Category: Blog
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Wenxing 233a Manual – “semi-automatic key duplicator”
I just bought this great key copier from a guy in Port Angeles who is getting out of the business. I don’t know what he paid for it, but it looks like it must have been about $1000 after shipping. He sold it to me for considerably less because he lost a retainer screw for…
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Security is a way of life
Many of you may have read in the news about the US government’s tracking of your internet and phone activities. Some of you may use the common refrain, “I don’t do anything illegal, why should I care?” I am interested in security and privacy. My business has revolved around this from building fences to installing…
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Yelp is trying to scam me
6/20/13 Update: Yelp has filtered five out of six of my reviews. Whether as a response to this posting or to increase pressure on me to pay advertising dollars or just coincidence, I leave you to decide. Whatever the case, I am taking my advertising dollars and using them anywhere but yelp, where I have…
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Multiple Layers of Security
Read this post and it will save you a service call from a locksmith. Consult yourself for the best way to improve security in your home or office. I sell locks to increase your security, but I will level with you: they are not the whole part of the story. Criminals and most people in…
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Cars are inherently insecure
Anybody can open a car in under a minute if they have a few tools and practice. It will usually set off a car alarm. However, criminals who are really smart or have really smart bosses can also quickly and easily unlock your car and disable the car alarm. If your car uses the keeloq…
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Thieves have somehow hacked wireless car entry
We all knew it was only a matter of time before software hackers eventually turned to the comparatively low-hanging fruit of automotive security. The people who are consistently hacking ssl have turned their sights on the radio signals that allow one to open a car, and they have succeeded according to film footage in this…
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My car door’s lock spins around freely with the key in it! What do I do?
I have seen this happen numerous times. The solution is always that the linkage has come out of the back of the lock cylinder. The idea is that when you turn the key, it moves a long wire inside the door and this is connected to the unlock sensor. If the wire falls out, somebody…
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Make your locks pick/bump-resistant
I just bought a big packet of spool drivers which are useful for enhancing the security of locks. Most locksmiths don’t want to deal with pcking these because picking them is hard , so they drill them, but I am loathe to drill a lock without necessity. I bought a packet of spool drivers for…
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People are shoving detritus in your locks! What to do…..
Yesterday I responded to an emergency lockout at a restaurant. Presumably a disgruntled former employee had shoved pieces of wood into the keyway of both locks allowing entrance to the restaurant, and the morning crew had unknowingly stuck their keys in to open the restaurant only to shove the alien materials farther into the lock.…