Locks and Keys

Brett McMenimon asked:


Locks have grades. There are good grades of locks and there are bad grades of locks. Without getting into specifics, most locks you find for $10 are not the highest grade of locks, unless you got yourself a really good deal!

Homeowners and business owners should be aware of the repercussions of installing cheap, inexpensive locks on their home or building. These discount locks, break down quickly. I am a locksmith, take my word for it. When they do break, and it is almost inevitable that they will, you are going to end up buying new ones. Because they are so inexpensive and cheap, it would cost more to order replacement parts for them. When purchasing a new lock, hold it in your hand. The $10 lock will feel significantly lighter than a heavy duty lock and there is a reason. Less material ultimately means a cheaper price, however less material ultimately means much easer to break into and much more likely to break down. This is YOUR security, and you have one chance to do it right before it becomes an issue.

People wonder if certain brands are better than others and the answer is “no” with a few exceptions. Is the place your buying your new locks from, a place that should be selling them? In order to get something that will last and work well for years to come, go to a local locksmith or security provider. It’s what they do, take advantage of their services. I just have to reiterate that this is YOUR security and you get one chance to do it right before it turns into a big problem.



SYLVESTER

Jeff King asked:


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.



EDDY

Cliff Berman asked:


Did you know that your house key could be bought on the Internet, letting criminals of all shapes and sizes into your home anytime they wanted? No, probably not. That’s the sort of thing that happens in crime novels, not real life. But the police (and your homeowners insurance) know that all today’s criminals have to do is go out on the web and not only do they have access to one of the locksmith community’s best secrets, they also have handy “how-to” guides to show them how to get into your home without letting anyone know they’ve even been there.

Have you ever heard of a bump key? Lock bumping is a technique that locksmiths have been using for the better part of a century to quickly disassemble a lock and allow them to either fix it or gain access to whatever it is that the lock was locking up. Unfortunately, bump keys aren’t a well kept secret anymore.

Homeowners insurance providers and security providers are doing their best to educate today’s homeowners on the potential dangers of bump keys. The principle is simple. In a standard pin tumbler lock, such as the type found on the doors of most homes and apartments, the lock is made up of a series of spring loaded stacks called pin stacks. When a key is slipped into the lock the pins line up along the edge, allowing the cylinder to turn and the door to open.

A bump key is a standard key that has been filed down. Criminals simply slip the bump key into the lock one notch short of full insertion, then “bump” the key with a hammer or other hard object. The impact causes the pins to jump, creating a small window in which the lock can be turned without damaging it. Even a criminal with little experience (and even less common sense) can enter your home without leaving any signs of breaking and entering behind.

There are things that you as a homeowner can do to protect your home against criminals using bump keys. First, recognize that well made pin tumbler locks are more vulnerable to lock bumping because the pins are designed to move smoothly, allowing the lock to open easily when a cheaper lock would jam. Electronic locks, magnetic locks and locks that use rotating discs aren’t vulnerable to lock bumping, and because the bump key has to have the same blank profile as the lock it’s made to open in order to work restricted or registered key profiles are safer. (As opposed to the keys you can go to WalMart and purchase for less than a dollar.)

The danger to homeowners comes in the ready availability of bump keys to today’s criminals. Bump keys for many different types of locks are sold on the web for anywhere from $1 to $200, depending on the type of lock it’s intended to open. There are a number of videos on YouTube that readily show criminals how to use this simple lock picking device, and even the recent features done on the process by today’s news channels have opened the door to more information than the average criminal needs to get into your home.

Talk to your security company today about protecting yourself from the danger of bump keys. Everyone in your house will sleep better when you do.



EARNEST

Christopher Smith asked:


Most Americans are aware of the rise of crime in our country. News reports are full of violent acts that have gone on all over the country. Even our children are no longer safe in their schools. Law enforcement budgets have been severely cut back by our government officials just when they should be pouring more money into programs which handle public safety issues.

The national populace can no longer feel safe, even in their own homes. People are also realizing that if they want to keep their homes and families safe, they’re going to have to do something about it themselves. In response to increased demand, companies like American Home Security and ADT are producing home security systems which are being sold through retail markets. It seems that everyone wants a way to maintain both physical and mental safety.

The question is what is the best solution for you? Is it also affordable? Fortunately, there are several different options that are available to you and your family. Lets have a look at some choices and why a company by the name of American Home Security might be able to help you.

Physical safety doesn’t mean people when used in terms of home security. By physical, manufacturers are talking about your home and protecting it from vandals and burglars. Mental safety, then is about keeping the people in your home safe.

Your New American Home Security System

A home security system is rapidly becoming a necessity of life. Most of us think of them in terms of the well-to-do and their mansions, but we’re having to adjust our thinking to accommodate trends in American living. American Home Security is an American company which proudly displays the high quality of everything it produces. You can buy American Home Security systems in stores as well as online.

