Post by Security on Aug 24, 2007 7:35:07 GMT -5
www.engadget.com/2007/08/23/the-lockdown-deadbolt-walking/
There are millions of Medeco deadbolt systems in place worldwide. Between Medeco's reputation for quality and engineering excellence and their high security ratings by UL, BHMA / ANSI and other standards organizations, they are rated as one of the most secure systems available. The current mechanical design of Medeco's deadbolt has been utilized in its Biaxial product line, and now the m3, which we previously discussed. And guess what: a simple attack can bypass the security of this deadbolt in less than one minute, rendering all of the advanced Medeco technologies virtually irrelevant.
These Medeco systems are relied upon in many different applications including high security installations throughout the world. The locks contain many levels of security including sidebars, sliders and special security pins. Unfortunately, all of that security can be circumvented in seconds with tools such as a simple screwdriver as shown above.
Underwriters Laboratory and BHMA / ANSI have certified these Medeco locks as immune to physical attack for at least five minutes through their testing protocol, yet we have been able to open them in less than a minute using implements that can be had for a few dollars at any hardware store. I have filed a formal petition for review of this and other issues relating to high security locks with Underwriters Laboratories so that UL may consider revising the standards to protect the public from the certification of locks that can be compromised by such techniques.
Part of the problem results from a widening of the keyway in the m3 as discussed previously (that link again). This method of attack can be carried out with extremely simple and inexpensive tools and requires very little skill, just like bumping. In certain instances this method of bypass can even be simpler than a bumping attack on a conventional cylinder.
These Medeco systems are relied upon in many different applications including high security installations throughout the world. The locks contain many levels of security including sidebars, sliders and special security pins. Unfortunately, all of that security can be circumvented in seconds with tools such as a simple screwdriver as shown above.
Underwriters Laboratory and BHMA / ANSI have certified these Medeco locks as immune to physical attack for at least five minutes through their testing protocol, yet we have been able to open them in less than a minute using implements that can be had for a few dollars at any hardware store. I have filed a formal petition for review of this and other issues relating to high security locks with Underwriters Laboratories so that UL may consider revising the standards to protect the public from the certification of locks that can be compromised by such techniques.
Part of the problem results from a widening of the keyway in the m3 as discussed previously (that link again). This method of attack can be carried out with extremely simple and inexpensive tools and requires very little skill, just like bumping. In certain instances this method of bypass can even be simpler than a bumping attack on a conventional cylinder.