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Practical Lock Picking: A Physical Penetration Tester's Training Guide [Paperback]

Deviant Ollam
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)


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Book Description

July 23, 2010

For the first time, Deviant Ollam, one of the security industry's best-known lockpicking teachers, has assembled an instructional manual geared specifically toward penetration testers. Unlike other texts on the subject (which tend to be either massive volumes detailing every conceivable style of lock or brief "spy manuals" that only skim the surface) this book is for INFOSEC professionals that need essential, core knowledge of lockpicking and seek the ability to open most locks with relative ease. 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 shown.Whether you're being hired to penetrate security or simply trying to harden your own defenses, this book is essential.

  • Detailed photos make learning as easy as picking a lock
  • DVD is filled with indispensible lock picking videos and color photos
  • Extensive appendix details tools and toolkits currently available for all your lock picking needs


Editorial Reviews

Review

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 IT

"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

"This is a fantastic book that I highly recommend if you have any interest in physical security. It's a great reference and guide book for getting started with lock picking, learning how locks work, and really motivates you to want to get your hands dirty trying out the techniques covered in the book."--Dark Readings Evil Bytes Blog

"Great book for the beginner or an old pro. Been reading lock picking books for 35 years and this is one of the best... Deviant Ollam, one of the security industry's best-known lock picking teachers, has assembled an instructional manual geared specifically toward penetration testers. Unlike other texts on the subject (which tend to be either massive volumes detailing every conceivable style of lock or brief "spy manuals" that only skim the surface) this book is for INFOSEC professionals that need essential, core knowledge of lock picking and seek the ability to open most locks with relative ease."--e2e Security website

"Be sure to check out his book as well: Practical Lock Picking: A Physical Penetration Tester's Training Guide. The book, published this past July by Syngress, comes with a DVD 'filled with indispensible lock picking videos and color photos.'"--The Ethical Hacker website

"Practical Lock Picking is an awesome book. Not only is PLP an incredible resource, it should also serve as a model text for others who want to write a good book. There is no filler material. the writing is exceptionally clear and methodical with extreme attention to detail and a master's approach to educating the reader. The diagrams, pictures, and figures are superb. Overall, this book is helpful for those wishing to pick locks AND those who want to know how to write a good book."--TaoSecurity blog

From the Back Cover

For the first time, Deviant Ollam, one of the security industry's best-known lockpicking teachers, has assembled an instructional manual geared specifically toward penetration testers. Unlike other texts on the subject (which tend to be either massive volumes detailing every conceivable style of lock or brief "spy manuals" that only skim the surface) this book is for INFOSEC professionals that need essential, core knowledge of lockpicking and seek the ability to open most locks with relative ease. 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 shown.Whether you're being hired to penetrate security or simply trying to harden your own defenses, this book is essential.


Product Details

  • Paperback: 236 pages
  • Publisher: Syngress; 1 edition (July 23, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1597496111
  • ISBN-13: 978-1597496117
  • Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.6 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #432,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
(36)
4.8 out of 5 stars
This book explains the basics very well, with pictures that greatly augment the explanations. Kelly Alwood  |  17 reviewers made a similar statement
Practical Lock Picking (PLP) is an awesome book. Richard Bejtlich  |  15 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 51 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars No key will ever look the same August 22, 2010
Format:Paperback
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. When necessary they convey the most subtle elements of lock or key design, and they are the appropriate size and clarity. Overall, this book is helpful for those wishing to pick locks AND those who want to know how to write a good book.

I got the sense while reading PLP that the author was unveiling a hidden world, albeit a world hiding in plain sight. I found myself walking around the house to find keys and locks to compare with the book's descriptions. Features to which I had previously been completely oblivious jumped out in stark contrast. In that respect PLP exceeded one of my criteria for a five star book: "change the way I think about the world."

Let me conclude by saying I loved this book, and felt motivated by its contents, without even opening the DVD. I am confident anyone with an inquisitive mind will love reading PLP. Bravo to Deviant for sharing his knowledge in such a convincing and powerful way.
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Great reference for the pentester August 9, 2010
By saxdr
Format:Paperback
This is a fantastic book to have on the bookshelf for those who do penetration testing. It's also a great foray into the principles of lock design, arming consumers with the knowledge of what they are getting when they pick up a lock off the shelf. Having been fortunate enough to receive some personal instruction from the author at a security conference, I can say that he transcribed his classroom instruction quite well to his book. I paid retail for the book, and feel it's worth every penny.
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28 of 32 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars THE Lockpicking Reference August 9, 2010
Format:Paperback
It's not often that a Master Lock picker will sit down with you and cover everything from A to Z. This book provides EVERYTHING a beginner needs and becomes an excellent reference for a seasoned picker like myself. Sure, I don't need to read it from front to back - that's not the point of the book. What I do NEED it for is when I run up against a lock I haven't done before or can't remember the best way to defeat it. This book is the ultimate every answer.

