TSA Approved Luggage "Locks"

[Wolfman]

Not really, as with other master keyed systems, you'd have to add material to the key to make it a master key.

This is true.... But the master pins were very small. Couldent you use a peening hammer to extend the soft metal of the key upward then, if you go a hair too far, file it.
Just a thought

[mh]

But the master pins were very small. Couldent you use a peening hammer to extend the soft metal of the key upward then, if you go a hair too far, file it.
Just a thought

I guess that would work. My problem would be that the outlet store in Kittery sold all the TSA 007 locks with the same key code, so I couldn't try it on another lock to see if it worked...
(and - of course I will also not try it in a baggage claim area - only my own locks, only those I don't depend upon...)

[23skidoo]

A few months ago I was messing with the Master TSA lock (TSA001) and the Ace Hardware TSA lock (TSA004) and was able to impression keys for the Master. For the Ace Hardware lock (which seems to work somewhat similar to a warded padlock), I just bent up a cotter pin. My warded pickset didn't fit without filing the smaller picks.

In the image, the left are keys for the Master, which I filed the bottom of an M8105 (or 1092-8105 if you're looking in the Ilco key reference guide). I don't know if I'm allowed to tell the spacing and depths, but it was almost too easy.

[devildog]

I absolutely despise the fact that people think it's ok for the government to go through your stuff before being able to fly on a commercial airliner. I try to put as little as possible in the suitcase(s) I bring with me because I don't like the idea of anyone sifting through my stuff (NO!!! it does NOT make any difference that they're a LEO!), and anything else that I just have to have gets FedEx'ed (like lockpicks--no, I would NEVER try to take picks through the airport, especially not my Falle-Safes--if they have to come, they're getting next-day FedEx'ed with signature confirmation, tracking, and insurance )

You have no idea how tempted I am, the next time I fly, to get some weird, expensive Kevlar-lined suitcase, pack it with stuff I can afford to lose just in case, and stick a friggin' Medeco hockey puck on it

I guarantee you I'd end up getting paged to have go back there and unlock the thing for them with some TSA guy standing there with a set of boltcutters and a sheepish look on his face. Of course, you're not supposed to lock your suitcase now with anything other than a TSA lock, so I'd probably get lectured and told to remove the padlock and leave it off, but it'd still be worth it...

You know, if they'd let you lock it up so the baggage handlers and everyone else can't open it, with the understanding that you'll have to open it for a TSA guy to inspect, and then lock it again, I think I'd be fine with that because they're ASKING not forcing, and they do it in your presence with your permission. It's just the idea of them opening up your stuff and going through it if they feel like it and not needing your permission or even having to notify you that really zings me...

[LostGunner]

Though not on the subject of lockpicking it seems to me that the real lesson to be learned from issues such as the TSA locks is that security is only as good as you make it and that should guide your actions.

Knowing dang well that I could walk into an airport stragetically pick out a suitcase and walk out of the airport with it, there is no way that I pack anything that I'm not afraid to part with. TSA approved or not, if someone takes your luggage you can be sure they'll get into it.

Furthermore we should fight every impingement on any of our rights even if you don't like them. Everytime the government wants to pass a law to record more data about individuals say no. Everytime they want to pass a law to limit chemicals you can purchase or tools you can own say no. Without going on a tirade it is important to write your "congresspeople" and tell them that you won't stand for the washing away of your ability to protect and secure your rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[Ray_Air]

Stupid TSA Inspectors will have a tough time getting through my steel-reinforced bag with a Medeco padlock on it

They have a die grinder with a cut off wheel for Medeco padlocks.

[Ray_Air]

I absolutely despise the fact that people think it's ok for the government to go through your stuff before being able to fly on a commercial airliner. I try to put as little as possible in the suitcase(s) I bring with me because I don't like the idea of anyone sifting through my stuff (NO!!! it does NOT make any difference that they're a LEO!), and anything else that I just have to have gets FedEx'ed (like lockpicks--no, I would NEVER try to take picks through the airport, especially not my Falle-Safes--if they have to come, they're getting next-day FedEx'ed with signature confirmation, tracking, and insurance )

You have no idea how tempted I am, the next time I fly, to get some weird, expensive Kevlar-lined suitcase, pack it with stuff I can afford to lose just in case, and stick a friggin' Medeco hockey puck on it

I guarantee you I'd end up getting paged to have go back there and unlock the thing for them with some TSA guy standing there with a set of boltcutters and a sheepish look on his face. Of course, you're not supposed to lock your suitcase now with anything other than a TSA lock, so I'd probably get lectured and told to remove the padlock and leave it off, but it'd still be worth it...

