Lock Picking

[AltF4]

Lock Picking is an extremely engaging and fun hobby that can be done by anyone. It is a form of puzzle solving, and has potential real world applications.

I had become interested in lock picking a couple months ago, and was hooked (pun intended) ever since. It is fascinating how intellectual ingenuity can translate so elegantly into physical security.

How many people here are into Lock picking? It would be great to be able to share tips and techniques. As well as other useful information, like where to buy locks of higher difficulty.

Happy picking.
-AltF4

 

[Crimson King]

I've tried with two paper clips and can only move the first two or three pins on the lock at work. If you have some ideas on how to practice and some techniques, I'd appreciate it.

 

[AltF4]

I've never tried the paper clip thing. The biggest issue would be getting torque I think.

You see, there are two things you need to pick a lock:

1) A torque wrench
2) A pick / rake / whatever


The torque wrench is an L shaped piece of metal that you stick into the lock and try to turn with. You need to apply a constant and gentle (but firm enough to turn the lock) pressure with the torque wrench. I personally use a set I bought at a local locksmithing store, but you can get them in lots of place, or even make one yourself.

The torque wrench for some reason is always left out of movies when someone is "picking a lock". They inevitably use just a paper clip or something, stick it in and jiggle until they hear a click. This is not how it works. You need a torque wrench.

Now that you're applying a turning force (torque) all you have to do is reach in and push the pins up to the sheer line. You don't want to push too hard on the pins or you'll push them right past the line. You don't want to push them all the way to the top of the lock, just to some arbitrary point where you'll hear and feel them settle in. Then just repeat for the rest of the pins, typically there'll be either 3, 4, or 5 pins on a normal lock.

Also, I've found it easier in general to start at the back and work your way to the front.


An easier technique, however, I've found is raking. A rake is different than a pick. It almost looks like a key, except it has just a series of random bumps and notches in it. What you'll do is stick it all the way in the back of the lock, and then "rake" it gently along the top of the pins. Two or three rakes is generally all it takes.

 

[Crimson King]

Huh, neat. I took two paper clips, bent one L-Shaped and one straight. Of course, the metal wasn't strong enough to really open it.

Now, when you say you push the pins up, how exactly and am I to feel if I am pushing pins up?

 

[AltF4]

It's so hard to explain, you know? Even in person, it's hard to describe.


Try to picture the construction of a pin tumbler lock:

It works by having several pins which are being pushed down by springs. In order to turn the tumbler, each of the pins need to be at a precise position, or else the pin will get in the way of the turning. When you enter a key into the lock, it is designed such that it positions the pins just right so that the lock will open.

When you pick the lock, you need to push the pins (one by one int he case of "picking", all at the same time in the case of "raking") such that they reach this arbitrary line (the sheer line) where they lo longer get in the way of the lock from turning.

The reason you need to keep constant turning pressure is to keep the pin at the sheer line. You see, when you put torque pressure on the lock, you create a "ledge" on the sheer line. When a pin gets to the sheer line, it will rest on this ledge, as opposed to just falling back down.

You can feel the pins with your pick. They are spring loaded, so it should feel like pushing against a spring.

 

[Crimson King]

Hmm, would an "allen wrench"?

I have a VERY thin one (about as thin as a paper clip) for some reason, but didn't know if it'd actually work.

You have no idea how much this stuff interests me.

 

[AltF4]

As long as it's turning the lock (and not obstructing the opening, and keeping you from picking the pins) you should be good to go. An allen wrech is round though. It's got the right "L" shape, but typical torque wrenches for picking are flat.


But, yea, it's such a fun hobby. It's cheap and practical too. I've spent at most $20 total so far on picks and locks.

When I was moving, my girlfriend had a chest with old stuff in it that was locked. But it was so old that she didn't have the key anymore, either. Lock Picking to the rescue! I got that thing open in a jiffy.

Think about how many times something of your was locked and you couldn't get in / use it? Being able to pick the lock is very helpful.

 

[Virgilijus]

You ever read about Richard Feynman's lock picking adventures, Alt?

 

[Greenstreet]

it would b a cool skill b ut i dont think i have the patience how long wud i have to practice to have any level of respectable skill

 

[smashbot226]

My my, a mod a vagabond?

Good thing you got into it. So fun picking locks in my older sister's room when its locked and she's talking on iChat with her boyfriend.

Except this one time...

