Learning to Pick Locks

Disclaimer: I am picking locks I OWN. Never pick a lock you don't own. That is a crime.

I binged "The Lockpicking Lawyer" on YouTube. It looked easy. "Click out of one, nothing on two, click on three..."

The Gear

I bought a cheap $15 set from Amazon. It came with a clear plastic padlock so you can see the pins.

The Concept

A lock has "driver pins" and "key pins". When you insert a key, it pushes all pins to the "Shear Line". Without a key, you have to push them up one by one while applying tension so they get stuck on the ledge.

The Experience

Hour 1 (Clear Lock):
I applied tension. I poked at Pin 1.
*CLICK*
It stayed up! I felt like a master thief.
Pin 2... Pin 3... Pin 4...
*CLUNK*. The lock opened.

I did it in 30 seconds. The clear lock is a toy.

The Real Test: The Master Lock No. 3

Now, a real padlock. No vision. Only feel.

I poked around blindly. It felt like digging inside a tiny metal mouth with a toothpick.

When the shackle popped open, the dopamine rush was insane. I had defeated a machine designed to keep me out.

Conclusion

Locks are security theater. A Master Lock No. 3 can be opened by a novice in 5 minutes. The only thing keeping your stuff safe is the "Social Contract", not the metal mechanism.