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[11:16] Access all areas
I've been interested in the idea of lockpicking for some considerable time but never really got much further than paperclips/hacksaw blades/Swiss Army knives. Granted you can get quite a long way with such tools on really low-end locks but more useful locks require actual picks (not necessarily commercial tools but certainly things that are the right shape at least).
We had the opportunity to play with some real-life commercial lockpicks (possibly these) this weekend and I was surprised at just how amazingly easy it is to open cheap locks! I've spent a reasonable amount of time messing with these things and done a lot of reading so but Shona hasn't done anymore than watch a presentation with me (the 2006 ShmooCon one by Deviant Ollam, "Lockpicking and Physical Security Fundamentals"). Within 10 minutes of starting to play with these things she was able to pick open our front door!
Even with that in mind I don't think that lockpicks are an inherently bad thing. I for one would much rather carry one pick/wrench instead of the massive selection of keys that is required to open my door/other door/bicycle lock/car/etc, and that's just in this country. This requirement for a plethora of keys also provides a reasonable argument in favour of biometric and/or RFID keys - although that also provides a reasonable argument (depending on your perspective on "reasonable") for other people to remove my biometrics.
Just for the record, my reading of the local California law, specifically Penal Code Section 466-469 seems to indicate that ownership of lockpicks WITHOUT intent to commit a crime is not illegal. I'm not a lawyer and could be wrong.
I also learned something by perusing the penal code - apparently ceramic or porcelain spark plug chips (aka Ninja rocks) are very good at silently breaking automobile glass! Who'd a thunk it?!
[Posted at: 05/11/2006 11:16]