About the Book
Practical Lock Picking, Second Edition, is an instructional manual that covers everything from straightforward lockpicking to quick-entry techniques such as shimming, bumping, and bypassing. Written by Deviant Ollam, one of the security industry's best-known lockpicking teachers, and winner of the Best Book Bejtlich Read in 2010 award, this book contains detailed photos that make learning as easy as picking a lock. Material is offered in easy-to-follow lessons that allow even beginners to acquire the knowledge very quickly. Whether the student will be hired at some point to penetrate security or simply trying to harden his or her own defenses, this book is essential.
This edition has been updated to reflect the changing landscape of tools and tactics which have emerged in recent years. It consists of 6 chapters that discuss topics such as the fundamentals of pin tumbler and wafer locks; the basics of picking, with emphasis on how to exploit weaknesses; tips for beginners on how to get very good and very fast in picking locks; advanced training; quick-entry tricks about shimming, bumping, and bypassing; and pin tumblers in other configurations.
This book is geared specifically toward penetration testers, security consultants, IT security professionals, and hackers.
Table of Contents:
Foreword by Barry Wels
Ethical Considerations by Babak Javadi
Introduction
1. Fundamentals of Pin Tumbler and Wafer Locks
2. The Basics of Picking: Exploiting Weaknesses
3. Beginner Training: How to Get Very Good, Very Fast
4. Advanced Traiing: Learning Some Additional Skills
5. Quick-Entry Tricks: Shimming, Bumping, and Bypassing
6. They All Come Tumbling Down: Pin Tumblers in other Configurations
Appendix. Guide to Tools and Toolkits
About the Author :
Deviant Ollam's first and strongest love has always been teaching. A graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology's Science, Technology, and Society program, he is always fascinated by the interplay that connects human values and social trends to developments in the technical world. While earning his BS degree at NJIT, Deviant also completed the History degree program federated between that institution and Rutgers University. While paying the bills as a security auditor and penetration testing consultant with The CORE Group, Deviant is also a member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. division of TOOOL, The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers. Every year at DEFCON and ShmooCon, Deviant runs the Lockpick Village, and he has conducted physical security training sessions at Black Hat, DeepSec, ToorCon, HackCon, ShakaCon, HackInTheBox, CanSecWest, ekoparty, and the United States Military Academy at West Point. His favorite Amendments to the U.S. Constitution are, in no particular order, the 1st, 2nd, 9th, and 10th.
Review :
Winner of the Best Book Bejtlich Read in 2010-- "Practical Lock Picking (PLP) is an awesome book. I don't provide physical testing services, but as a security professional familiar with Deviant's reputation I was curious to read PLP. Not only is PLP an incredible resource, it should also serve as a model text for others who want to write a good book. First, although the book is less than 250 pages, it is very reasonably priced. Second, Deviant wastes NO space. There is no filler material, background found in other readily available texts, reprinted Web site content, etc. Third, the writing is exceptionally clear and methodical, with extreme attention to detail and a master's approach to educating the reader. Finally, the diagrams, pictures, and figures are superb."--Richard Bejtlich, TaoSecurity "No matter what your background is, if you want a new and fascinating insight into this world, I don't think any book will give you a better introduction to this field than this one."--Barry Wels, Founder and President, The open Organisation Of Lockpickers "You have exhausted your budgets on the myriad of high tech cyber threats and finally have time to take a breath. Just as you settle in your chair to review the dashboard which shows the fruits of your tireless effort, an alert hits your phone. The voice on the phone cries out 'The servers are GONE!' This book will show you what happens when attackers decide to 'get physical."--Chris Nickerson, Lares Consulting "The clear explanation and plentiful diagrams leave the reader with a clear idea of how lock mechanisms work, and the practice exercises that follow build on this knowledge to allow the reader to quickly progress before moving on to the simpler techniques, shimming and bumping...Overall the book does much to dispel the myth that lock-picking is an arcane, difficult art and puts the reader in a position to carry out more effective physical security reviews...In summary this is an excellent practical introduction to the subject and the publishers are to be congratulated for producing another good niche penetration testing book."--Nick Dunn, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT "Deviant's material is presented with rich, detailed diagrams and is offered in easy-to-follow lessons which allow even beginners to acquire the knowledge very quickly. Everything from straightforward lockpicking to quick-entry techniques like shimming, bumping, and bypassing is explained and show. Whether you're being hired to penetrate security or simply trying to harden your own defenses, this book is essential."--The Journal of Law Enforcement "While reading this book, it will be difficult for you to sit calmly and go through it, you will be tempted to look for the locks around your house and start tinkering with it. What makes this book easy to understand are the clear cut diagrams showing the internal design of locks. You will hardly find a page in this book without those design pictures and all of these are precise engineering-diagram types - not just some random lock pictures. It is very clear that author has taken great efforts to get those pictures right and this is what gives this book 5 star rank!"--SecurityXploded Blog "There is a well known member of the locksport community called Deviant Ollam He has released a book on lockpicking and penetration testing of locks. Practical Lock Picking: A Physical Penetration Tester's Training Guide [Paperback] This man is an excellent teacher and has given many lectures on locks and picking."--Lockpicking.com "This is a fantastic book that I highly recommend if you have any interest in physical security. It's a great reference and guide book for getting started with lock picking, learning how locks work, and really motivates you to want to get your hands dirty trying out the techniques covered in the book."--Dark Readings Evil Bytes Blog "Great book for the beginner or an old pro. Been reading lock picking books for 35 years and this is one of the best... Deviant Ollam, one of the security industry's best-known lock picking teachers, has assembled an instructional manual geared specifically toward penetration testers. Unlike other texts on the subject (which tend to be either massive volumes detailing every conceivable style of lock or brief "spy manuals" that only skim the surface) this book is for INFOSEC professionals that need essential, core knowledge of lock picking and seek the ability to open most locks with relative ease."--e2e Security website "Be sure to check out his book as well: Practical Lock Picking: A Physical Penetration Tester's Training Guide. The book, published this past July by Syngress, comes with a DVD 'filled with indispensible lock picking videos and color photos.'"--The Ethical Hacker website "Practical Lock Picking is an awesome book. Not only is PLP an incredible resource, it should also serve as a model text for others who want to write a good book. There is no filler material. the writing is exceptionally clear and methodical with extreme attention to detail and a master's approach to educating the reader. The diagrams, pictures, and figures are superb. Overall, this book is helpful for those wishing to pick locks AND those who want to know how to write a good book."--TaoSecurity blog ".for those that have locksmithing in their blood, or want to get greater insights, the book will be a great resource that will help them get there."--Slashdot.com and RSA Conference, December 2012
