Acne

Andrew Bean asked:


For many of you the term “lock bumping” is something you’ve never heard of, you’ll be blissfully unaware of the potential jeopardy your home and possessions are in due to this phenomenon.

Let me explain. ” Many locks throughout the world use what is known as a pin tumbler mechanism, inside the lock there are a number of cylinders know as pins, when a key with the corresponding cuts is placed in the lock the pins are pushed back and the lock is opened. This is essentially how locks have been made for thousands of years.

The “Bump Key” exploits this weakness using simple physics. The key has been filed to give it a profile that will fit any lock of a corresponding size. It is inserted into the lock and then tapped with a blunt object (hammer, ***** driver handle etc.) the kinetic energy from the strike travels up the key causing the pins to move,(Imagine hitting a cue ball on a snooker break, you hit the balls at the front but all the balls move) if the key is turned at the correct moment the lock will become free and the door will open.

This is a painfully easy technique to master and a small child can pick it up within a minute. This is why it is becoming the burglars favourite tool. It allows them to gain access to your home without having to break any glass, climb any drain pipes or carry any suspicious tools. He simply opens your front door and walks in.

This can cause problems when you try to claim on your insurance as there is no evidence of a break in. It appears as though the forgetful home owner has left his or her property unsecured.

To protect yourself you should consider changing your locks, there are many anti bump locks available and a little research on the internet will yield some positive results.

Obviously lock bumping isn’t the only way a persistent house breaker can gain entry into your home and you should always bare this in mind when buying conservatories windows and doors. Web sites like Conservatory TV provide extensive coverage on security for your glazing products and are well worth a look when considering this kind of purchase.



DENIS

Brandon Atchley asked:


The day has finally arrived.  All those weeks of searching and negotiating are about to end in a champagne popping moment as the sellers hand you over their keys. 

You are proud and the moment is euphoric.  Those new keys represent a milestone in your life, a new chapter in your personal book of existence that you can’t wait to get started on. 

Through blood, sweat, and tears you have worked to provide for yourself and your family.  That toil has just paid off in the purchase of your new property.

But the question is, will you and your loved ones be safe in this new home? 

You won’t.  How many copies of those keys had the sellers given out over the years.  Relatives, contractors, virtually anyone with a key copy, may have a way into your house.

So you’ll just change the locks, right?  Not so fast.  Your current locks and any new off the shelf locks you get are prone to key bumping.

What is key bumping?  It’s the process by which someone uses a hammer or other object, and bumps a special key that can be bought for pennies on the dollar, to open your doors.

The encouraging news is that it can be beaten, and for a lot less money and time than you think.

New keyless bump proof locks from GoKeyless.com that do not have a keyway, or combination keypad locks that have a bump resistant cylinder, render key bumping useless. Your personal property, and your family are worth it.

Don’t let another day go by without buying a new keyless bump proof lock. Your personal property, and your family are worth it.



ART

Ellen Bell asked:


From time to time, most homeowners will occasionally have to replace the entry door locks on their home.  If you are currently in the market for new doors locks, there are a number of considerations to take into account before you make your purchase.  In this article, we’ll review some of the important features of home entry locks on the market today, so you can make an educated decision about what product is right for your home.

Today’s door locks come in an array of colors and finishes to choose from, including finishes like Bright Brass, Antique Brass, Satin Nickel, Oil Rubbed Bronze, and more.  Many homeowners will choose a color or finish based on the finishes of other metal fixtures throughout their homes such as lights, faucets, hinges, etc.  Doing so can help maintain a consistent look throughout your home.  However, the other important consideration when it comes to finish is the longevity.  An inexpensive lock with a cheap finish will probably carry a one year warranty.  As locksets go up in price, you will also notice that the years of warranty generally increase as well.  The length of warranty you need may also depend on your geographic location.  If you live near the ocean in a salty environment, you should look for a lock with a lifetime finish.  Another consideration is whether your door handle is exposed to sunlight.  If so, UV rays may damage or fade a cheap finish very quickly.

When it comes to buying door locks, security is of course, of utmost importance.  Today, the top of the line in security are bump proof locks.  Lock bumping is a method of forced entry into a home that is gaining in popularity among thieves because it’s so easy and fast, and because it leaves no signs of forced entry.  Today’s bump proof locks may feature special key cylinders with pins that are impossible to pick and resistant to bumping.  However, for the best protection, you should look for locks that have no exterior keyway at all.  These locks typically feature a keypad on the outside so the homeowner can input a custom combination to open the door.

