended a replacement of a locking system. (well... except once when it was farmed out to a local locksmith... go figure?!?)

With that all out of the way...

I've run into more Best IC and Medeco than anything else for general commercial locking. Higher security areas are usually electronic card key access. Lower security was via revolving door in the lobby.

[Cybernation]

You asked so you shall receive... profile has been updated...

[Cybernation]

Oh... I could spend hours replying to this post.


Here is the deal... Physical Security has very little to do with locks and their relative resistance to picking. And practising physical security auditing (or computer security auditing for that matter) for commerical businesses is seriously increasing in liability and risk for those not trained in the field. One should ask themselves if their insurer/bond understand what you they are doing?

Lets back up to your computer security (ie: CEH or CISSP or SANS training)... you are familar with the concept of "security in-depth". Same thing applies to physical security. If a lock is all you have... you do not have an effective physical security plan. I don't care how good the lock is. But, you already hinted at knowing this.

My experience is that commercial physical security auditing has never recommended a replacement of a locking system. (well... except once when it was farmed out to a local locksmith... go figure?!?)

With that all out of the way...

I've run into more Best IC and Medeco than anything else for general commercial locking. Higher security areas are usually electronic card key access. Lower security was via revolving door in the lobby.

Yeah I have done some of the HID systems in the past... nothing really big though... as for liability I have that covered so no worries about that... mostly since I am self taught on almost everything I know about security I just want to see how I measure up to some of you guys and try to learn anything new that I don't already know. As for Medeco locks I have a couple here at home that I got off E-bay about 4 months ago. I have only been able to pick one constantly but for one reason or another no matter how long I go at it I can’t seem to get the other two.So if anyone can make a short list of some good (US) locks that I myself should really train myself on or anyone else that would like to practice please list them here.

[Cybernation]

Okay... well I feel dumb now... I spent all of today trying to get one of those other two Medeco locks open and could not for the life of me open either one of them... I went back to the one that I "could" open and took a look inside to see if there were any differences. Well I found a couple... It looks as if the person before me was trying to learn how the locked worked and replaced/removed some parts that shouldn't of been... .... So all in all I guess I have a long ways to go... so tomorrow is yet another day and I it’s a good bet that it will be some what interesting.

[vector40]

Sounds like someone took out the sidebar on one of your locks. The sidebar, along with the interfacing mechanism, is largely what makes a Bixaxial Medeco so effective and pick-resistant. (Without it, it's still a high-quality lock with good tolerances and some other nice bits and pieces, but it's like a margarita without the alcohol.)

[Omikron]

Okay... well I feel dumb now... I spent all of today trying to get one of those other two Medeco locks open and could not for the life of me open either one of them... I went back to the one that I "could" open and took a look inside to see if there were any differences. Well I found a couple... It looks as if the person before me was trying to learn how the locked worked and replaced/removed some parts that shouldn't of been... .... So all in all I guess I have a long ways to go... so tomorrow is yet another day and I it’s a good bet that it will be some what interesting.

Could you post some pictures of what's missing perhaps? I do think vector40 is right, in that the sidebar in your "easy" Medeco lock may have been removed. Since you got the locks second-hand, can you get a hold of the original owner and ask them? Maybe they will tell you, and if it is indeed a missing sidebar, they might even still have it!