I have never seen one of these locks changed from the default. I'm not a locksmith, but I've run into them in three different places and the combo was always the default: People are too intimidated to change the code themselves. Second, I have watched a locksmith open one of these when the buttons failed: using a pin he removed the handle, then with a screwdriver went through the shaft and turned the inside handle: whole thing took less than 15 seconds. And then I found out what they cost.
I'd believe it on the default codes! The locksmith likely just turned the bypass mechanism inside the lock, as it would be hard to reach the back handle from the front. Some of these locks have a spot for a key bypass in the doorknob, so you can use a key instead of the combo, if the locksmith turned the part normally activated by a key, it would open the door.
OK, the OP didn't do a good job explaining how you find the combo pretty easily. First of all, there's only 1333 possible combos. If you're in a secluded area, and testing 1 combo every 4 seconds, it should only take you about 90 minutes to try every one. * But you can narrow it down using 4 clues: 1) If you can listen to someone opening it, you'll know how many times they pressed button(s). You can also watch from a distance to see how many time they moved there hand in. 2) If you can determine which buttons get pressed. Sometimes you can tell by just looking at it, other times you have to put a little dust or something similar on each button to see which ones are disturbed later. 3) 99% of the time only 3 or 4 buttons are used to set a combo. 1 or 2 buttons isn't secure enough, and 5 buttons is a hassle and thus rarely used. There's only 445 3 or 4 button combos. 4) Pressing 4 numbers at the same time is unheard of, and pressing all 5 would require 2 hands and is just stupid. Now, I can look up (from a chart I made) that if I know 4 buttons are used, and only 3 presses, then that's 190 combos (13 minutes). And if only 3 numbers are used with 2 presses, then that's 30 combos (2 minutes). * It is possible for the last button to be pushed in only halfway. This is rarely used as it often creates problems with the users pressing too hard. But if it's used, then that adds 840 combos to the mix. P.S. The color is called antique, not gold.
Thanks for your comment, I didn't go into detail for the simple fact I'm not trying to train thieves, just letting people know these aren't as secure as you think. your summary is correct, 2600 "The Hacker Quarterly" did an excellent article on these locks and went over the techniques you described. I had someone change the combo on this and I had it cracked in 15 minutes off of the 2600 list. I will likely do a better video going into more detail, since the info is already out there.
I got locked out my apartment complex due to a malfunctioning main gate with an electronic control access device. The side door uses a Simplex lock. With your instructions, I cracked the code in
Chinese radios these days must be making the Japanese clench those cheeks. One of the first chicom product that has quality AND price that impresses me. Anyway I saw it peeking through an figured I comment, I have a few myself.
You are mostly full of crap here.. A person is not going to walk up to one of these and open it not knowing the combo in a few minutes..( Magnet Trick aside ). Because a person normally wouldnt know how many digit are used in the combo. The fact that pushing 2 numbers at the same time is a unique setting right there that you could not figure out just randomly. you would have no way to figure out say both 1 and 5 were pressed together at the same time for a combo. UV powder..... Kick the door in. Thats even quicker..
Well, another trick is to listen as someone opens the door, you can hear the clicks as the digits are entered, and could tell from there. Plus, with the UV trick, you can narrow down how many buttons are used and go from there. Several lists have been published with EVERY possible combo, and there aren't as many as you'd think. (less than 6000, compared to 64,000 for a combo padlock) Since you can only use each digit once, that really narrows it down. Kicking the door in is usually faster, but it attracts a lot more attention and leaves evidence someone broke in.
![[914] The Worst Lock Design Blunder Ever? (Kaba Simplex Series 1000)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cCay5ek_cW0/mqdefault.jpg)
![[914] The Worst Lock Design Blunder Ever? (Kaba Simplex Series 1000)](/img/tr.png)
![[1418] Master Lock Sent Me a Challenge… Kinda.](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/7Ob1QiFtKHU/mqdefault.jpg)
I have never seen one of these locks changed from the default. I'm not a locksmith, but I've run into them in three different places and the combo was always the default: People are too intimidated to change the code themselves.
