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Newsweek has an article that suggests that many if not most pin tumbler locks, ie those that can be opened via regular keys, are easily compromised by means of a new-ish technique called bumping. Apparently, bumping is so easy, that anyone can learn the technique in fifteen minutes – easier even than classic lock picking. Newsweek neither provides details on ‘bump keys’, nor suggests how we should protect ourselves…hinting only that Medeco locks are good. They conclude the article by making note of the ‘advances’ made by the auto industry in rendering cars more difficult to steal, via the use of RFID tags…

And ironically, just last week, an article in Wired Magazine entitled Pinch my Ride, describes how easily car security systems that are based on RFID can be broken – they make note of various devices that can ‘clone’ the codes used by RFID chips.

…and so, in these manifestly insecure times, we here at Gadgetmaniac can only offer this soupcon of advice: “Shun security!” Apparently this piece of wisdom comes directly from none other than Thales of Miletus (624-546 BCE) who is regarded as the first scientist/philosopher – normally we would take the advice of a thinker in such high standing, but we can’t quite figure out what he meant by that quotation.

Beware the ‘Bump’ Key – Newsweek, Aug. 2, 2006

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5. Mythbusters Bust Unbeatable Lock

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