Bump Keys are Public Knowledge

Once upon a time, bump keys became public knowledge in san clemente and that made locksmiths very unhappy. Why? It gave locksmiths a bad impression in society and spread out trade secrets that exposed how endangered the public had become with locks that are currently on the market causing suspicion and real estate agents use lock boxes to protect the homes in san Clemente from break ins and uncertainty among the general society.

However, to the locksmith industry the rise in the popularity of bump keys brought both positive and negative consequences. Not only did it make it more important (and harder) for a locksmith to gain credibility in order to succeed in a legitimate business, it also caused a raise in criminal rates with petty thieves attempting easier robberies using locksmith techniques; though this did bring more work to the genuine locksmiths, it also made the profession seem easy and brought forth the weakness of security nowadays, which arose even more challenges to the genuine locksmiths.

A locksmith works in a circle, building locks, perfecting them, selling them to the public and then having to pick them or disassemble them for people who have lost or misplaced their keys. It may seem amusing but it is not as easy as it might seem since the market requires constant updates and improvements.

Luckily, the public knowledge of lock boxes for agents for easy access to san Clemente homes to protect against bump keys wasn’t taken too seriously, the idea lost its popularity quite rapidly and the effects weren’t as devastating as expected. Locksmiths are still respected and are still a very necessary group and in some ways, the sudden publicity over the bump keys increased business for locksmiths, so all in all we can say it was actually quite positive.

Criminals will always attempt to invade homes, business, cars and safes. If they are stubborn enough they will find ways to commit unlawful entries and, truth be told, the majority doesn’t care to waste their time learning how to make use of bump keys.

Lock bumping is not new, even though the public knowledge is recent, experiments with bump keys have been done for many years, by German and Dutch locksmiths for example, and it was only a matter of time before it all became public. The fear it created in society made it a scapegoat for the real threats to our security- the lack of responsibility of the public and the underestimation of criminals everywhere.

In end, lock makers did not suffer much with the knowledge of lock bumping and their business was not affected in a large basis or in the long run and locksmiths are still respected and needed worldwide.

The popularity of bump keys soon died out, it was merely a fast burning flame in world of society’s novelties. After all bump keys are not the only tool used by locksmiths and are only one of many objects that can easily end up in criminal hands. Therefore the work of locksmiths everywhere is still quite secure.

Your Family and Lock Bumping Security

Think you and your San Clemente houses for sale with these type of locks will protect your family are safe and sound when your front and back doors are locked. Well you better think again!
Lock bumping and bump keys have changed the game of lock security. Nearly every door to every home in every neighborhood can be unlocked or opened in a matter of seconds with virtually no noise via lock bumping. Over 90 percent of all doors in America use a pin tumbler lock which is vulnerable to lock bumping. This locking system is so old and outdated that it was patented during the civil war. Lock bumping as it is now called was first discovered during the 1970’s by a small circle of locksmiths in Denmark. However that was then and this is now. With the advent of the internet it was only a matter of time before the technique of lock bumping would reach America and our doors. There is a solution and to protect yourself and your family against the bump key you need to update and replace your old pin tumbler locks with new high security locks. For more information on lock bumping and how to protect you against it, visit our public service site lock bumping .org.
Lock Bumping has been around for many years now. It has just come to the forefront of society due to the internet. It seems that locksmith's have keep a tight lid on the bump key and the pin tumbler lock flaw for many years. There are many videos out there that show you how to actually break into some ones house by using this lock bumping technique. I was amazed when I first say one of these videos.

Security Problem of Lock Bumping

A relatively new security problem in with San Clemente homes and their front doors is the threat of lock bumping, in which someone with a bump key can open most locks that are commonly used in homes.

In the 1970s, locksmiths in Denmark shared a technique for knocking on a lock cylinder while applying slight pressure to the back of the lock plug. When the pins would jump inside of the cylinder, the plug would be able to slide out freely, thus enabling the locksmith to disassemble the lock quickly.

also called key bumping or bump keying is a lock picking technique used to unlock standard pin tumbler cylinders with a bump key.