If you are just getting into picking or if you've been doing it for a long time, you need to pick this book up!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Grab this book and a starter lock pick set. You'll be able to defeat 90% of locks you come across. This was a real eye opener when it comes to my physical security stance in life and at work. You'll never trust a lock again.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Practical Lock Picking

The author does a fantastic job at covering the fundamentals of lock picking. He breaks it down into simple components and concepts, and then steps it up to cover advanced techniques and various anti-tampering lock designs. The one complaint I have is that while there are numerous diagrams to help you visualize the lock designs, pins, etc... you have to physically practice to get a better understanding. Some of the diagrams didn't make sense to a beginner, but after reading the book, the basics are all in there and it is a matter of developing practical experience and knowledge. What I got out of this book was that for every wild and crazy lock design intended to prevent tampering, there is a key or a way to get past it.

Overall: 4/5 stars
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book for those taking up the hobby August 9, 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having sat through an instructional course given by Deviant at a prior conference, I was enthused to hear that he was writing his own book. Ollam has great patience and a very friendly instructional manner that helps set many people at ease as they learn the frustration of lock picking.

The book structure is well put together and eases people through the process, allowing for readers to jump in at the appropriate location for their skill set. Lock picking is a purely practical science, so the inclusion of graphics and images were well needed, and greatly appreciated. What really makes the book is the included disk that includes all of the book figures, in color, as well as animated figures and videos from past training sessions. Reading the book while having the disk contents open next to you allow you to quickly read the content, reference the animated figures, and then try them out for yourself before moving on.

Overall, excellent structure and presentation. This is a must-buy.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Unlock Mysteries of Your Home and Office Security November 15, 2011
Format:Paperback
The whole concept of locksport or the competitive, hobby activity of picking locks was totally unfamiliar to me until I read Robert Vamosi's book - When Gadgets Betray Us - that discussed gadgets and technology and its vulnerabilities. It mentioned Deviant Ollam and included a lengthy discussion of the vulnerability of locks. After reading about Ollam, I decided to see what was available as an introduction to lock picking.

Which led me to this how-to guide on lock picking by Mr. Ollam. As the title states, the emphasis is on the practical side. This book is ideal for the novice locksport, for the curious, but also for those who are involved in physical security. The text is informal and easy to understand. I was a bit wary when approaching the subject but there are so many diagrams and designs that it was not long before I had the difference between driver and key pins completely clear in my head.

The interesting thing to me was how useful the information is from a personal privacy standpoint. I finished the initial chapters that talked about key bitting and how the depth of the key notches are sometimes written on your key with a number. I pulled out my house key and there was a 5 digit number, which makes it easy for a locksmith to replace my key. Or someone else to figure out how each digit corresponds to a pin in the lock and speed access to picking it!

That is what I liked about this text. By the end, I understood much more about what my keys and locks represented as well as the things I should look for in purchasing locks for my house or business.

I thought of Simon Singh's The Code Book as I read Ollam's lock picking information.
... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Lock Picking review
Practical Lock Picking: A Physical Penetration Tester's Training Guide by Deviant Ollam is the "go to" resource for lock picking. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Troy Reed
5.0 out of 5 stars This and a kit
I bought this book along with a lock pick kit and I was picking locks in no time flat. I wouldn't say that its a pro book but it does give you lots of insight into different locks... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jeremy Cundiff
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
Excellent!!

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean lobortis facilisis quam, ut venenatis dolor congue iaculis. Read more
Published 2 months ago by soldout432
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Helpful
I enjoyed this book. Short, so it kept my attention. The author uses illustrations that are very effective in explaining the internal workings of a lock. Read more
Published 5 months ago by HomedepotHero
5.0 out of 5 stars Great material for any experience level -
Deviant loves teaching about lockpicking and it shows in this book. There are some minor errors, and odd language, but the knowledge in this book and the content are top notch. Read more
Published 6 months ago by DarkSim905
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Theres a lot of crap out there and this isnt one o it. Good book with decent diagrams and instructions. Better than most lock picking books. Decent deal.
Published 7 months ago by Hon. Wilson P Macgilicuty
3.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic information resource but suffers from design/layout issues.
This review is for the Kindle version of this book. I haven't seen the print version.

I need to split this into two sections; one for the overall content and one for... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Stefanie Slamon
5.0 out of 5 stars Opened my eyes to a new world..
I have seen lock picking in movies my whole life and always believed it was one of those movie magic gimmicks but this book clearly shows you how easy it really is to pick most... Read more
Published 9 months ago by aroundlsu
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book but a quick read
Good book just a bit pricey for what you get . covers the basics . lots of good pictures to help with understanding views of internal lock parts
Published 10 months ago by ggg
5.0 out of 5 stars Must Have Book
If your just entering the locksmithing as a profession this is the book for you. I read this book once and I was able to confidently pick my first lock in under 17 seconds. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Pen Name
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