Sam writes: “One of my favorite sayings is ‘all a lock does is keep an honest man honest.’ Any time a new gadget comes out that speeds up the ability to pick a lock it is often extremely overpriced. Any vibrating lock pick is a bit overpriced in my opinion, so here is a way of making a good vibrating lock pick for about $9.00 and a half hour.” This project turns a vibrating Oral-B flosser into a lock pick. Link.
24 thoughts on “HOW TO – Make a quick, low-cost vibrating lockpick…”
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do you really think its ethical to post stuff like this?
do you really think its ethical to post stuff like this?
do you really think its ethical to post stuff like this?
Do you really think it’s ethical to spam comments?
You can find lockpicking information all over the internet. A thief isn’t going to bother with a lockpick… they can smash and grab much faster and easier. There is no ethical problem with showing how to make picks.
FWIW firefox glitched out and thats why it posted 3 times. I know lockpicking is all over the internet, I just dont know why there has to be more in really visible places, especially cheap lockpick making instructions. I know locks mostly just keep an honest man honest, but that doesn’t change the fact I have to lock up my bike every day, I’m sick of sh*t getting stolen.
bruce schneier has talked about this a lot in his excellent crypto-gram newsletter: http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram-0111.html
I don’t think there’s any problem with showing this type of information. Ethics, to me, really comes into play with how the information is used, not with making information available. I can think of some really valid reasons for this information to be used. For example, I lost the key to the lock I keep on my back gate, rather than purchase expensive bolt cutters to cut through the chain or spend money on a lock smith, I can now put together this relatively inexpensive contraption and take care of my problem.
A hacksaw or bolt cutters would be faster and more effective than hand-building this gizmo if someone wanted to steal your bike. The only people interested in lockpicks are gadgeteers, locksmiths, and private eyes (who want their “entry” to remain undetected later).
I built one of these last week. It makes raking so easy that all you have to worry about is putting the right pressure on the tension wrench; it was worth building if only because this focused practice improved my lockpicking skills.
A big problem with the Hummingbird, though, is that even fast picking makes the motor hot. You have to be careful while getting a feel for the pick or a new lock. I managed to keep my Hummingbird alive for only two days.
If there are cheap replacement motors available, maybe through a surplus store, this could be a solid alternative to expensive electronic lockpicks. I’d like to get mine working again just to show off, but I’m also working on a new pick with a motor that can handle nine volts.
Crooks kick down doors climb in through windows or just BS their way past security they do not have the time or inclination to acquire complex skills let alone get busted for “going equipped”
Crooks kick down doors climb in through windows or just BS their way past security they do not have the time or inclination to acquire complex skills let alone get busted for “going equipped”