Professionalism as a locksmith

[alarmsun]

I am uncomfortable keeping client's key codes though in some instances it is necessary.

If I must store keychart info I prefer storing it as a computer file and I store it encrypted. My favorite encryption program is "TrueCrypt," which is open source and free, though a donation is nice. (http://www.truecrypt.org)

TrueCrypt allows you to do a couple neat things:
1) You can triple encrypt, with up to three different encryption algorythms;
2) You can encrypt whole drives or just files;
3) You can require a second "key file" (a picture of your kid for example) be present in addition to your password;
4) You can store the program and the encrypted file on a USB drive and run it anywhere you need to (at a client's site for example);
5) It's PC, Mac and Linux compatible;
6) It is a constant work in progress and is always being debugged, updated, refined and improved...

No, I don't get any money from them, I just have used the program for years and love it! You could also look at "KeePass" (http://www.keepass.info). It is not as feature rich, may be less secure but is simpler to use. It is designed for storing internet sites, user names and passwords and includes a "notes" section. I think it could be used for storing locksmith info pretty simply.

I also use blind codes for doing simple key code encryption. I use a two dimensional chart to come up with the code. Each side of the chart uses a ten letter word. A letter is selected from the column to identify which line is used for the rest of the cipher.

X L O C K S M I T H E
B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
L 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
A 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
C 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3
K 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
H 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5
O 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
R 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
S 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
E 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

CHIKOEL would decode as: Fourth Line, Code #207534

I don't keep this code but give it to the client, and not on the back of a business card! In an address book, a cell phone, a day planner, even on the inside of a kitchen drawer, just someplace they can find it again and bring it in or read it to me over the phone...

TODB

PS: If you know any other ten letter words without repeating letters, I would love to know them...

[criminalhate]

palindrome and regulation

[linuxbz]

PS: If you know any other ten letter words without repeating letters, I would love to know them...

Blackstone Bridgetown Buchenwald Buckingham Charleston Cumberland Democritus Dictaphone Fauntleroy Hieronymus Highlander ... vulcanized wanderlust windbreaks wingspread workplaces worshipful

Do you want all 449?

About a dozen lines of Perl code found them from the american-english dictionary that comes with most Linux distributions.

[globallockytoo]

@ alarmsun (sorry to go off topic)....I used to work in Sacto....19 years ago...worked for 3 different locksmiths there in 18 months. Where do you work?

I worked for Jeff's on Arden, Sunrise Metro in Citrus Heights and Professional in midtown.

[alarmsun]

globallockytoo

I've owned my own company, Alarms Unlimited of Sacramento, since 1988. I learned locksmithing so we could offer our clients turnkey solutions. "One call does it all" sort of thing.

Turned out to be really beneficial when we started doing a lot of electronic access control. There was no finger point as to whether it was the locksmith's fault or the security guys fault. It was our fault and we fixed it...

Certified in Medeco Biaxial and M3, have my own Primus and Everest Keyways. Did mostly large commercial, industrial, government and institutional work.

As I discussed back around Christmas, worked on rekeying Alcatraz Prison for the National Park Service some years ago.

Never worked for a Sacramento shop...

TODB

[ulliv]

But to keep random customers keys is heavily frowned upon because of the potential security implications that could arise.

To expand on this, think about what would happen if someone broke into your shop and stole your laptop with all this info in it.

-steve

Never keep that info on the laptop. I keep mine on the server and log into it remotely from the road if necessary. Also all hard copy files are in a file cabinet and keys are in a safe, tagged and marked.

But what if your Safe is stolen? Ii happened to me once. A 70kg/11 stone safe was just carried of by one man. It wasn't fixed to the ground(my bad). Fortunately nothing valuable was in there.
I don't keep any copies/codes anywhere except when I am asked to. No matter how you store them there's still a chance... 99% of the time I don't have the need to anyway.

[ulliv]

Just remembered that in Denmark or Norway or somewhere like that on apartment buildings and some other places that have communal doors(most of them are master keyed systems I think) If you lose a key, you can't get a new one just done. They will change every lock in the building. And you have to pay for it all. Can run up to 3000-4000$ or something like that plus having to go to the police and writing a report... It's ugly stuff.
So the luxury of losing a key, calling a lockout and having a key made from code or records... you americans have if pretty good.

[zeke79]

As to keeping copies of keys or codes......If you maintain an institutions or clients master key system, then Yes it is appropriate, to maintain codes and even sometimes copies of keys.

But to keep random customers keys is heavily frowned upon because of the potential security implications that could arise.

agreed. I keep all of my master systems which guarantees return work. IF they request a print out of the system I am no longer liable for the security of the system as who knows who they bring in to service the system and start ghosting keys around. I keep only two restricted keys cut in my posession and they are safe locked and those are a key to my mothers home and a key to my fathers home for easy access. All else is in a password protected masterkey software (these are password protected in the system as well).

[globallockytoo]

But to keep random customers keys is heavily frowned upon because of the potential security implications that could arise.

To expand on this, think about what would happen if someone broke into your shop and stole your laptop with all this info in it.

-steve

Never keep that info on the laptop. I keep mine on the server and log into it remotely from the road if necessary. Also all hard copy files are in a file cabinet and keys are in a safe, tagged and marked.

But what if your Safe is stolen? Ii happened to me once. A 70kg/11 stone safe was just carried of by one man. It wasn't fixed to the ground(my bad). Fortunately nothing valuable was in there.
I don't keep any copies/codes anywhere except when I am asked to. No matter how you store them there's still a chance... 99% of the time I don't have the need to anyway.

Sure it is possible, but more fool you (I dont mean that as an insult) for not bolting down your safe.

Any keys in the safe are tagged with my system information, never a customers info or address, so it would be pretty difficult to match a key to a particular customer.

My doors are all locked with Bilock. and I use strikemaster ii to secure the frames/jambs. No one is kicking down my doors.

[alarmsun]

Why keep cut keys? Since you have the codes, why not store encrypted codes and cut the keys as you need them. Add this small cost to the client's service call.

I lost had a set of master key's stolen from a vehicle. Was getting ready to rekey a whole fire district. (10 Administrative Buildings and 45 Fire Stations). My business insurance policy had $50K in lost key insurance. While the insurance company was arguing that I should not be the locksmith "making money" on the rekey, the perp called and offered to return the keys "he found". Working with local law enforcement, we arrested the guy. He had tons of stolen property. He went away for 13 years and I got my keys back. (Had "0" client info on the tag and a "Return for Reward" note w/ my phone number.)

After that, I quit keeping cut keys, too easy to make them when needed, then destroy them...

Having to call one of your best clients and tell them you lost their keys makes you feel really stupid.

TODB

[globallockytoo]

Why keep cut keys? Since you have the codes, why not store encrypted codes and cut the keys as you need them. Add this small cost to the client's service call.


TODB

With some restricted systems, it is far easier to just have the master key or core removal key available. Rather than having to waste a blank every time.

Cost cutting....one of the ways to maintain profit margins without raising prices.