You know, if they'd let you lock it up so the baggage handlers and everyone else can't open it, with the understanding that you'll have to open it for a TSA guy to inspect, and then lock it again, I think I'd be fine with that because they're ASKING not forcing, and they do it in your presence with your permission. It's just the idea of them opening up your stuff and going through it if they feel like it and not needing your permission or even having to notify you that really zings me...

I agree. TSA was created to keep the general public scared. At least they (U.S gov.) knocked it off with those fake terror alerts and bogus terror color codes. What's funny is TSA were supposed to be "highly trained" agents, not like the $7/hr rent a cops who did screening before and in a recent test of TSA checkpoints at a major U.S airport 30% of firearms made it through, 95% of pepper spray disguised as pens made it through and 70% of simulated plastic explosive made it through (carry-on luggage). TSA is a joke. I call them Sky Nazi's.

[nice7175]

i got a four pack of the masterlock 001 tsa locks for 12 bucks the other day. i've only been picking locks for about three weeks and i can get these within 30 seconds each time, usually it takes about 5. the level of security on these locks is horrible. As soon as i saw TSA on the package i knew they could probably be picked just by giving them a stern talking to.

[raimundo]

Yah, 30 seconds is slow, 5 seconds is about right.

[nice7175]

okay cool, how much easier are master keyed locks to pick than non master keyed ones? this one is master keyed isn't it?

[Lurkily]

I'd suggest the integrated baggage locks, of the TSA locks. The ones integrated into a hard-case, like a Samsonite or Delsey case. TSA isn't really the biggest source of theft, since they handle luggage much less than the airlines, and because in many airports they have paperwork on the bag before they even see it, and cameras in the bag-check areas.

To prevent theft by the airline or airline contractors, you want an integrated lock because you want to ensure that opening your bag requires damage to your luggage. It provides evidence of a break in, and nobody can wonder whether you remembered to lock it at all, hence failing to take you seriously. When the airline tries to blame TSA, in most airports TSA will have the resources (like video tape) to exonerate their TSO's. Any airline agent or baggage handler will not damage luggage to steal from it.

I would try to avoid integrated locks - any lock, really - that locks through the zipper tabs. It's simplicity itself to separate zipper tabs from a zipper without leaving a mark. Soft plastic latches (Samsonites) are good. They can still be opened and closed by bending them, but the tools required almost always leave a mark on or around the latch.

[Evan]

To prevent theft by the airline or airline contractors, you want an integrated lock because you want to ensure that opening your bag requires damage to your luggage. It provides evidence of a break in, and nobody can wonder whether you remembered to lock it at all, hence failing to take you seriously. When the airline tries to blame TSA, in most airports TSA will have the resources (like video tape) to exonerate their TSO's. Any airline agent or baggage handler will not damage luggage to steal from it.

I would try to avoid integrated locks - any lock, really - that locks through the zipper tabs. It's simplicity itself to separate zipper tabs from a zipper without leaving a mark. Soft plastic latches (Samsonites) are good. They can still be opened and closed by bending them, but the tools required almost always leave a mark on or around the latch.

@Lurkily:

Nice necropost...

Since the airlines still routinely "lose" luggage some workers are more than happy to damage them to open then, remove anything of value and then throw the remainder away, leaving no evidence to examine for marks around the latches...

A lot of the baggage handling process is not recorded by CCTV, like the stuff on the tarmac where the bags are loaded onto the plane, or which plane a particular bag ends up...

~~ Evan

[Lurkily]

Sorry about the necro - I found this during a vaguely related google search, and decided to weigh in - my apologies for not checking the date.

Luggage handler's jobs typically aren't secure enough for that. If a bag goes 'missing' in an issue of theft, I'd put much more money on airline personnel causing the mix-up than contracted personnel. Contracted baggage handlers are simply in too tenuous a position for theft to be attractive.

For airline personnel to do this one a regular basis almost requires a conspiracy - bags are big, conspicuous trash, the repeated losses are documented, and the higher-ups are paying for the contents of lost bags, so they track these things. It's hard to blame continual losses on TSA or baggage handlers because handlers can be fired an entire crew at a time, and TSA typically doesn't have the same people at a station from day to day, depending on local management.

[cledry]

Some airports are really bad for employee theft. My wife has had the hinge removed to gain access twice when flying through LaGuardia. Also had problems in Miami.

[atticRR]

Fly with Firearms. That keeps them out-completly. Check out the 'air travel' tab on [url]deviating.net[/url] to learn how to tell the TSA to piss off and leave your luggage in peace. whats great is you dont even have to have a real gun. It can just look like a gun!