7 ms·

I came to work early once and forgot my keys. I decided to just sit on the ground and go through commits [pathetic]. A newer dev, recently hired came by next.

I came to work early once and forgot my keys. I decided to just sit on the ground and go through commits [pathetic]. A newer dev, recently hired came by next. I explained the situation. He then grabbed a weird small set of tools out of his bag. After about 3 minutes he opened the door. I was totally horrified. I am not sure if i was more upset he had the tools on him, the tools WERE LEGAL, or how easy it was to steal all our cool hipster monitors. He went on to explain how he couldn't get into various types of locks and which locks he was training on -- like some type of club or sport.

trome 10y ago
Why should a toolkit be illegal, and why should you not carry your tools with you? Picking a lock is usually the slowest way in, if you are trying to increase security, paying a premium for a better lock while retaining windows and unreinforced walls is a poor decision.
- ransom1538 10y ago
  Lock picking sets should be legal. It was me NOT KNOWING.
  - Godel_unicode 10y ago
    Given all the FUD around picks in the US, I like to refer people to the toool page, they've done a great job of distilling down what's legal and where. http://toool.us/laws.html http://toool.us/laws.html
- gambiting 10y ago
  In the UK posession of a lockpicking kit in public is very much illegal, unless you have a professional reason to carry one. Same with a knife - unless you are literally bringing one back from the store to your home, you can be arrested for having one.
  - jnicholasp 10y ago
    > same with a knife Any knife? You can't carry a pocket knife in the UK? That's ridiculous. Knives were nearly the first tool proto-man ever made, and they're still the most useful general purpose tool you can have.
    - afandian 10y ago
      No. > Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 prohibits having with you, in a public place of any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed, (including a folding pocket knife if the cutting edge of its blade exceeds 7.62cm/3 inches) (Archbold 24-125). http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/offensive_weapons_knives_bladed_and_pointed_articles/ http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/offensive_weapons_knives_...
      - userbinator 10y ago
        including a folding pocket knife if the cutting edge of its blade exceeds 7.62cm/3 inches Does that still mean you can carry a short pocket knife (one that fits in your pocket is unlikely to be long, in any case)?
        jnicholasp 10y ago
        The language is a little ambiguous. It seems it's meant to suggest that having a folding pocket knife with a blade less than 3 inches is allowed, but that is not actually said, only implied by contrast to the explicit statement that folding blades longer than 3" are prohibited. In a regulatory environment like the current UK, I don't like those kinds of rights being only ambiguously implied. The guidelines go on to say that butter knives with no cutting edge and no points are considered prohibited blades under the law, which is ridiculous, and that folding pocket knives with blades less than 3" are not considered folding if they lock open (because they are not "immediately foldable"), and are therefore prohibited. Which is, again, ridiculous, and also undoubtedly leads to many unnecessary injuries as unlocking blades close on the fingers of their users. Not impressed with this policy's risk assessment.
- falcolas 10y ago
  > unreinforced walls It is highly amusing how many keycard readers amount to "close this circuit between two wires hidden behind drywall". Or when they expose USB ports, or screw heads, or are protecting a glass door. One of my favorites in a NY office design was the keycard passes through a door in a wall that was only a foot higher than the door, with plenty of open space above that (about 5-6'). Security theater isn't just the provenance of the TSA.
  - LanceH 10y ago
    Key card entry. Motion detector to open the doors on the other side. Open to the air above the doorway. I could throw anything over the door and it would unlock for me.
- WillyOnWheels 10y ago
  People get charged with carrying burglary tools in USA all of the time.
  - pmoriarty 10y ago
    Doesn't intent to commit a crime have to be shown? From what I've read, possession of lockpicking tools are legal virtually everywhere in the USA, as long as one is not intending to commit a crime with them. If I am mistaken on this point, I would love to be corrected. IANAL.
    - Godel_unicode 10y ago
      The short version is, usually. However, in some states possession of burglarious tools is evidence of intent. Helpful link, posted above: http://toool.us/laws.html http://toool.us/laws.html
praptak 10y ago
In Poland they are illegal. Some people get around this by getting professional locksmith certifications.
corndoge 10y ago
So he didn't have his keys either?
- Godel_unicode 10y ago
  If you spend much time around locksporters, you'll find that they'll take virtually any excuse to show someone how to pick locks. Generally to elicit this exact reaction. Also, it's very possible that he didn't if he was training. I had two colleagues who once decided not to use keys for a month to enhance their picking skills.
Nadya 10y ago
That's because lockpicking is often done in sport. It's a challenge and each one is a new but similar puzzle. There are a number of professionals who enjoy the challenge of breaking into locks. It's also a good opportunity to teach people just how bad most locks are [0] [1]. You also learn that Masterlocks shouldn't even be called "locks" and that locks only prevent opportunist thieves [2]. Also, you do want professionals who are able to open your lock if you ever lose your key. They have to practice somehow! :) Similar to the white/grey/blackhat hackers I suppose. You can use the skill to educate, reduce harm, and do good. Or you can use it solely for profit or ruining lives. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFdzijpUdNM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFdzijpUdNM [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UFrFvRUsSg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UFrFvRUsSg [2] http://i.imgur.com/h1f7UN7.png http://i.imgur.com/h1f7UN7.png

trome 10y ago

Why should a toolkit be illegal, and why should you not carry your tools with you? Picking a lock is usually the slowest way in, if you are trying to increase security, paying a premium for a better lock while retaining windows and unreinforced walls is a poor decision.

