false sense of security

[Agent 99]

Something that I've noticed. The little shiny 3 wafer locks are everywhere and provide bare minumum security. From elevator fans and lights and "inspection" and "fire" mode to little key lock boxes to toilet paper roll locks. Most can challenged by a paper clip or two, even a simple flat head screwdriver. So how come people dont realize this?

ps- If somebody could direct me towards dealing with and identifying security pins I would be grateful.

[jordyh]

In general, you're right, but then again...
Once, when i went to the local police station to ask about lockpicking and the law (it has allways been a bit of vague for me), i saw that they were using small wafer locks (single sided) on their storage cupboard for allmost everything. They were everywhere.

I notified them.
They laughed and said that they controlled who could enter the premises anyway.
I told them about how their handcuffs had security flaws, they told me that they knew, only used them after a thourough patdown, and call them "transportation cufs".

This might sound like arrogance on their side, but it has worked for them for ages.

Yours,

Jordy

[linty]

they are just utilitarian locks, if somebody wants to steal toilet paper and they are willing to do whatever it takes, then it's cheaper to replace missing TP than replace a smashed dispenser. in most cases these locks seem pretty appropriate although i will side with you in saying they are giving an illusion of security when they are used in cash register drawers, expensive filing cabinets and some lower end"safes'.
it seems like being able to pick locks makes us paranoid about our locks being picked.

[quickpicks]

anyone tried a Sentry "security chest" wafer lock? its 5 wafer lock and it can be opened in literally seconds with even a letter opener.......
And a screwdriver...... it can be opened and re assembled without damaging the thing.

[Agent 99]

ps- If somebody could direct me towards dealing with and identifying security pins I would be grateful.

[lockedin]

It gets more ridiculous. The alarms in my university's library are turned on and off by a medeco lock, but the casing for the alarm is protected by a simple wafer lock! So an unscrupulous individual simply can pick the simple wafer lock cut or damage somthing and avoid the medeco completely if he wants to deactivate the alarm.

[n2oah]

It gets more ridiculous. The alarms in my university's library are turned on and off by a medeco lock, but the casing for the alarm is protected by a simple wafer lock! So an unscrupulous individual simply can pick the simple wafer lock cut or damage somthing and avoid the medeco completely if he wants to deactivate the alarm.

I assume the system would be complex enough where it could sense when it is being tampered with.

[Agent 99]

And once again, can somebody tell me where to look for info about security pins?

[n2oah]

And once again, can somebody tell me where to look for info about security pins?

Search.

[DaveAG]

It gets more ridiculous. The alarms in my university's library are turned on and off by a medeco lock, but the casing for the alarm is protected by a simple wafer lock! So an unscrupulous individual simply can pick the simple wafer lock cut or damage somthing and avoid the medeco completely if he wants to deactivate the alarm.

I assume the system would be complex enough where it could sense when it is being tampered with.

Indeed. The alarm on my house will activate with the TAMPER light lit if the casing of either the panel or any detector is opened without the panel having been first set into Engineering mode. This requires a special code to be entered in *after* the alarm is already unset normally.

If the £80 domestic alarm panel I have supports this then surely anything a university would fit would.

[mh]

Indeed. The alarm on my house will activate with the TAMPER light lit if the casing of either the panel or any detector is opened without the panel having been first set into Engineering mode. This requires a special code to be entered in *after* the alarm is already unset normally.

I hope it does more than activating the light Like - activating the sounders, etc...

On a serious note, any properly installed alarm system would have the control panel inside the secured area, so an intruder would already set it off before reaching the control panel. If there is public access to the room where the panel is located, it should have a lock, to make tampering more difficult - but the real security is achieved by the system monitoring its casings, wiring, etc, as DaveG mentioned.