You’ll find that American Home Security offers a wide range of products to meet your fire, alarm, and surveillance needs and others. Since you aren’t able to stay at home and protect your property all the time, you can trust American Home Security to do it for you. Even when you’re asleep at night, they’ll be working to ensure the safety of your family and your home.

Based on America’s west coast, in Beaverton, OR, American Home Security offers nationwide protection to homeowners as well as corporate clients. Not only are people relying on American to protect their homes, small businessmen count on them, too. If you’re in a business with a physical storefront that isn’t already secured, you should talk to American Home Security representative right away. There’s no need to take any chances.

American Home Security offers a variety of products and services to everyone in the continental U.S. Whether you want a basic security system, monitoring services, alarm repairs, or just a consultation, give American a call, and they’ll be on their way to provide for your security needs.



ARRON

David Faulkner asked:


Home Security camera systems can be simple and as well as complex. It directly relates with the investment done in this regard, and it has been believed that there is a strong need of having a high performance home security camera systems. For getting an optimum level efficient home security camera system there is used a complex arrangement and combination of small secret cameras making a larger network, so that every unprotected thing can easily be saved from being looted by home security cameras systems.

Home Security Cameras Systems: The Price And Quality Factor

The price of home security cameras systems is also a factor that is related with efficiency of these secret cameras. Home security camera systems can range from some hundred to many thousand dollars. However these systems can be used by every walk of life and not only by the different government agencies, however their safe use also demands a legal framework. Many Digital technologies can provide a clear demarcation of selection as far as their proficient result and working period is concerned. The use of complex home security cameras systems can be problematic even some people give up their use. In this way the use of different types of sensors especially the use of motion and heat sensor can make half job done. These sensors can easily be programmed for a desirable value to get more and more necessary information of any illegal action done by any suspicious person.

Efficient Usage Of Home Security Cameras Systems

Different steps can be adopted for efficient usage of home security cameras systems.At the first is best installation of home security cameras systems, because the placement and mounting of cameras to the best-selected places really matter for occupying the most of the places in home under visual guard. A complex system is composed of many devices like multiplexes to make a many into one like combination, there are also different sensors, and electronic relays and switches are being used for this purpose for developing a virus filter action. Mostly installer checks the home security cameras systems many times for trial bases, and after getting 100 percent result this latest system is handed over to home owner. People get trained first by the different installers to make them adept in using this system by their own, so that they can also make changes on hour of need.

Now we discuss about the possible situations a person can face, these are not only robbers that involve in illegal doings but also there are dacoits, er, thieves, vandals and mad peoples etc all fall in the category of those people who can produce an abnormal situation. Moreover some can also blackmail homeowner for the possession of owner poverty through different motions, so in this case home security cameras systems are blessing for the safety of victim.

Thus home security cameras systems are true helper for the safety of people and also for a society, so homeowner should not be reluctant from using them, but a security expert must be consulted for suggestions. Hence by selecting one of the best home security cameras systems peoples can live calmly and peacefully in this world of social unrest.



CYRUS

Keith LeeCK asked:


Not too many years ago, video surveillance equipment was a thing mainly seen in spy movies. Then big businesses, as well as government entities around the globe began using surveillance cameras more and more often to help monitor crucial functions, and as a back up for security personnel.

Nowadays, security Surveillance cameras and the security systems are integrated and are commonly installed in most businesses buildings. They are now even found in home settings.

You may take the most effective security steps to offer protection to your home, but even then there are ways to escape them. If and when your home security set up fails to capture the evil guys, you could protect your home by grabbing them by the collar after they are through with the job. Home security camera offers the right solution for such situations. To ensure that you can at least regain your robbed or stolen goods you can record all that is happening in and around your home.

How to Grab the Miscreants with Security Surveillance Cameras

There is a lot more which your home security camera system can do over and above photographing visitors and offering protective shelter to your home. There is no intrusion of your privacy and you are free of any anxiety and tension as you know that someone is taking care of your home all the time and there is nothing that you do not know about what’s going on there. To top it all, the cost of home security cameras has come down with the successful market growth as well as technological advancement. This means that you do not have to think twice before safeguarding your home with a quick installation.

How About Using A Wireless Security Surveillance Camera

The latest technology in home security cameras allow you to procure a wireless models of home security cameras which send out data signals to be recorded by either a videotape or a hard disk-driven digital video recorder (DVR). The camera may not need too much of wiring but it still needs to be linked to an electricity supply line. To save on electricity bills, install a power saver switch which is also a motion sensor and turns on only when there is some movement. This makes the camera shoot pictures in video of all movements and you could also decipher when the actual offence was committed.