From a convenience standpoint, having a keypad door lock can be really nice, especially for families with pets and young children, or busy professionals who may not have time to mess around with keys.  Another convenient type of door lock is the remote control actuated lockset.  Much like a car remote, you carry a small remote on your keychain, then simply point it at your door and press a button to lock or unlock the door.  These uses for a remote control lock are numerous.  Handicapped persons can unlock their front door from inside the home without getting out of their chair.  You can give extra remotes to service personnel, nannies, or house cleaners.  Then each service person can get in your home as needed, but they will not have the ability to take a key to a hardware store and make a copy.  When the service contract is up, they simply turn the remote back in to you.

These are just a few of many issues to consider when you get ready to buy new locks for your home.  If you’re still unsure what units might be right for you, consult the personnel at your hardware store, or contact an online or catalog retailer who offers a special selection of home security products.  A knowledgeable sales representative will be able to assist you in making the right decision.  Remember, home entry locks are a big investment, so take your time and shop carefully.  Not only do you want to get the most for your money, and that you’re providing the best possible security for yourself and your family. 



TEDDY

Jenny Schweyer asked:


Lock bumping might be referred to as lock picking’s lesser known cousin.  It’s an unfamiliar term at best. It is, however, at least as big a problem as lock picking, and perhaps even more sinister for what it entails. Bumping is a type of lock picking.  Instead of using typical lock picking tools though, all that is required is the use of a bump key.  It has, for this reason, the potential to be much more sinister than lock picking.

One of the biggest problems is that few locks are immune from lock bumping.  This is because most locks work on the same principle.  The most common type of lock, found on every home and business in the world, is the pin-and-tumbler lock.  To understand how lock bumping works, it helps to understand how a pin and tumbler system functions.

Inside every pin and tumbler lock is a cylinder (or key cylinder.)  Within the cylinder is a chamber (the plug) containing stacks of pins.  The pins it contains vary in length.  When the correct key is inserted into the cylinder, the ridges or teeth on the key match the pins inside.  Rotating the key causes the pins to spring apart and the plug to rotate.  This rotation releases the latch from the door jamb.

Trying to insert the wrong key will produce one of two results.  Either the key will not enter the cylinder at all, or, it will enter the cylinder, but won’t be able to rotate the plug because the match is incorrect.

Old-school lock picking usually requires a broad range of tools.  Lock bumping, in contrast, requires only one special key.  A lock bump key looks like an ordinary door key.  It would be unlikely to draw any suspicion, were it to be used to gain illegal entry to a home.

To the untrained eye, a bump key might pass for a regular key.  A closer inspection, though, would reveal that the teeth (or ridges) and the notches are even.  All of the cuts, in fact, are made to maximum depth.  They may also be referred to as “dummy keys” or “999″ keys.  The number “999″ is derived from the fact that the cuts are all made to a depth of nine.

Opening a door lock with a 999 key isn’t as simple as simply inserting and turning.  It does take a particular feel and a certain degree of practice, just as old-fashioned lock picking does.

What is alarming about lock bumping is that only two tools are required: a 999 key and a small “bump tool.”  A would-be criminal will draw much less attention to himself with a bump key than with a set of locksmithing tools.

Two other major factors increase the likelihood that home and business or commercial property owners will become the target of a lock bumper:

1) Lock bumping can be learned from the Internet.  Unfortunately, the World Wide Web is rife with how-to video teaching this practice.

2) Bump keys can be purchased relatively easily over the Internet.  It’s almost as easy as finding how-to videos.

Home and business owners are left in a vulnerable position.  However, there are things property owners to can do to protect themselves:

* Use a deadbolt lock in addition to a cylindrical or other type of door lock.  Deadbolt locks are much harder to bump than other types of locks.  Using both types has long been advised by locksmiths and security experts anyway.  This is just one more good case for doing so.

* Use an after market product.  Anti-bumping products can be purchased at hardware stores and online.  They are almost always worth the expense for the extra protection they provide.

* Purchase anti-bump locks.  Many lock manufacturers have come to recognize the magnitude of the problem.  They have begun to produce locks with extra anti-pick and anti-bump features built right in.

By employing one or more of these methods, property owners may decrease their chances of becoming victims of lock bumping by fifty percent or more.