ransom1538 10y ago
Lock picking sets should be legal. It was me NOT KNOWING.
- Godel_unicode 10y ago
  Given all the FUD around picks in the US, I like to refer people to the toool page, they've done a great job of distilling down what's legal and where. http://toool.us/laws.html http://toool.us/laws.html
gambiting 10y ago
In the UK posession of a lockpicking kit in public is very much illegal, unless you have a professional reason to carry one. Same with a knife - unless you are literally bringing one back from the store to your home, you can be arrested for having one.
- jnicholasp 10y ago
  > same with a knife Any knife? You can't carry a pocket knife in the UK? That's ridiculous. Knives were nearly the first tool proto-man ever made, and they're still the most useful general purpose tool you can have.
  - afandian 10y ago
    No. > Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 prohibits having with you, in a public place of any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed, (including a folding pocket knife if the cutting edge of its blade exceeds 7.62cm/3 inches) (Archbold 24-125). http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/offensive_weapons_knives_bladed_and_pointed_articles/ http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/offensive_weapons_knives_...
    - userbinator 10y ago
      including a folding pocket knife if the cutting edge of its blade exceeds 7.62cm/3 inches Does that still mean you can carry a short pocket knife (one that fits in your pocket is unlikely to be long, in any case)?
      - jnicholasp 10y ago
        The language is a little ambiguous. It seems it's meant to suggest that having a folding pocket knife with a blade less than 3 inches is allowed, but that is not actually said, only implied by contrast to the explicit statement that folding blades longer than 3" are prohibited. In a regulatory environment like the current UK, I don't like those kinds of rights being only ambiguously implied. The guidelines go on to say that butter knives with no cutting edge and no points are considered prohibited blades under the law, which is ridiculous, and that folding pocket knives with blades less than 3" are not considered folding if they lock open (because they are not "immediately foldable"), and are therefore prohibited. Which is, again, ridiculous, and also undoubtedly leads to many unnecessary injuries as unlocking blades close on the fingers of their users. Not impressed with this policy's risk assessment.
falcolas 10y ago
> unreinforced walls It is highly amusing how many keycard readers amount to "close this circuit between two wires hidden behind drywall". Or when they expose USB ports, or screw heads, or are protecting a glass door. One of my favorites in a NY office design was the keycard passes through a door in a wall that was only a foot higher than the door, with plenty of open space above that (about 5-6'). Security theater isn't just the provenance of the TSA.
- LanceH 10y ago
  Key card entry. Motion detector to open the doors on the other side. Open to the air above the doorway. I could throw anything over the door and it would unlock for me.
WillyOnWheels 10y ago
People get charged with carrying burglary tools in USA all of the time.
- pmoriarty 10y ago
  Doesn't intent to commit a crime have to be shown? From what I've read, possession of lockpicking tools are legal virtually everywhere in the USA, as long as one is not intending to commit a crime with them. If I am mistaken on this point, I would love to be corrected. IANAL.
  - Godel_unicode 10y ago
    The short version is, usually. However, in some states possession of burglarious tools is evidence of intent. Helpful link, posted above: http://toool.us/laws.html http://toool.us/laws.html

praptak 10y ago

In Poland they are illegal. Some people get around this by getting professional locksmith certifications.

corndoge 10y ago

So he didn't have his keys either?

Godel_unicode 10y ago
If you spend much time around locksporters, you'll find that they'll take virtually any excuse to show someone how to pick locks. Generally to elicit this exact reaction. Also, it's very possible that he didn't if he was training. I had two colleagues who once decided not to use keys for a month to enhance their picking skills.

Nadya 10y ago

That's because lockpicking is often done in sport. It's a challenge and each one is a new but similar puzzle. There are a number of professionals who enjoy the challenge of breaking into locks. It's also a good opportunity to teach people just how bad most locks are [0] [1]. You also learn that Masterlocks shouldn't even be called "locks" and that locks only prevent opportunist thieves [2]. Also, you do want professionals who are able to open your lock if you ever lose your key. They have to practice somehow! :) Similar to the white/grey/blackhat hackers I suppose. You can use the skill to educate, reduce harm, and do good. Or you can use it solely for profit or ruining lives. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFdzijpUdNM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFdzijpUdNM [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UFrFvRUsSg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UFrFvRUsSg [2] http://i.imgur.com/h1f7UN7.png http://i.imgur.com/h1f7UN7.png