Security expert Marc Weber Tobias is worried about your front door . . . and your back door, your side door, your windows, and your garage door. His expertise focuses on securing doors and windows, and he knows about the most common threats to that security. One common security threat that has been on the rise since its discovery by locksmiths in Denmark in the 1970s is “lock bumping.” As Tobias can tell you, securing doors and windows – and ultimately, your loved ones and valuables – takes more than the basic lock these days.

What is a “Bump” Key?

A “bump” key works by tricking the tumblers in a pin lock to fall into the correct place for just an instant, but long enough for someone to turn the key and unlock the door. A basic key, a sturdy file, a little pressure, and a gentle “bump” against the key is enough to knock the pin tumblers into place and pop a lock open.

“Any pin tumbler lock that utilizes two or more moving pins within each chamber is at risk. Door locks, post office locks, file cabinet locks, access control override locks, and padlocks. All of them can be bumped if you have the key that will fit the keyway and has been properly cut . . . Are there exceptions? Yes. Can every conventional lock be bumped open? No, but statistically, a very high percentage can,” says Tobias in his online column “The Lockdown.”

Not only can a criminal easily get inside, but you may run into insurance troubles if there is no sign of forced entry. A “bump key” leaves no marks or scratches. It looks as though someone had a key to unlock the door. They did, technically, have a key – a “universal” key.

What can you do to ensure that you are properly securing doors and windows? You can install advanced, contemporary lock technology that has addressed the “bump” key threat and made it irrelevant.

Securing Doors and Windows Against Bump Keys and Other Tricks

Fortunately, since the “bump” trick was developed over 30 years ago, security companies have had time to come up with answers to the threat. If you have locks built before 2005, you might want to consider having them replaced with these more secure models:

• Medco – In 2005, Medco introduced its response to the bump key problem by adding an innovation to the design of all of their locks. A piece known as the M3, included in all their models, is an additional pin that is not controlled by the grooves of the key, like a traditional pin, but by the forward motion of the key. A simple bump cannot cheat the M3 into unlocking position. The added level of security within the lock itself helps in securing doors and windows.

• Schlage -The Schlage Primus model increases the complexity of a lock’s inner workings by adding a second set of pins along the side of the key that must also be properly manipulated to unlock the door.

Additionally, electronic locks, magnetic locks, and locks using rotating disks are not vulnerable to this “bump” attack.

Extra Protection When Securing Doors and Windows

When you are at home, it’s a good idea to activate that second line of lock defense – the hidden deadbolt, which has no external keyhole. Even if someone bumps their way through the first lock, the hidden deadbolt will stop them long enough to make them give up. A criminal who wants the ease of a bump entry will probably not resort to crowbars and kicking once their bump attempt is blocked by a second lock.

Remarks Tobias: “Yes, locks do matter in protecting a residence. Many burglaries are crimes of opportunity. If the locks prevent bumping and that is the chosen method of attack, then the burglary may not occur.”

Through inexpensive tools and a little practice, lock bumping can be done by anyone

Deadbolts. Chains. Security systems. It seems people will go to any length to keep their home and their belongings safe. But even when the homeowners get smart, so do the crooks. For every lock out there, someone has figured out a way to open it. In some cases, getting in involves lock bumping.

On many locks found on residences, a pin tumbler lock mechanism is in use. Inside the lock there are a series of cylinders known as pins. When a key with cuts corresponding to these pins’ shapes and positions is inserted into the lock’s keyway, the pins are pushed back by a series of small springs and the lock is opened. From inexpensive to very pricey locks, pin tumbler locks all work on this same principle and have been in use since the ancient Egyptians developed the concept in 2000 BC.

Several thousand years younger than the lock itself, lock bumping is a type of lock picking which involves what’s known as a lock bumping key. Much like a skeleton key, a bump key can fit into any pin tumbler lock. Bump keys are created by filing down a key blank to about one millimeter. The “bump” is then done by inserting the bump key into the lock and tapping the key with something such as a screwdriver until the lock’s pin stacks have been jolted enough to free the lock. The technique requires far less skill than traditional lock picking and can be mastered with some practice.

Scary as it may seem, lock bumping can be employed by practically anyone. A relatively new phenomenon, bumping has been seen in use by criminals in the US and Europe since 2002. Documents and several videos available on the Internet detail specifically how to bump a lock and can be instantly accessed by anyone with a computer. Bump keys first appeared in the early 1920’s when the idea was patented as a new method of lock picking. Currently, bump keys can be purchased online for a variety of lock types for as little as $3.00.

Because of the recent surge in the popularity of lock bumping, manufacturers are making strides to make their locks “bump proof”. Locks such as the Schlage Primus have sidebars that, when not aligned properly, keep bump keys from moving the lock’s mechanism. The Primus also involves pins filed to a specific angle that allow only their accompanying keys to open. Similarly, Medeco also makes a deadbolt for residences that is considered to be bump proof. Electronic locks or those that open using a key pad or don’t require a key are also bump proof just by their very nature.

More low-tech methods of preventing lock bumping include spraying the lock with WD-40. In theory, the lubricant, normally used on squeaky door hinges, make the pins inside the lock slippery. The pins then move more freely and may not make the lock entirely bump proof, but will take longer to open with a bump key. The thought is then that the criminal becomes impatient or tired of trying the lock and moves on.

A bicycle lock is a physical security device used on bicycles to prevent theft. They are generally used to fasten the bicycle to a bicycle rack or any immovable object. Bike locks are a safe and inexpensive solution to the safety and security of your bike when you ride to work or school. Even if you don’t commute a bike lock can be handy for stops while taking rides.

One important thing to consider when choosing a bike lock is who will most likely steal your bike. On a busy university campus, for example, thefts are often crimes of convenience when someone spots a bike that hasn’t been locked at all. However, if you ride your bike around an urban centre for commuting, people might have specialised equipment such as crowbars, lock-picks and hacksaws that are no match for weaker locks. Leaving your bike in the same public place for hours at a time, as opposed to a few minutes while you rent a DVD, gives someone even more time to take advantage of your lock’s particular weakness.

You’ll want the best possible bike lock you can afford, since its cost is always less than that of replacing a stolen bicycle. Most people recommend spending about 10% of the value of your bike on its lock. If your bicycle is very precious or expensive, try a combination of several locks when leaving your bike in an unfamiliar area or for an extended period of time.

Materials

Buy a lock or chain of tool-hardened steel. This means that cutting, sawing and drilling tools will be meeting metal of the same hardness, and will not penetrate it as they would ordinary steels. Cheap locks use a brittle steel that can be broken by a car jack. Look for a flexible, shatterproof steel which will yield, rather than break, under stress.

* Consider a U-lock. These are the most popular. However, not all U-locks are created equal. Be sure to read the guarantee that comes with the lock. Also, buy the smallest possible U-lock for your needs – this will allow less room for a thief to some leverage for his or her crowbar or other tools.

* Consider a cable lock. These are the easiest for a thief to cut but are also the most flexible and inexpensive.

* Consider a motorcycle lock. These are very sturdy chain-link-type locks that are nearly impossible to cut through. However, they are extremely heavy.

* Consider a key lock. Key locks are generally harder to break than combination locks.

* O-Locks offer the best protection for your bike. A few manufacturers are marketing them; Bike Club and Masterlock are two that come to mind, but not all bicycle shops carry them. Ask around. The adjustability makes them great for snugly securing the frame and a front wheel to a bike rack. This helps prevent thieves from getting a prying device into the lock. Their locking mechanisms are also difficult to pick.

The bike lock mechanism is composed of two different parts: a structure that fastens your bike to itself or to a stationary railing and the lock itself, both of which have strengths and weaknesses. Some bike locks use combinations, like lockers. While combinations seem secure because they aren’t easy to guess, these kinds of locks are usually strapped to a thin metal chain that is easy to clip apart with bolt cutters. Then again, you don’t have to worry about losing a key if you are prone to forgetfulness, and they are lightweight enough to carry everywhere. Combination locks will work as a visual deterrent against people looking for an easy theft.

Warranty

Good locks will guarantee your bike against theft up to a specified value. As home insurance policies generally does not apply to stolen bikes worth more than INR 23000 or so, this is an important feature. Ensure you have adequate bike insurance.

For many people, weight is an important consideration when selecting a bike lock. Whether you’re training in mountain biking, cross-country marathons, or just visiting a friend, the last thing you want is a twenty-pound weight strapped around your frame slowing you down. There isn’t a precise correlation between weight and strength, however. A special steel, called tool-hardened steel, will at least be as strong as many saws and cutters without being overly heavy.

Some manufacturers offer a warranty along with their lock that may partially reimburse you should your bike disappear. Of course, nothing is absolute. Recently, it came to the attention of concerned bike riders that some types of very secure locks can in fact be opened with the plastic shaft from an ordinary pen. Keep in mind that while every bike lock has its weakness, there are many issues to consider when buying the right one for your bike.