NUMBERS

Ellen Bell asked:


Lock bumping is a method of forced entry that employs a tool called a bump key. Lock bumping is similar to lock picking; however, it is usually faster and requires far less expertise to be successful. Because bump keys are inexpensive and can be easily purchased online, this frightening phenomenon is gaining in popularity as a method by which thieves can enter homes and businesses.

History of Lock Bumping

The technique of lock bumping is not new. According to ALOA (the Associated Locksmiths of America), locksmiths have been bumping locks for about 75 years as a way to bypass damaged key cylinders. In more recent years, however, common thieves have begun to take up the practice, thanks to the wide availability of bump keys for sale online and many internet resources that provide detailed depictions of the practice. Lock bumping was first recognized as a security threat in 2002, when a German man brought it to the attention of the media. Since then, many news media and publications in the United States and around the world have reported on the issue.

How does it work?

A bump key is simply a key that has been filed down in a certain way. When the bump key is inserted into the lock and tapped lightly with an object such as a hammer or screwdriver, the lock will open. There are many videos on the internet depicting the process of lock bumping, and it is frighteningly easy to do. One local U.S. new station even showed a young child that was successful at bumping a lock after only a few attempts.

How to Protect Yourself

Because bump keys can be used to open all door locks of a certain profile, and there aren’t that many different types of keyway profiles out there, most people are at risk of lock bumping. There are a number of door locks on the market today that are advertised as “bump proof.” For the most part, these locks may be slightly more secure, but in many cases they only make bumping more difficult, but not impossible.

It is important to note that as of yet, there has been no standard established for what truly constitutes a “bump proof” lock. For the best security, consumers should look for door locks that have no keyway on the exterior of the door. After all, you can’t use a bump key when there’s no place to insert it!

For more information on lock bumping and a link to a news commentary on the topic, please visit Home Products n’ More.



HARRIS

Ellen Bell asked:


During the summer of 2007, a rash of mysterious burglaries occurred in the Dallas, Texas area.  Residents of upscale apartment complexes would return home at the end of the day to find their doors unlocked and their apartments robbed.  Even more puzzling, the thieves were able to hit a dozen or more apartments in one day!  How did they do this?

Detective Scott Peterson was the one to finally solve the crime, discovering that the thieves, later known as the “Bump Key Bandits,” were employing lock bumping, a technique often used by locksmiths to open doors.

A locksmith in Denmark first developed the technique of lock bumping.  At first, the method was to insert a key and apply a slight pressure while tapping on it with a hammer or screwdriver.  The force caused the tumblers in the key’s cylinder to jiggle and sometimes open up.  Sometime around 2002, a simple tool called a “bump key” was developed to make the process easier.  Bump keys are not illegal, and can easily be purchased on the internet.  In fact, most commercial and residential locksmiths keep bump keys in their arsenal of tools for opening locked doors.

In 2005 Barry Wels and Rop Gonggrijp of the Dutch organization TOOOL (The Open Organization of Lockpickers) drafted a paper detailing the method and application of lock bumping.  This technique finally attracted a great deal of attention in 2005 following the broadcast of a Dutch television show.  The show detailed the risk of illegal entry and potential for theft by using lock bumping techniques.

Around the same time, an American security expert, Marc Tobia, began to publicly discuss the technique and its serious security risks.  This information began to circulate through the media, and criminals in the United States and other countries quickly took note.  Now there are numerous online resources for anyone wanting to learn how to bump locks.  Kits for making bump keys are readily available to anyone with a credit card, and thus the technique of lock bumping has become a major security risk to the general public.

So how do you protect yourself and your family?  Ironically, many high quality locks on the market today only make lock bumping easier.  Very expensive locksets are manufactured with precise tolerances in the key cylinder.  Because the pins work so smoothly, lock bumping becomes much easier.  Furthermore, locks made of hardened steel are even more vulnerable because they are less prone to damage during the bumping process, whereas a cheaper lock is more likely to jam and not open.

Locks with security pins (for example, spool or mushroom pins) combined with a regular tumbler mechanism generally make lock bumping more difficult.  Electronic locks, magnetic locks, and locks using rotating disks are even better options because they can rarely if ever be opened via lock bumping.  Another option is a type of lock featuring “trap pins.”  The pins in these locks’ key cylinders are designed to jamb when someone tries to bump the lock.

Many companies now sell “bump proof” or “bump resistant” locks; however, bear in mind that as of yet, there is still no official standard as to what constitutes a “bump proof” lock.  For absolute security, look for locks that don’t have a slot for a key, such as touchpad locksets requiring you to enter a combination to open the door.  After all, a thief can’t enter your home with a bump key if there’s no place to insert it!

