Unlocking the Secrets: A History of Lock Picking

1. The age-old art of unlocking a lock by manipulating its components. Lock Picking Presenter: Nick Aleks | nick@dc416.com

2. Lock Picking – Introduction • Brief introduction • In this presentation I will be going over the history of lock picking • I will also be covering the guts of a common lock • The different picking tools & techniques

3. Lock Picking – History pt1 The pursuit of lock-picking is as old as the lock, which is itself as old as civilization. It is believed that key-based locks originated in Egypt around 2000 BCE. However, recently there have been strong evidence emerging to place its invention in ancient Mesopotamia.

4. Lock Picking – History pt2 Now, like any other tool of security, locks are also ever-evolving. It took time, testing and gradual iterations of improvements for us to have the locks we have today. An example to show how far we have come in the science of locksmithing: Back in the middle ages locks were was bad that one of the best things a locksmith could do was add a feature like a false keyhole that might at best confuse a trespasser…

5. Lock Picking – History pt3 But, leave up to a OG boss like Joseph Bramah to change up the locksmith game forever. Bramah was a polymath engineer/inventor who was known as the father of pneumatic power, and invented the flushing toilet. This real life Tony Stark also applied his talents towards improving locks. He created locks that were vastly superior to any the world has ever seen Oh… but that’s not it. Bramah had another idea that would revolutionize locksmithing - by turning it into a contest. This straight-up badass offered today’s equivlant of 20,000 pounds to anyone who could pick his lock. (That’s $28,000 USD or $36,000 CDN... )

6. Lock Picking – History pt4 Here is a picture of that lock challenge. Not only did this pimp write the challenge on the lock itself, IN GOLD FONT. He also left it outside his shop window for 70 years, unbeaten, taunting lock pickers everywhere. Bramah single handily ushered in the age of “perfect security” with his locks. But like Bruce Lee, Tupac, Mufasa and every other legend that lived, Bramah too eventual passed away, leaving his locksmith empire to his sons. It was at this time when a fellow locksmith name A.C Hobbs locked himself in a second floor room of the shop and took 15 days to break into Bramah’s lock. It was at this point when the age of “perfect security” had come to an end.

7. Lock Picking – What is a lock? • Like any true form of hacking, we must understand before we can control. • For those of you who never cut a pin-tumbler lock in half before. This is kinda what it looks like. • Here you can see: • The Lock (green) • The Key (grey) • The 5 top & bottom pins (pink/purple) • The plug (yellow) • The Shear Line Gold star bonus points time!!!!!! Looking at this diagram, who can first tell me (yes or no) Will this key turn this lock????

8. Lock Picking – The Tools

9. Lock Picking – The Techniques • Techniques: • Racking (Basics) • Single pin picking • Rocking • Zipping • B*tch picking • Bumping

10. Lock Picking – The DEMO