The bumping method could be misused by criminals to gain unlawful access with a bump key and is a growing problem globally. Bumping attacks are becoming widespread in international media as bump keys can be used to unlock most standard residential cylinder locks which are not bump resistant.

Most homes use standard cylinder locks which are vulnerable to lock bumping.

The bumping method is non-destructive. When a bump key is used to break into a house there may be no signs of forced entry or damage to the lock.

Segment on Lock Bumping

In case you missed it, there was a new segment on lock bumping that aired in the U.S. Incredibly, the NBC lawyers would not allow the use of the term “bump key” because they were worried that viewers might figure out how to open locks! Then they showed a diagram of the key and how it works. Ironically, the program was supposed to air the week before, but at the last minute, I was notified that the segment had been “bumped” by the Michael Jackson tragedy. Tragedy? Really?

I don’t know why the renewed interest in lock bumping, but I have received calls from several media representatives about the issue in the past few weeks. I am quite sure that our friends at Medeco were very pleased with the story. As I told the correspondent, they are good locks, but not quite as good as they say. For residences, they are just fine, as are Schlage Primus and other brands. Note that the NBC story never claimed that the Medeco cylinders were bump-proof. Only Medeco and many of its dealers continue to represent that falsehood, while at the same time claiming that “they never said it…others did” and that Medeco cannot control what their employees and dealers say! The question as to when Medeco will level with their dealers and customers about the insecurity of their products will be left for another post, and venue. One would have expected a statement from Medeco after their wired fiasco, but true to form…nothing.

Security is all about liability; this maxim may prove to be a very expensive lesson for Medeco and its parent company to learn.

We went to two upscale houses in New Jersey and opened the locks in seconds.

Any joy at Medeco are the best front door locks and many of San Clemente homes for sale now have them will likely be short-lived. They will be issuing a security alert with regard to electro-mechanical locks and what we perceive as extremely serious vulnerabilities. During the past year, we have focused our efforts on Assa Abloy Cliq technology that is shared by Mul-T-Lock, Medeco, Ikon, and maybe even Assa itself. It should come as no surprise that we found what we believe to be serious design flaws in these locks, both in terms of mechanics and electronics. Anyone who thought that we were ending our research efforts with Medeco will find that the story has just begun. Key control, covert entry, and forced entry…all the same issues that we found wanting in the locks… are alive and well in Logic, Cliq, and NexGen and should prove highly relevant for everyone concerned with the security of electronic locks.

And for those of you that are not familiar with NexGen, these are the very neat cam locks that are used in vending machines (for example thousands of machines owned by Coca Cola in Philadelphia); In major municipalities’ parking meters (in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami Beach, and New York, San Clemente homes); and also for the protection of cargo shipments in padlocks. Audit trails and revenue security are the prime rationale and justification to install these expensive locks ($100-$150). We think that the premise for implementing these locks might have to be reviewed and re-thought after DefCon. Not only will the implied guarantee of revenue security have to be re-examined, but the issue of potential false accusations that could affect innocent employees will most surely be a serious topic for some labor unions and legal counsel. Insurers and underwriters may also be involved because their premiums are based upon risk assessment. We believe that high-value targets may be at increased risk from the use of certain locks; hence insurability and premium rates could be affected lock bumping.

During our presentation we will review some of the representations in the advertising of certain vendors, and why we believe these may not only be overstated, but inaccurate and uninformed at best, and false and misleading at worst. We are producing a very detailed WhitePaper with regard to this issue.The title still applies to some of these electronic locks.

Lock Bumping from Denmark

A relatively new security problem is the threat of lock bumping , in which someone with a ‘bump key’ can open most locks that are commonly used in homes.

In the 1970s, locksmiths in Denmark shared a technique for knocking on a lock cylinder while applying slight pressure to the back of the lock plug. When the pins would jump inside of the cylinder, the plug would be able to slide out freely, thus enabling the locksmith to disassemble the lock quickly.

Lock bumping also called key bumping or bump keys is a lock picking technique used to unlock standard pin tumbler cylinders with a bump key.