Apartment dwellers remain the most vulnerable to lock bumping attacks.  Because most apartment locks can all be opened by one master key, they are extremely easy to bump, thus the reason why the Dallas thieves targeted only apartment complexes.  If you do rent an apartment, insist that the locks be changed before you move in, so that prior residents cannot enter your home.  If your landlord refuses to change the locks, inquire if you can replace them on your own.  If all else fails, choose a safety prop or some other device to prevent unauthorized entry.



DAMIEN

Home Security Advice asked:


Ever heard of lock bumping? If not, you definitely need to make yourself a little more aware. Lock bumping is a new form of “breaking and entering” for even the dumbest of criminals. It’s so easy that kids can do it within seconds, and the scariest part of all is that it works on 90% of manufactured locks. In fact, most lock manufacturers refuse to comment about this growing problem, either because they’re just learning about it, or they have heard about it and have no idea how to fix it. Either way, the message of lock bumping needs to be spread like wildfire so that the good guys stand a chance against the bad guys.

How it Works: Using a bump key, or a regular key with a specific series of cuts (pattern is displayed everywhere on the internet) all an intruder has to do is stick the key into your lock, tap it 1-5 times with a tool such as a handle of a screwdriver, turn the key and open your door.

The process is so quick that your neighbors won’t even notice something is wrong. The intruder stands at your front door, inserts a key, gives it a love tap and turn the knob. Neighbors will think you gave your cousin, brother, friend or whoever an extra key.

So how do you protect yourself? There’s many ways to secure your home. If you can afford more expensive locks, Medeco offers a wide range of locks that can’t be bumped. Other ways to secure your home would be to have loud pets, alarm systems and extra lighting inside and out. Sticks in your sliding glass doors and windows, as well as window films, CCTV systems and video monitoring systems will help you to “step up” your home security.

Don’t be a victim of this crime. You’re possessions are way to important to let this go. Make sure everyone you know; friends, family, neighbors know about this technique that makes the dumbest criminals look smart. Creating bump keys is easy and affordable.

Like I mentioned before, the internet has offered all potential intruders unlimited information about creating a bump key and putting it to use. There are various YouTube clips that give you a visual of how this technique works, so look it up. Spread the word.



RONNY

Jeff King asked:


The term lock bumping conjures up images of people in stripy jumpers with eye masks on bumping against a locked door on the off chance that it will open and they can fill their bags full of ‘swag’. The reality is a lot less glamorous and a lot more worrying.

Lock bumping refers to a method of picking a lock that is effective against pin-tumbler locks. These types of lock are prevalent throughout the world and are used on most North American doors. It involves the procurement of a key blank for the type of lock that you want to open and an amount of work dependant on the type of lock that you have.

It has been shown on popular television that an average person can effect entry into your home using this technique with very little training. It is not a new practice by any means. Lock bumping was first documented over 50 years ago in Germany when Dutch and German locksmiths were experimenting with this technique for legitimate reasons.

The dangers have been brought home to the public by the power of information technology. Lock bumping was picked up by the media in 2003 and a report was commissioned by the lock pickers association in 2004. The information was picked up by the TV companies and then spread through the internet. It has now become a much debated topic.

The reality is that you are far more likely to be burgled because you left the front door or a window open or someone simply broke down your door. The main reason for this is that lock bumping requires the procurement of a blank key that fits your lock and an amount of tapping around the lock on your door with a hammer, something that would not go un-noticed in the most unfriendly neighborhood.

The message has to be don’t panic. Most modern locks have some degree of protection against bumping and Schlage and Medeco locks cannot be bumped. Many locks and keys are patented and this means that the availability of the key blanks is strictly controlled through authorized dealers. Only a rogue employee or a disaffected dealer could cause problems in this area, someone who can easily be traced.

Although statistics show that a large percentage of break-ins have no sign of forced entry the reality is that these probably occurred because a window or door was left open or the homeowner misplaced their keys and could not admit to it for insurance purposes.

If you are concerned that your lock could be susceptible to lock bumping the best thing to do is to ask a professional locksmith for a survey of the locks used at your property. They will be able to tell you if you are at risk from lock bumping techniques and will also be able to recommend new locks that cannot be bumped.

The main thing is not to worry unduly about this supposedly new technique. It has been around for many years and you are not likely to arrive home and find your house full of uninvited teenagers, unless you’ve got one of your own and they’ve invited their friends around for a party.



KARL