http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0300business/0100news/tm_headline=lock-pickers-bump-into-inventor-s-sticky-solution&method=full&objectid=18488289&siteid=50082-name_page.html By Sion Barry Western Mail Jan 17, 2007 BURGLARS who use a lock-picking method known as "bumping" are going to find it a lot tougher to break into homes, thanks to an innovative new product designed by a Welsh inventor. Much to the concern of police and others, the bumping technique, which can open common pin-type cylinder locks in seconds, has been described in detail on one of the most globally popular sites for young people on the internet. With millions of homes fitted with such locks, the information has been condemned in the national media as "free tips for would-be burglars". The Master Locksmiths Association said the technique "should not be in the public domain". The potential for any thief to gain easy access to households seems likely to become a growing issue, particularly for accommodation providers such as local authorities and housing associations, which are responsible for 6.7 million dwellings in the UK. However an industrial designer with extensive experience in commercial product design and project management, both with major door manufacturers and as a specialist consultant, has come up with a clever yet simple response to the threat. Mark Garratt's company, Almore, based in Pontypridd, has perfected Pickbuster, a special fluid which can be squirted into locks to make it very difficult for a would-be burglar to "bounce" the pins inside, but which does not affect normal key operation. The synthetic, high-tack fluid, specially developed in conjunction with a German firm, is easy to apply, non-toxic and can withstand extremes of temperature. It is being made available initially to housing organisations in aerosol form at 2.70 per lock treatment via www.almoreltd.com The company is working on a version for individual householders. One of the main attractions of Pickbuster is it helps housing authorities fulfil their duty of care to tenants without having to modify or replace locks or doors - potentially a massive and expensive exercise. Mr Garratt has provided technical services to door makers, to government purchasing organisations and to police bodies such as Secured By Design, which advises councils and housing associations on security. He said "People in the security industry have been aware of the bumping technique for some time, but now that video footage and instructions about how to make and use bump keys have been published on the internet, the danger is it will become mainstream knowledge. "One of the problems arising when a lock has been bumped open and a house raided is that insurance companies do not pay out because there is no evidence of forced entry." He added, "Pickbuster is like a patch issued by an IT security company to address a new threat; lock manufacturers, like software protection companies, make excellent products, but when people start finding ways around their defences, then a response is called for." Chris Pankhurst, Almore's client adviser, who worked for 12 years in the care industry after an RAF career, said, "No system is foolproof, but few burglars can afford to spend ages trying to bump open a lock treated with Pickbuster. "It is very difficult, if not impossible." Almore is being advised by Entrepreneur Action under the General Support for Business programme operated by the Welsh Assembly Government's Department for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks. _____________________________ Subscribe to InfoSec News http://www.infosecnews.org/mailman/listinfo/isn
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