Observation no. 2: padlock hacking

[Billthe4th]

So, I bought a fairly cheap no-name padlock from my local hardware shop and I havent been able to pick it yet. I looked through all the ones on the shelf to find the one with the hardest keying, so I didnt expect it to be easy (got some funny looks from the shopkeeper when I had all his locks off the hook )

Anyway, I was fiddling around inside the lock when i felt a spongy bit at the back which wasnt a pin! When i pushed it across it felt like it had pulled one of the nobbles off the shackle With practise I managed to bodge it so that I could pull both nobbles out and get the lock open in seconds without even picking it!

Here's a video of me in action:

http://www.xtsystems.com/J/vids/padlockhack.avi

Sorry you can't see much, but it's hard to do and that was the best angle I could get...

The tissue is there because my hands were so sweaty with all the practising!

*waits for Shrub to say it's been done before and there's a special tool available to do it for you *

[illusion]

I think what has happened is this lock has the unlocking mechanism exposed at the back, and you are in fact opperating it using your pick, and pulling the pieces of metal which secure the shackle inwards... has the same effect as turning the cylinder.

I doubt many locks allow such a defect to exist, but nice work!

[grit1]

The tool is referred to as a straight knife...

http://www.peterson-international.com/by-pass-tools.htm

The first tool listed on that link.

Did I beat Shrub?
~Grit.

[Billthe4th]

[quote="illusion"] pulling the pieces of metal which secure the shackle inwards.../quote]
I think you mean nobbles?

But thanks, and yeah, tried scraping around inside a master no 5 and it's all pretty solid in there... The box advertised a "Double Locking Mechanism" which looks like it might help solve this insecurity...

[digital_blue]

*waits for Shrub to say it's been done before and there's a special tool available to do it for you *

No, allow me. It's been done before and there's a special tool available to do it for you.

But... you figured it out for yourself so you get bonus points. Good work!

db

[Billthe4th]

Haha, cheers guys, Shrub sucks tbh

Why can't I edit posts in this part of the forum?

[Chrispy]

I take it this is where an anti-pick plate comes into it?

[devildog]

You know, I've always wondered about that little flaw in padlocks--even if there is a plate, or wafer as with Americans, couldn't you just take a Dremel and one of the little drill bits for it, put it all the way into the keyway, create a hole at the back of the plug without touching the warding or pins, and use the Peterson bypass tool or something similar? It's not surreptitious, but it's definately covert, as the user would never know unless they took apart their lock AND they knew that there wasn't supposed to be a hole there (remember, you're only drilling a VERY small hole at the very back of the plug, not the pins or anything, so the lock would continue to function just fine).

[TOWCH]

http://www.peterson-international.com/by-pass-tools.htm


See the "American Wafer Breaker Kit"

[Billthe4th]

You know, I've always wondered about that little flaw in padlocks--even if there is a plate, or wafer as with Americans, couldn't you just take a Dremel and one of the little drill bits for it, put it all the way into the keyway, create a hole at the back of the plug without touching the warding or pins, and use the Peterson bypass tool or something similar? It's not surreptitious, but it's definately covert, as the user would never know unless they took apart their lock AND they knew that there wasn't supposed to be a hole there (remember, you're only drilling a VERY small hole at the very back of the plug, not the pins or anything, so the lock would continue to function just fine).

Hmm, I'm not sure if you could actually get enough movement through a small hole, it's hard enough when there's no plate at all. It would certainly take a better locksmith than me to pull their nobbles out through a small hole.

[digital_blue]

... to pull their nobbles out through a small hole.

What an odd phrase.



db

[devildog]

Oh yes, I'm aware of the Peterson wafer breaker kit, but it only works on padlocks with those thin little wafers, i.e. American, not ones that are totally sealed or have an actual plate at the back, but I was thinking that a drill ought to be able to get'em all...

[specialist]

We actually bought a tool designed just for the Americans, in the event the plate has been removed. However, the amount of tension required to turn it is too high, and the tool is made of crappy metal. Maybe a handmade would do the trick.

[helix]

...Shrub sucks tbh

tbh?

[skold]

To be honest

I think..