Unpickable design

[archiebald]

If its made it can someone will always find a way to pick it.

[mcm757207]

security in obscuriy

Hasn't worked for microsoft

LOL very true

[toomush2drink]

What about a banham ? my friend has one on their house and it looks monsterous.Even the escutcheon is hard plate.

[S3rratedSp00L]

Security through Obscurity almost sounds good in theory (Until you actually think about it) but doesn't work in practice. When you design your own lock you may easily overlook things that others might not. Take this entire thread as an example. Someone might try something that you never thought of and bypass your lock or it may be vulnerable in ways you could never imagine on your own. Many heads are better than one! Especially many heads experienced in manipulation and bypass! Make it public and open to criticism and you will eventually come out with a better design.

(Think Open Source, but with lock hardware!)

If you want a real working security concept, think "Security through Diversity!" Get yourself a couple (or many) different types/brands of lock that require different tools and skill to manipulate. Then hide/obscure them if you wish! Make sure they are as different as possible. A disc lock, a pin tumbler, a tubular, a combo, etc... How many people here can do it all, quickly? Make 'em need to carry more tools as well. At the very least this should annoy the heck out of someone trying to get in and may make them move on to somewhere else...

The more secure you get, the less convenient. It's a trade-off, so make yourself a good comprimise. All those locks do no good if you leave them unlocked just because they become inconvenient. Some people are better off with one good lock.... ....but two of different types is not that much less convenient and increases security a bit. It could be worth it!

Putting in a decoy lock, aka kwikset (along with your hidden higher security locks) and a (Hidden) security camera to catch people in the act might be a good idea too! Knowing who is trying could be invaluable! (And don't forget to secure windows and other points of entry!) 2 security cams with one being hidden and the other a decoy might be a good idea as well! Put the real one far enough away to make it hard to find just in case. Maybe in a parked car in front of your house for instance and you might catch someone trying to steal your car as well! (Remote recorder would be very useful so you get to keep a tape of the guy vandalizing or stealing the camera!) Just a thought...

Make things hard to get into, but not flashy. If you are really concerned about security than you probably don't want to make your place look interesting. Make it look like just another house on the block. Remember, most thieves probably won't be attempting to pick, so make sure things can resist brute force as well as look normal for your area. Beef things up in a way that doesn't draw attention. (This includes windows, etc...)

Unfortunately, none of this prevents someone from vandalizing your locks but you might catch them in the act, however. (and maybe have some proof so law enforcement will believe you.) Catching the culprit is almost as important as not getting broken into in the first place for obvious reasons.

...And keeping your real keys secured in some way at all times, having a set of decoy keys out in the open on a keyhook or something could prove to be an eye opening experience when you find the decoys missing! Mark your keys and other property in some rememberable yet subtle way for easy identification in the future.

Wow this is gettin way too long...


Anyway, just remember that Obscuring things doesn't make them secure. A hidden kwikset is still a kwikset, but a hidden Medeco is still hard to manipulate!

[mcm757207]

When I say "security in obscurety," I don't mean take a kwikset and scrape off of the brand name- I mean completely create an entirely new style of locking mechanism. Only make one or two of them- one for your front door and one for your back. Because it is unique and individual, no one will be able to manipulate it open because they won't know how it works.

[MrB]

But if you create an entirely new style of locking mechanism, you open yourself to inadvertently leaving a weakness or a bypass due to the novelty of the design and some angle of attack you didn't think of (think "BIC pen" here for a topical example).

With a tried and trusted mechanism, all the possible exploits and weaknesses are generally well known, so you can be secure in your understanding of how and when it might be compromised.

[mcm757207]

It doesn't matter if all it takes is a toothbrush and a paper clip- if it's one of a kind someone trying to manipulate it open will not be able to because they will have absolutely no idea how it works.

[Buggs41]

It doesn't matter if all it takes is a toothbrush and a paper clip- if it's one of a kind someone trying to manipulate it open will not be able to because they will have absolutely no idea how it works.

I understand what mcm is saying. Someone familiar with a "certain" lock, has knowledge of is inner workings. ( # of pins, placement of security pins, etc.... ) This knowledge helps a locksmith make money by doing the job quickly, and thus pays the bills.

Now, throw a lock at him that defies all the "common" knowledge he has acquired, and he is basically looking at a "new" lock.

His knowledge will eventually open this lock, but it will not be a money maker due to the time it took.



.

[S3rratedSp00L]

As far as making your own lock, it's not a bad idea, just remember that anything that can be made can be figured out. Someone had to figure it out to make it. Common knowledge of the lock doesn't matter if even one other person knows how the lock works. You would have to keep your design completely to yourself. How would you handle a lockout?

Plus, sometimes people just get lucky. I have picked things quickly by accident, although that rarely happens, it is possible.

Not to mention, people of the kind that come here to learn might be intrigued by a lock they have never seen before and could even learn how it worked if given enough time. The kind of person who would pick a lock to gain entry would be the kind that might figure something like this out. (Especially if they read this thread. )

Definitely make yourself a custom lock, but I would suggest throwing a second high security lock on there too! This way you have "Security through diversity" and even if they get passed the high security lock they still have to get through your obscure and untested lock, making things much more difficult with only the minor inconvenience of having two locks! Assuming everything else is secured and reinforced, you would be relatively safe.

(If someone still wanted in they could just drive a car into your living room, smash'n'grab style. Not bloody likely, but it would still suck. )

It all just depends on who you are trying to keep out? I personally wish I could keep out even the determined thief, but it's not really possible. Doesn't mean we all shouldn't try though! I'd really like to see someone here make their own lock! That would be very interesting if they passed it around and let others pick at their design, literally!