The bumping method could be misused by criminals to gain unlawful access with a bump key and is a growing problem globally. Bumping attacks are becoming widespread in international media as bump keys can be used to unlock most standard residential cylinder locks which are not bump resistant.

Most homes for sale use standard cylinder locks which are vulnerable to lock bumping.

The bumping method is non-destructive. When a bump key is used to break into a house there may be no signs of forced entry or damage to the lock.

The bumping method has become common knowledge through media reports & popularity on the internet.

Conveneience Store Mobile coupon usage jumped in 2015, according to Koupon Media’s recently released 2016 State of the Mobile Coupon Industry report. The report affirms the growing trend reported by eMarketer that the number of consumers in the U.S. who used a mobile coupon in 2015 grew 18% to 92.6 million. The data found in the report also points to the rise of convenience store mobile coupons in mobile marketing:

• 42% of mobile users have used a mobile coupon
• 39% of customers spend more if they receive a personalized coupon
• 60% of customers would adopt mobile payments if offered coupons

Consumers are using their smartphones more while they’re shopping, and mobile coupon usage is growing as a result, said Bill Ogle, CEO of Koupon Media, in a press release. “In 2015 we doubled the number of coupons delivered on our platform. The fact is mobile coupons are easier to use than paper or print-at-home coupons and more retailers accept them than ever before. It won’t be long before the mobile coupon outpaces paper coupons altogether.”

The redemption data in the report focuses on convenience store coupons, a vertical that is showing some of the largest growth in all of retail. Data in the report points to energy drinks, soda and juice as the highest redeeming categories for mobile coupons.

Lock Bumping Videos and Bump Proof Locks

The videos on lock bumping  are all over the Internet and on native information stations throughout the country. It is becoming frequent knowledge methods to bypass the San Clemente houses with these locks in their front door using the tactic known as lock bumping. The spread of this data is inflicting great concern for individual safety and security for house and business.As a security professional, I am typically requested, “Can people actually open locks that simple?” “Ought to I be concerned?” “What can I do about it?” and “What do you suggest?”The strategy of lock bumping using bump keys has been round for a lot of years. The recent spread of knowledge on lock bumping across the Internet and the information has elevated the use of this system for unlawful functions, and now requires people to take precautionary action to guard themselves and their property.In addition to the security concern, there may be an insurance issue. If your property or enterprise is burglarized and there are no indicators of pressured entry, does your insurance cowl the loss?

If the tactic used to interrupt into your property or enterprise was the lock bumping technique, the indicators of pressured entry would possible be minimal and might not even be visible.To guard your property or enterprise from lock bumping it is advisable to improve your lock cylinders. This may be done by changing your locks with bump proof locks, or you may be able to replace just the lock cylinder. Residential grade doorknobs usually are not designed to use completely different cylinders. If you have doorknob locks, you will need to improve to a industrial grade knob lock and embody a excessive security cylinder. We highly suggest installing a deadbolt lock for added protection. Doorknob locks are easier to bypass than deadbolt locks. If you have deadbolts on your home you may be able to replace just the cylinder itself and keep the present deadbolt. To determine if that is an possibility, removed the deadbolt from the door and see if the lock cylinder is held in with a screw from the bottom of the lock. If it is, then it is possible for you to to switch the present cylinder with a excessive security or bump proof cylinder. Most residential grade deadbolts shouldn’t have a detachable cylinder.

The solution is to purchase a new deadbolt with the bump proof excessive security cylinder. The standard holes present on most doors for deadbolts is a 2-1/eight inch diameter gap with a 1 inch gap coming in from the edge of the door. To insure that the replacement lock you buy will fit your door, the critical factor is to measure what is named “backset”, which is the space from the edge of the door to the middle of the lock. This distance is often 2 three/eight inches or 2 three/four inches. While some locks have adjustable backsets, others have fastened backsets, so it is crucial that you’ve got this measurement when purchasing your new locks with bump proof, excessive security cylinders. Most excessive security or bump proof locks Vape Pen Review Top Vape Pens have some kind of restricted key duplication. This gives the home-owner or enterprise proprietor the advantage of no unauthorized key duplication. Typically the purchaser will likely be provided with some type of identification or registration card that would have to be shown in an effort to have keys duplicated. Excessive security keys normally can’t be copied at your native hardware store.

