Your Door Locks and Padlocks are Probably Useless.

You are about to discover something that scared the hell out of me. The locks I rely on to protect my family and my business can be opened without damage in seconds. By just about anyone, using easily found information. You don't need special tools. Or locksmith training. All you need is a normal key that you can file down with an ordinary file. Or you can buy such a key on the internet.

I don't believe in "Security by Obscurity" - where severe problems with the things that we rely on are covered up and kept secret.

The technique of key bumping (also known as rapping) has been known for over 50 years.

Lock manufacturers and criminals know all about it. While all of us poor suckers still buy crappy locks that we falsely believe will protect our families and possessions.

I believe that people should know about the things they use, and decide if any problems are of concern to them.

If not - they need to do nothing.

Otherwise, they can take appropriate action to the extent that they see fit.

What's the Problem.

There is a fundamental flaw in the design of the pin and tumbler mechanisms that are used on commonly sold latches and deadlocks. Even those rated as "high security".

This flaw makes it possible for anyone to open most most of these locks - even deadlocks - very quickly using a technique known as "bumping"

This technique does not damage the lock. All you need is a few minutes practice in a certain technique, and filed down key that fits into the lock. (Or you can easily buy such a key on the internet)

In a bizarre twist, the more expensive locks are actually easier to open, because of their tighter tolerances, and better quality. A Dutch consumer organisation tested over 60 locks that has been approved by the police as providing High Security, and found that most of them could be bumped open. See http://www.toool.nl/consumer-reports-nl.pdf

I realise that locksmiths and criminals have always been able to open locks without keys.

But this technique allows anyone to do it.

At first, I thought Key Bumping was a joke.

So I’ve spent a large part of a weekend researching it - and proving to myself that key bumping actually works.

Imagine This

You arrive home (or at your business), unlock the door, and discover that everything of value is missing. Your new Home Entertainment system, Computers, Stereo Equipment, etc. etc. All gone.

You are devastated. But that’s nothing to what happens next.

You call the police and your insurance company, and make a claim.

The insurance company refuses to pay.

What’s worse – they think you did it – because there is no sign of illegal entry, and your premises are protected by high quality locks. They might even charge you with attempted fraud.

Not a nice situation for a completely innocent, recently burgled person to find themselves in.

The above situation is becoming more and more common in many countries because of a fundamental flaw in the design of the majority of locks we trust to protect our property.

In Australia some companies will pay out on a theft claim where there is no forced entry, as long as the theft has been reported to the police. Some won't. (Check your situation with your insurer.)

And even if your premises are not burgled, are you comfortable with the fact that someone can open your locks, come in and snoop around your house, and then leave without a trace?

Bump Keys make this possible.

Key Bumping - The Proof.

Here’s a video from NOVA, a well respected European TV program which includes a full demonstration of key bumping, and comments from lock experts and police.
(It's in Dutch, goes for about 7 minutes, and has English subtitles.)

Like I said, it scared the hell out of me - especially these parts:

• The speed and ease with which this technique can open locks.
• The ability of a child to open locks with a bump key and a few minutes practice
• The contradiction between the statements of the police representative, and the reality which was demonstrated by the lock experts.
• The ability to open 47 of 60 locks that had been approved as high security by the dutch Police.
• The fact that some high quality, expensive locks are easier to open than cheap ones.

I don't know about you, but I'm not thrilled knowing that the locks protecting my family and possessions have this problem.
So I went down to a locksmith to get some locks that are immune to bumping.

What I discovered really made my jaw drop!

Industry Knowledge of Key Bumping

It would appear that there is little knowledge of the bumping in the Locksmithing Industry.

The Master Locksmiths Association of Australia are aware of the technique, but don't regard it as a problem. They don't have a list of locks that are immune to bumping.

Another locksmith I contacted knew about the technique, but was unaware of the information and publicity about the technique.

I went to 4 locksmiths with my bump key and asked them to copy it. All of them just did so - without asking a single question about the unusual appearance of the key.

I've also made contact with the Police and Security organisations - they don't know about this either. (And from their lack of response to this it seems that they don't want to know about it)