Demo animation: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jgekjfwphGc
Here's great analysis of the lock with an attempt to pick it and an breakdown of the design after taking it apart: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b96pmWSArr4
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EDIT: In case you want buy a Bowley Lock, they're now available for sale to the public here:
http://www.bowleylockcompany.com/store/c1/Featured_Products....
IIRC, also wondered how this particular design prevents against bumping; none of its protections really seem aimed at that usecase. Not to mention the relative frailty of the key, and the general problem of an easily visible (and thus reproducible) secret.
As for bumping and the key strength, given those topics are covered in the second video, you're comment to me at best feels naive.
Lastly, no system is prefect. Even if the metal the lock is made of was unbreakable and as a result you could 't destroy the lock to bypass it, you could still build a robot that inserts a metal key to turn the lock and dynamically assembles and inserts every possible bidding for each pin.
Feel free to post a lock you like, locks to me are more about simplicity vs security - not some overly complex system will never be used in mass production.
It's also not astroturfing if the company itself is advertising the product. The video's linked from Bowley's youtube channel.
I submit that your statement relies on an unfounded premise (at least from my scan of this thread) that wonderous works for the company.
Also, by your standard, if wonderous doesn't work for said company, he's still complying with your "standard." Yet, you're still making an implicit accusation.
The purpose of my initial comment was to address the potshot accusation of astroturfing after, IMHO, wonderous had responded in good faith.
What if he thinks that someone will be able to pick it? Someone who picks locks for a living, perhaps?
The main issue with this system is the stainless steel keys I think (required to have enough strength so they don't bend up). High security keys always cost more, but cutting SS keys has to be murder on the key duplicator (and $20 per key is quite a price and reflects the challenge of working with SS). And it's more expensive for Bowley, so lower profit margin compared to their competitors even at scale.
However I'm sure the quality is good for that price. I am curious though, are their any anti-drill pins in the cylinder? Or, if the entire cylinder is Stainless then that is practically the same thing.
>> "The entire lock is made out of hardened stainless steel the same as the key. Unlike most locks which have a single hardened anti drill pin in a brass plug. That being said its not made of diamond and can be drilled like any other lock with the right bit and enough time. The purpose of a high security lock is to block manipulation attacks forcing a destructive attack. Its very hard to stop a destructive attack because then your whole house becomes the weak point. The door, the windows, etc."
SOURCE: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2136537678/bowley-lock-...
http://www.evva.co.uk/products/mechanical-locking-systems/mc...
Here's a video showing how to pick it: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0aNvEL5p1fw
Their main security feature is that keys were "impossible" to duplicate. However the SSDev'ers were able to decode and build make-up keys on-the-fly several years ago now. But that still leaves picking the lock a challenge which has not yet been a public development.