It is best to order the entire keys that you simply want with the purchase of your new locks. When ordering your bump proof locks, have the entire keys numbered. Maintain an inventory of who has keys to your property or business. As long as all keys can be accounted for, there isn’t a want to alter the locks. It is a nice characteristic when it’s a must to provide momentary entry for someone to your property or business. Once the bottom line is returned to you, you realize that nobody has copied a key and your property or enterprise remains secure.The fee to improve your locks to prevent lock bumping is greater than the cost of your average lock, however it is a worthwhile funding to take care of the security of your property or business. The fee is small when compared to a denied declare for loss out f your insurance firm!On your safety and security at house and for your corporation, I like to recommend that you simply install bump proof locks. With all the information about lock bumping on the Internet it is crucial that you simply stay one step forward of criminals as an alternative of one step behind them.

Conveneience Store Mobile coupon usage jumped in 2015, according to Koupon Media’s recently released 2016 State of the Mobile Coupon Industry report. The report affirms the growing trend reported by eMarketer that the number of consumers in the U.S. who used a mobile coupon in 2015 grew 18% to 92.6 million. The data found in the report also points to the rise of convenience store mobile coupons in mobile marketing:

• 42% of mobile users have used a mobile coupon
• 39% of customers spend more if they receive a personalized coupon
• 60% of customers would adopt mobile payments if offered coupons

Consumers are using their smartphones more while they’re shopping, and mobile coupon usage is growing as a result, said Bill Ogle, CEO of Koupon Media, in a press release. “In 2015 we doubled the number of coupons delivered on our platform. The fact is mobile coupons are easier to use than paper or print-at-home coupons and more retailers accept them than ever before. It won’t be long before the mobile coupon outpaces paper coupons altogether.”

The redemption data in the report focuses on convenience store coupons, a vertical that is showing some of the largest growth in all of retail. Data in the report points to energy drinks, soda and juice as the highest redeeming categories for mobile coupons.

Lock Bumping and The Safety of Bump Proof Locks

The movies on lock bumping are everywhere in the Internet and on native information stations throughout the country. It is turning into frequent data the right way to bypass a lock using the tactic referred to as lock bumping. The spread of this info is causing great concern for individual security and safety for residence and business.As a safety skilled, I’m typically requested, “Can people actually open locks that straightforward?” “Ought to I be involved?” “What can I do about it?” and “What do you recommend?”The strategy of lock bumping using bump keys has been around for many years. The current spread of knowledge on lock bumping across the Internet and the information has increased using this technique for unlawful functions, and now requires people to take precautionary motion to guard themselves and their property.In addition to the security concern, there’s an insurance coverage issue. If your private home or business is burglarized and there are not any signs of compelled entry, does your insurance coverage cowl the loss?

If the tactic used to break into your private home or business was the lock bumping method, the signs of compelled entry would seemingly be minimal and may not even be visible.To guard your private home or business from lock bumping it is advisable upgrade your lock cylinders. This can be completed by replacing your locks with bump proof locks, or you may be able to change just the lock cylinder. Residential grade doorknobs aren’t designed to make use of different cylinders. When you’ve got doorknob locks, it’s essential to upgrade to a business grade knob lock and include a excessive safety cylinder. We extremely recommend putting in a deadbolt lock for added protection. Doorknob locks are easier to bypass than deadbolt locks. When you’ve got deadbolts on your home you may be able to change just the cylinder itself and maintain the present deadbolt. To determine if this is an option, removed the deadbolt from the door and see if the lock cylinder is held in with a screw from the bottom of the lock. If it is, then you will be able to interchange the present cylinder with a excessive safety or bump proof cylinder. Most residential grade deadbolts should not have a removable cylinder.