Home Security Surveillance Cameras Are Affortable

Therefore home security cameras are not only low-priced but they can provide the same stringent security which was earlier found only with businesses. However if anything, they are worth more in your home because they relate directly to your safety, whereas in a business they only protect material goods. Many home security systems help to protect your home by alerting you if an intruder is detected, but a camera can help to identify any criminals lurking around your home. If you’re still on the fence about home security, you have to decide if a few hundred dollars is worth your peace of mind and protection.



WILBUR

Michelle Bery asked:


Nothing is more important to us than the safety and security of our families and our homes. It would be nice to think that we could always be around to keep an eye on things, but even if we had eyes in the backs of our heads we simply could not keep constant tabs on our loved ones and our home without some help. That is why a hidden home security camera is such a valuable asset.

A hidden home security camera has many valuable applications. A hidden home security camera can help secure your possessions in ways that a visible camera can not. While a visible camera may deter some thieves, others might disable the camera before robbing you of your possessions. Sadly, this scenario would leave you robbed and without an opportunity to catch and prosecute the thieves. A hidden home security camera is likely to give you the best opportunity to identify the guilty party and recover your property before it is too late.

A hidden home security camera can also help you solve acts of crime or vandalism that have already occurred. Sadly it is not uncommon for home owners to have recurring problems such as vandalism, trespassing, or even peeping toms. A hidden home security camera will not only help a home owner find the culprit, but the video tape can provide invaluable evidence for law enforcement.

A hidden home security camera has obvious uses when trying to secure our homes from strangers and intruders, but a hidden home security camera can also help protect us from people we know as well. A popular use for hidden home security cameras is to use them to monitor people who work in our homes such as nannies, housekeepers, or contractors. While it would be nice if we could have unconditional trust for people who we invite to work in our homes, the reality is that even a thorough background check is not enough to guarantee professional and legal conduct of our in-home employees. A hidden home security camera provides an additional layer of security and peace of mind when we hire someone to work in our homes.

A hidden home security camera also helps protect our families from things far more benign than intruders or unethical employees. A hidden home security camera is the perfect companion in a baby’s nursery. A hidden home security camera is an anxious new parent’s best friend because it gives them the freedom to take care of important tasks while still keeping a watchful eye on the new baby.

Today’s hidden home security cameras come in all shapes and sizes, and can even allow you to monitor your home from a remote location using the internet. From securing your home from strangers, to protecting your precious newborn, hidden home security cameras have a myriad of applications that can help nearly any homeowner add a new layer of security to their home, possessions, and loved ones.



TAYLOR

Terry Roberts asked:


The interesting fact about what makes a good home security system is that it should guard your home while being unobtrusive at the same time. When you go to sleep at night with the alarm system activated, there should be a comfortable feeling of security as if you are barricaded within a fort surrounded by a moat. But no one wants to live in a home that looks like it belongs to the national defense system or is located in a war zone. There should be no barb wire fences or prison yard search lights in towers.

Yet, you want to feel like you certainly do have the best defenses possible in your home. Obviously, there will be certain features a home security system must have in order to achieve this level of effectiveness. You need to understand what kind of system will provide the most protection whether you live in a house, condominium, town home or apartment.

The first step is to list the places where someone could enter your home. These places include the front door, back door, first floor windows and basement exterior door and windows. Of course, burglars have entered homes by using unusual means too, including down chimneys or through roof skylights. Your list should include all areas of possible entry even if they seem silly or highly unlikely to be used.

Determining what makes a good home security system should also include an analysis of the exterior area around your home. Your best first defense against burglary lies in knowing the event is about to take place before it actually occurs. If you know someone is on your front porch before they jimmy the lock, your odds of stopping the event are much higher. Also, your yard at night is full of shadows and bushes which make great hiding spots. Your exterior security system should minimize the number of shadowed areas around your house.

A Comprehensive View

Security systems can be very simple or extremely elaborate. In all cases, what makes a good home security system is the ability to 1) keep unwanted persons out of your home, 2) give adequate notice that an unlawful entry is about to occur or already has occurred, and 3) provide other safety features for your protection such as a fire alarm.

There are other important considerations related to your home security system that have nothing to do with the system components. These considerations include deciding which brand security system to buy, the terms of the contract, and the ability of the system to be upgraded or expanded when necessary. Too many people don’t spend enough time analyzing the financial feasibility of the security system contract and find themselves stuck in an overpriced contract for an outdated system.

What makes a good home security system? A good home security system is one that doesn’t have any “holes” in it. “Holes” in this case means that the system doesn’t cover some of the possible places of entry, while leaving other areas vulnerable to illegal entry. The system should be low maintenance and reliable at all times.

Deciding which home security system to install is a major decision, because you - and your family - have a lot at stake if the system is inadequate.



CHUCK