Re: [sudo-discuss] FUD around Lockpicking class

Hi Eddan- So was Ace asserting some kind of copyright or other IP control over the correlations between the key codes and the locks? That's funny: like copyrighting the names & numbers in the phone book;-) What kind of lawful right would Ace have had to control those codes? I don't see any. Classic case of "security by obscurity" in the face of the data being openly available to anyone who just looks. That plus Ace not having adequate steps in place to verify the identity of people asking for duplicate keys ("security by laziness";-). (As if any burglar is going to order keys and wait a week to get them, when smashing a window provides instant gratification?) Meanwhile, it's since been demonstrated that Ace locks and other tubular locks of same size, are tremendously easy to pick with a tool anyone can make from a Bic pen housing. To my mind the main value of learning to pick locks is to become more aware of one's own security environment: particularly the degree to which we very often depend on crappy locks, and then, with the newly-acquired situational awareness about locks, the degree to which we very often leave open all manner of other security holes in our physical surroundings. Nothing says "replace your front door lock now!" like being able to pick it with two paper clips in less than a minute. And then you look at the big window right next to the front door... and the un-shredded bills you put in the recycle bin with your name & account numbers all over them... and the valuables in the back seat of your car... etc. Next is the ability to get into places one has auth to be in: such as when one locks oneself out of one's own house or car (or in my case, PBX room on client site after hours, blush...). Equally is the ability to do likewise for friends (have done that a handful of times). And from that, the generalization to our entire subculture, of the degree of security awareness we should have all the time. Picking locks is like being able to disassemble, clean, and reassemble a firearm: that skill does not make a law-abiding person start contemplating committing murders. But it might make one start to think more about personal safety on the streets at night. Lastly, I'll fess up to something. I think it's cool as hell when people who ordinarily hack around with software, start hacking around with _mechanical_ stuff. I'm bigtime in favor of people learning how to hack around with _mechanical_ stuff. "Physical layer" as new playground. To this list add your home appliances (the ones with motors in 'em) and rotary dial phones, but that's another topic for another day. TTYs- -G. ===== On 13-02-28-Thu 10:35 AM, Eddan Katz wrote: