Brilliant video. I understood the physics behind it and how simple it was to make it. However, I’m not in a position to purchase a machine or buy pre-cut keys off the net. Therefore, my question is this. What kind of file can you use to shave off the little excess areas inbetween the ridges. You said the one you used was from Home Depot. The keys, however, have very small gaps. Any ideas?

http://LockBumping.org

Essentially if you think about billiards, the cue ball strikes another ball with a certain amount of energy and stops, the ball that was struck continues to move on with the transfered energy. Now think of this happening inside the lock on your door, or the deadbolt. Because of the way that bump keys are filed down, they transfer energy to the pins inside the lock simultaneously. The difference is inside the lock there are two sets of pins, bottom pins and top pins. Where these pins meet and separate in each stack is called the shear line. In each stack the shearline is different, hench the different cuts in your key. When you strike the key and it slides forwards, the ridges transfer energy through the bottom pins to the top pins causing them to jump. In a fraction of a second, the top pins jump above the shearline all at the same time. During this nanosecond gap the key plug can turn freely. The time is a fraction of a second due to the top pins bouncing against retainer springs but it still can be done.

It doesn’t take a great deal of force to bump a lock, it’s more about timing and turning tension on the key.

Mark Tobias who is a key figure in the physical security world wrote an article with some well defined diagrams that further explain bumping and how a lock actually works, it can be found here: http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/24/the-lockdown-locked-but-not-secure-part-i/

As it was previously mentioned, bumping is more serious and harder to prove as a motive for a break in because if done correctly, it leaves no forensic evidence. As someone in the Netherlands put it when asked about the security of locks with this information out, “a $30, $40 even $100 lock protects about as well as a $2 lock.”

I am a locksmith in the Atlanta area. You can visit my web site to prove I am in fact a Locksmith. http://www.lennet.com/aalock.

You did a great job making your How to video. I have been a locksmith for over 20 years now and I must admit I have heard about bump keys for a very long time but never used them. You are 100% correct when you tell people that the bad guys have been using this method for years now. I only wish this information did not become public as it has. No I am not putting any blame on you because all you are doing is reporting accurate information to make the public aware.

From a professional locksmith’s standpoint everyone needs to be informed of Lock Bumping. Almost any pin tumbler lock on the market can be bumped. Any residential lock that you purchase at your local home center can be bumped. If you walk into your local home center and purchase the most expensive lock they sell it will not protect you against bumping.

Here is some information you might not know. Insurance companies have know about lock bumping for years. Now they turn the tables onto the homeowners. If you are a victim of lock bumping the insurance companies in most cases will REFUSE TO PAY the claim. They turn around and re-victimize you again by telling you that you left your doors un-locked. Once again the insurance companies win. Insurance companies are out to make a profit and only are looking at the bottom line.

Here is what you need to protect yourself against Lock Bumping.

You need to call your Local Locksmith and have him/her come over and do a survey of your home.
In most cases you will need to purchase High Security Locks for your Home.
Just to let you know the average cost of a Hight Security lock is around 150.00 per lock. This does not include the service call or the installations charge. This might sound like a lot of money because it is, but can you really put a price on your own personal safety and security.

If you purchase an alarm system you have monthly fees associated with the alarm system that will result in hundreds of dollars each year. And that alone will not protect you from Lock Bumping. If the bad guy wants in he/she will get despite whatever deterrents you have waiting for them.

If you live in the Atlanta, Georgia area and contact me directly and mention that you saw this posting I will be more than happy to come out and give you a free in home survey. I work in Cobb County and sounding area.

I have several ways of stopping the the crooks from bumping your locks. For security reasons I am not going to publish them here.

Thank you again Tyler for allowing me the opportunity of educating your readers of this very serious problem. For more information you can visit my website and click on the Contact button to e-mail me directly.

Be smart and protect your most valuable asset your Home & Family!!!!

Kenny,
Locksmith

Seems to me that a simple, cheap solution is implied right in the video. Since the trick relies on the “billiard ball effect” of the top pin section jumping up, why not just add a third pin section for momentum to be transferred to, rather than kinetic energy on the second pin section. The third section just rides on top of the other two and doesn’t have any function w/r/t opening the lock. It could be made of a heavier metal in order to shrink it’s size, so that tolerances could be met.

If any locksmiths read this, I would appreciate feed back.

Christina