[sudo-discuss] FUD around Lockpicking class
Anon195714
anon195714 at sbcglobal.net
Thu Feb 28 11:06:24 PST 2013
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:
> Chicago Lock v. Fanberg is the case I was telling you about last
> night, J.D. -
> http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=17605115413487325945.
> Author of lock-picking manuals gets sued by the manufacturer of the
> locks. Chicago Lock loses on its trade secret misappropriation claim.
> Here's an excerpt from the facts of the case -
>
> Appellant Victor Fanberg, the son of locksmith Morris Fanberg and
> a locksmith in his own right, has published a number of locksmith
> manuals for conventional locks. Realizing that no compilation had
> been made of tubular lock key codes, in 1975 Fanberg advertised in
> a locksmith journal, /Locksmith Ledger,/ requesting that
> individual locksmiths transmit to him serial number-key code
> correlations in their possession in exchange for a copy of a
> complete compilation when finished. A number of locksmiths
> complied, and in late 1976 Fanberg and his father began to sell a
> two-volume publication of tubular lock codes, including those of
> Ace locks, entitled "A-Advanced Locksmith's Tubular Lock Codes."
> In 1976 and 1977 Fanberg advertised in the manuals in
> the /Locksmith Ledger/ for $49.95 and indicated that it would be
> supplemented as new correlations became known. /See/ Excerpt at
> 95-98. About 350 manuals had been sold at the time of trial. The
> District Court found that Fanberg "had lost or surrendered control
> over persons who could purchase the books," /id./ at 98, meaning
> that nonlocksmiths could acquire the code manuals.
>
> The books contain correlations which would allow a person equipped
> with a tubular key grinding machine to make duplicate keys for any
> listed Ace lock if the serial number of the lock was known. On
> some models, the serial numbers appear on the exterior of the lock
> face. Thus, Fanberg's manuals would make it considerably
> easier4*403 (and less expensive) for a person to obtain
> (legitimately or illegitimately) duplicate keys to Ace locks
> without going through the Company's screening process. This is
> what caused consternation to the Company and some of its
> customers. At no time did Fanberg seek, or the Company grant,
> permission to compile and sell the key codes. Nor did the
> individual locksmiths seek authorization from the Company or their
> customers before transmitting their key code data to Fanberg.
>
>
>
> On 2/27/13 11:20 PM, J.D. Zamfirescu wrote:
>> more:
>>
>> http://www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_22683660/oakland-mayor-jean-quan-apologizes-promoting-lock-picking
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 10:15 PM, Matthew Senate
>> <mattsenate at gmail.com <mailto:mattsenate at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>> It's awesome, free press!
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 9:40 PM, rusty lindgren
>> <rustylindgren at gmail.com <mailto:rustylindgren at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>> Oh dear gawd. This is possibly the most moronic piece of
>> "journalism" I have ever seen.
>>
>> Are they unaware of the fact that you can go to a
>> lock-picking school(actually it teaches you way more), and
>> that this is just a cheaper version of that? (see:
>> http://www.lock411.com/training.html).
>>
>> Also, virtually no crime in Oakland involves skilled
>> lock-picking, because it's a waste of time.
>>
>> Don't worry though, you can train in deadly martial arts, go
>> to the shooting range, and buy ninja swords just about
>> anywhere in Oakland, but picking a Masterlock is "appalling".
>>
>> -Rusty
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 7:31 PM, Anca Mosoiu
>> <anca at techliminal.com <mailto:anca at techliminal.com>> wrote:
>>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> Heads up. Looks like some folks aren't too happy that
>> people are learning how to pick locks this weekend.
>>
>> http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=9010047
>>
>> Here is Oakland Local's response:
>>
>> http://m.oaklandlocal.com/article/oaklands-mayor-quan-apologizes-mentioning-weekend-lockpicking-class-really
>>
>> Anca
>>
>>
>> --
>> -=-=-=-
>> Anca Mosoiu | Tech Liminal
>> anca at techliminal.com <mailto:anca at techliminal.com>
>> M: (510) 220-6660 <tel:%28510%29%20220-6660>
>> http://techliminal.com | T: @techliminal | F:
>> facebook.com/techliminal <http://facebook.com/techliminal>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Rusty Lindgren
>> **
>>
>>
>>
>>
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