 

[Rusty Shacklefurd]

I've considered learning how to pick locks, I've just never really bothered researching how it's done or procuring whatever instrumentation is needed to do it. Plus, I just don't think I'm all that dedicated enough to learn it right now, depending on how hard it is to learn.

 

[Rici]

I've started to learn lockpicking and there are 2 locks in my place that I can pick. Only I've also bought 2 other locks, and 1 of them I've picked 4 times, which were all by extreme luck because I think there is a security pin in it. And I'm pretty sure it's the last one, but I can't do it on command yet (if you know what I mean). I think I started with way to hard locks and that's what has killed the fun for me. If you know any good beginner locks please tell me, because I do want to get back into it again, but I just don't know which lock to buy. I can't remember which locks I have, and I'm on vacation right now so I can't look them up.

But if you know a good lock for me, please tell me, it would make me really happy .

 

[RedPeppers]

This has really got me interested. I may have to start looking into this.

 

[derek.haines]

Astoundingly, I've actually managed this using a hairpin. No joke, I locked myself out of the bathroom and it was just about my only option. ^_^ I doubt I could replicate the feat with a modern deadbolt, but it did make me a bit proud of myself at the time.

 

[AltF4]

Riciardos:

Just go to a home depot, and get the cheapest Masterlock they have. I got one for $2 and it practically picks itself.

Funny thing is, cheap Masterlocks represent about 75% of all the locks out there!

GreenStreet and Rusty:

Just make sure you start out on an easy lock. (Read above) Picking Locks is like solving a puzzle. If you start out on an expert one, you're bound to get frustrated and disinterested quickly.

It's something that can be learned easily, though. I had picked every lock in my house within a couple of hours. But that isn't to say that there isn't a lot to learn. The depth of ability is nearly limitless.

For a big challenge, try picking the lock to your own car. It's nearly impossible. Car locks are very high grade, with a nearly perfect sheer line, lots of pins, and even mushroom pins. Very difficult. So hard that it's usually easier for a thief just to remove the entire ignition area. (I'm not a car person)

 

[The Fail Tracer]

I've lockpicked the door to the room I'm in right now one time, with a paper clip.

I've tried other things, but I always seem to fail.

 

[Proud_Smash_N00b]

Man this sounds interesting.

I have no experience with it whatsoever but will it work on a combination lock (the twisting knob) that has a keyhole in the back?
sorry if its a stupid question, Im just wondering

 

[AltF4]

Smash Noob:

As far as I know, those locks are like a '2 in 1' lock. They have a combo (Which have completely separate methods of bypassing) as well as a pin tumbler lock. (A 'key' lock) Picking the pin tumbler lock should unlock the whole thing, but I don't actually have one on me to try out.

 

[The H Kid]

I lock pick...
Its a very useful skill to have.

 

[GoldShadow]

Maybe I should take this up, at the least because it's a good conversation starter and handy to have when you've locked yourself out.

 

[Darkslash]

Hmm i may pick this up. I have nothing to do this summer and i need a Skill.

 

[AltF4]

I just picked up two new locks to practice on this week. They should be a tad harder than my old ones. I spent about 10 minutes on one of them this morning as didn't get it, which is good! I need to practice against harder locks.

 

[Crimson King]

http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=502 - would this be a good starter set?

Also, does how would I got about picking a combination lock?

 

[Lavos]

Oh come on!

You guys got me all excited about trying this! I grabbed a paper clip and a thin letter opener to turn the lock with and ran around my house only to discover that my home is lock free. Other than the doors to the house, which I assume are complicated and difficult, there isn't a single thing to pick in my entire home. =(

 

[AltF4]

That's pretty standard, CK. Pretty much the same thing I have, you'd be good to go with that.


Lavos: You could just go and buy a cheap lock. There's super cheap ones at, like, Home Depot for about $3.

 

[Crimson King]

After picking, are the locks still usable? I am estimating about $40 for the set and about $10 on locks with some leeway for tax. Is that a fair gauge? How can I tell if a lock is easy to hard?

I hate you for piquing my interest so much!

 

[AltF4]

Hah! Picking a lock in no way damages the lock. They remain in perfect condition.

As for difficulty, price can be an indicator, but not always. Take a look at the back of the box (or whatever container the lock is packaged in) and see if it says anything like "pick resistant X or Y" (such as sheer line, assembly, etc..) or "security pins" or "mushroom pins".

When you make a lock, and you go out of your way to make it pick resistant, you tend to advertise that fact. So if it doesn't really say anything on the box about it, then it's just a plain old lock.


One last way of telling is by looking at the key. This is kind of "cheating" but whatever. Look at the notches in the key. There will be flat ridges on the key where the pins rest inside the lock. If these flat parts to the key are all at about the same height, it's a pretty easy pick.

 

[AltF4]

Locks picked at Defcon: 3 Easy, 2 Medium, 1 Hard = 6 total.
(Difficulty ratings are my own, not official in any way)

New tips and factoids learned: I watched some of the competitions and talked with some experts and got a tip or two.

-You can be a little more vigorous when raking then I had previously thought. Don't put a whole lot of direct pressure onto the pins, but you can afford to sweep perpendicular to them quite quickly. Raking is just like brushing your teeth. The motion can be done fast, but you're not supposed to put much actual pressure down.

-Locks don't advertise what kind of security they have on them. You have to research them online or otherwise to see exactly what you're getting first.

-Some locks have to be treated differently than others. Some are "sloppy" where the pins move around a lot, and the whole thing seems to "jiggle". In these cases, it's okay to put a little bit of extra pressure if you think it will help. You'll find that sometimes these locks require a little more elbow grease than one which is really new and "tight". I actually had trouble with an "easy" lock for a while because I was over thinking it. I was trying to be all slick and actually pick each pin one-by-one, when the best method just happened to be to go crazy with a rake.

-In contrast, some locks just can't be raked. Or, at least it's nigh impossible to. Mushroom and other security pins require the pin to be pushed almost straight upward. So raking (with lots of lateral motion) will likely just cause it to get stuck.

-Locks are almost always between 3 and 5 pins.

 

[Wikipedia]

AltF4 is so cool.

 

[cheap_josh]

Wow, this does sound interesting. How long does it take you to unlock these locks?

 

[AltF4]

Cheap_Josh:

It totally depends on the lock and how much practice you have. There are some locks that I have that I can pick literally within 3 seconds. But I have others I have yet to open once yet after a couple hours of trying.

Just keep practicing. If you find yourself getting frustrated, or feel like you're not making progress, move to an easier lock (or just a different one, if you don't know which are easier and which are harder.) This is why it's important to have several locks available to you when practicing.

 

[slave1]

so this page is teaching people how to break into houses and lockers and crap. are you sure you want to be giving this kink of power to some of these kids in the world. who will try to do this.

 

[WoapGang]

I don't see why ur complaining. If u ever get locked out of a room i'm pretty sure this would come in handy don't u think?

 

[Circus]

so this page is teaching people how to break into houses and lockers and crap. are you sure you want to be giving this kink of power to some of these kids in the world. who will try to do this.

That depends entirely upon the nature of the person that is learning the skills.

Give a good person super powers and he becomes a hero. Give those same powers to someone with a suspiciously long, curly mustache, and suddenly Dudley Do-Right is in trouble.

 

[AltF4]

Slave1:

I'm actually surprised this hasn't come up earlier... but I digress...

I suppose you also think that we shouldn't teach Sex Education in school out of fear that little Tommy might find out that that thing between his legs is for more than peeing on the neighbor's rose bushes.

The problem isn't with lock picking, it's with the locks themselves. Ever since people have been making locks, others have been picking them. 95% of the locks out on the market are trivial for an experienced lock picker to bypass. Yet the companies who make locks ignore this fact.

They continue to lie to you and sell you locks which are in essence, useless. You literally might as well put up a sign that says "Pretty please don't steal from me" because it'll have the same effect: Anyone who doesn't want to break into your stuff won't, and those who do want to will, there is no change.


But besides this, when you do begin lock picking, you will find it to be an extremely fun and rewarding experience. It's a puzzle challenge no different than any other puzzle. In fact, it's even easier than a Rubik's Cube. Just as some people choose to shoot fire arms for fun, some people choose to pick locks. Both can be dangerous when used improperly, but then again: What isn't?

 

[Wikipedia]

I suppose you also think that we shouldn't teach Sex Education in school out of fear that little Tommy might find out that that thing between his legs is for more than being on the neighbor's rose bushes.

I'm sure you mean that Tommy likes peeing on the rose bushes, not being on them. But that's not abnormal for me to not understand what you are saying.

 

[AltF4]

Ha! Fixed.

Funny how one little typo changes a whole sentence...

 

[-N-]

so how can i make a torque wrench and what are some home made things that i can use to pick a lock if there are any?

 

[WoapGang]

Nothing works better than a hairpin or a wire hanger. (At least from my experience)

 

[Mr P]

someones been reading surely you're joking mr feynman. Great man.