Second, I have watched a locksmith open one of these when the buttons failed: using a pin he removed the handle, then with a screwdriver went through the shaft and turned the inside handle: whole thing took less than 15 seconds. And then I found out what they cost.
I'd believe it on the default codes! The locksmith likely just turned the bypass mechanism inside the lock, as it would be hard to reach the back handle from the front. Some of these locks have a spot for a key bypass in the doorknob, so you can use a key instead of the combo, if the locksmith turned the part normally activated by a key, it would open the door.
OK, the OP didn't do a good job explaining how you find the combo pretty easily. First of all, there's only 1333 possible combos. If you're in a secluded area, and testing 1 combo every 4 seconds, it should only take you about 90 minutes to try every one. *
But you can narrow it down using 4 clues:
1) If you can listen to someone opening it, you'll know how many times they pressed button(s). You can also watch from a distance to see how many time they moved there hand in.
2) If you can determine which buttons get pressed. Sometimes you can tell by just looking at it, other times you have to put a little dust or something similar on each button to see which ones are disturbed later.
3) 99% of the time only 3 or 4 buttons are used to set a combo. 1 or 2 buttons isn't secure enough, and 5 buttons is a hassle and thus rarely used. There's only 445 3 or 4 button combos.
4) Pressing 4 numbers at the same time is unheard of, and pressing all 5 would require 2 hands and is just stupid.
Now, I can look up (from a chart I made) that if I know 4 buttons are used, and only 3 presses, then that's 190 combos (13 minutes). And if only 3 numbers are used with 2 presses, then that's 30 combos (2 minutes).
* It is possible for the last button to be pushed in only halfway. This is rarely used as it often creates problems with the users pressing too hard. But if it's used, then that adds 840 combos to the mix.
P.S. The color is called antique, not gold.
Thanks for your comment, I didn't go into detail for the simple fact I'm not trying to train thieves, just letting people know these aren't as secure as you think. your summary is correct, 2600 "The Hacker Quarterly" did an excellent article on these locks and went over the techniques you described. I had someone change the combo on this and I had it cracked in 15 minutes off of the 2600 list. I will likely do a better video going into more detail, since the info is already out there.
I got locked out my apartment complex due to a malfunctioning main gate with an electronic control access device. The side door uses a Simplex lock. With your instructions, I cracked the code in
Buy a couple lights & a tripod to do it right. The one-handed is spastic (and in the dark).
I now have the setup to do this for videos where I need both hands, sometimes I use my phone, and I don't have a way to attach it to the tripod.
Nice one. Gonna watch the second one!
New one is more in depth than this one. Thanks for watching!
Baofeng in the background.
Yep, I'm into ham radio.
Chinese radios these days must be making the Japanese clench those cheeks. One of the first chicom product that has quality AND price that impresses me. Anyway I saw it peeking through an figured I comment, I have a few myself.
You are mostly full of crap here.. A person is not going to walk up to one of these and open it not knowing the combo in a few minutes..( Magnet Trick aside ). Because a person normally wouldnt know how many digit are used in the combo. The fact that pushing 2 numbers at the same time is a unique setting right there that you could not figure out just randomly. you would have no way to figure out say both 1 and 5 were pressed together at the same time for a combo. UV powder..... Kick the door in. Thats even quicker..
Well, another trick is to listen as someone opens the door, you can hear the clicks as the digits are entered, and could tell from there. Plus, with the UV trick, you can narrow down how many buttons are used and go from there. Several lists have been published with EVERY possible combo, and there aren't as many as you'd think. (less than 6000, compared to 64,000 for a combo padlock)
Since you can only use each digit once, that really narrows it down.
Kicking the door in is usually faster, but it attracts a lot more attention and leaves evidence someone broke in.
Great Video Dude. Keep up the great work. Nick.
Yeah, they're ridiculously overpriced. I've wanted one for awhile and got a damn good deal! :)
Interesting!