Practical Lock Picking

Practical Lock Picking: A Physical Penetration Tester’s Training Guide introduces the reader to the basic principles of lock picking. The book combines both easy-to-follow, step-by-step lessons, and tutorials that will help security-conscious people learn how to open most of the locks they may encounter during auditing or assessment work. It covers the fundamentals of pin tumbler and wafer locks; the basics of picking; beginner and advanced training; and quick entry techniques. 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 instructional manual focuses on pin tumbler locks, the construction and function of which are illustrated with the aid of several diagrams. Everything from straightforward lock picking to quick-entry techniques like shimming, bumping, and bypassing are explained and shown. Guides and exercises demonstrate the use of basic lock-picking tools in order to manipulate and open these locks. The text also describes the most common "alternative" designs of pin tumbler locks and summarizes the tools and techniques that can be effective against them. It comes with a DVD filled with indispensable lock picking videos and color photos.

This book is an ideal reference for penetration testers, security consultants, and IT security professionals as well as hackers.

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 I

"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