News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Hackerspace raided in Sweden by tsally on Monday November 30, 2009 @12:52AM (#967417)
I think you might be misunderstanding what a cutaway lock is. A cutaway lock is a normal lock with portions of the casing made out of transparent material or removed entirely. Their specific function is to practice lock picking. And blank keys aren't tools with a single usage scenario. Good guys and criminals alike use them to copy or make keys. The important thing here is not to judge by the equipment, but by the intent of the owner. Most laws about owning lock picks reflect this pragmatic view.

Also, if you're attempting to criticize the activity of lock picking in general, realize that it is a long standing tradition in the hacker community. Sergey Brin is a prominent example of a "non-evil" person who tinkered with it [1].

[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/10/technology/10google.html

Re:Hackerspace raided in Sweden by swolchok on Monday November 30, 2009 @01:09AM (#967430)
Local, state, federal, and whatever other applicable laws permitting, you should definitely learn to open easy locks with paper clips (optionally a pair of pliers and a screwdriver as well). We did it on the last day of the graduate-level security course I took, and I will definitely never take the security of locks for granted again.
Re:Hackerspace raided in Sweden by nkassis on Monday November 30, 2009 @04:51AM (#967591)
They have their use, they ensure that only sophisticated thief get away with your loot. Makes for more impressive local news coverage than this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQqk-x7dD0Abest quote is at 1:40. Skilled practice a throwing bricks.
Re:Hackerspace raided in Sweden by swolchok on Monday November 30, 2009 @06:43PM (#968952)
Purchasing and using a bump key (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock_bumping) is not particularly sophisticated.