The solution is to purchase a brand new deadbolt with the bump proof locks excessive safety cylinder. The standard holes current on most doors for deadbolts is a 2-1/8 inch diameter gap with a 1 inch gap coming in from the edge of the door. To insure that the alternative lock you purchase will suit your door, the essential factor is to measure what known as “backset”, which is the gap from the edge of the door to the middle of the lock. This distance is often 2 three/8 inches or 2 three/four inches. While some locks have adjustable backsets, others have fixed backsets, so it is important that you’ve got this measurement when purchasing your new locks with bump proof, excessive safety cylinders. Most excessive safety or bump proof locks have some sort of restricted key duplication. This provides the house owner or business owner the good thing about no unauthorized key duplication. Typically the purchaser will likely be supplied with some form of identification or registration card that would have to be proven in order to have keys duplicated. Excessive safety keys normally cannot be copied at your native hardware store.

It is best to order the entire keys that you want with the acquisition of your new locks. When ordering your bump proof locks, have the entire keys numbered. Keep a list of who has keys to your private home or business. As long as all keys can be accounted for, there is no want to change the locks. It is a good characteristic when you need to present momentary access for someone to your private home or business. As soon as the secret is returned to you, you already know that no one has copied a key and your private home or business stays secure.The associated fee to upgrade your locks to prevent lock bumping is greater than the price of your average lock, but it’s a worthwhile funding to take care of the security of your private home or business. The associated fee is small when compared to a denied claim for loss out of your insurance coverage firm!To your security and safety at residence and for your small business, I like to recommend that you install bump proof locks. With all the details about on the Internet it is important that you stay one step forward of criminals as a substitute of one step behind them.  

Conveneience Store Mobile coupon usage jumped in 2015, according to Koupon Media’s recently released 2016 State of the Mobile Coupon Industry report. The report affirms the growing trend reported by eMarketer that the number of consumers in the U.S. who used a mobile coupon in 2015 grew 18% to 92.6 million. The data found in the report also points to the rise of convenience store mobile coupons in mobile marketing:

• 42% of mobile users have used a mobile coupon
• 39% of customers spend more if they receive a personalized coupon
• 60% of customers would adopt mobile payments if offered coupons

Consumers are using their smartphones more while they’re shopping, and mobile coupon usage is growing as a result, said Bill Ogle, CEO of Koupon Media, in a press release. “In 2015 we doubled the number of coupons delivered on our platform. The fact is mobile coupons are easier to use than paper or print-at-home coupons and more retailers accept them than ever before. It won’t be long before the mobile coupon outpaces paper coupons altogether.”

The redemption data in the report focuses on convenience store coupons, a vertical that is showing some of the largest growth in all of retail. Data in the report points to energy drinks, soda and juice as the highest redeeming categories for mobile coupons.

Medeco Bump Key the High Security Lock

Medeco Bump Keys can unlock a lot of high security the doors in America. Each lock manufacture in essence will have it’s own bump key for that lock. For instance, if your door has a Medeco lock then only a Medeco Bump Key will work on that lock. A Medeco Bump Key is pictured below.

Conveneience Store Mobile coupon usage jumped in 2015, according to Koupon Media’s recently released 2016 State of the Mobile Coupon Industry report. The report affirms the growing trend reported by eMarketer that the number of consumers in the U.S. who used a mobile coupon in 2015 grew 18% to 92.6 million. The data found in the report also points to the rise of convenience store mobile coupons in mobile marketing:

• 42% of mobile users have used a mobile coupon
• 39% of customers spend more if they receive a personalized coupon
• 60% of customers would adopt mobile payments if offered coupons

Consumers are using their smartphones more while they’re shopping, and mobile coupon usage is growing as a result, said Bill Ogle, CEO of Koupon Media, in a press release. “In 2015 we doubled the number of coupons delivered on our platform. The fact is mobile coupons are easier to use than paper or print-at-home coupons and more retailers accept them than ever before. It won’t be long before the mobile coupon outpaces paper coupons altogether.”

The redemption data in the report focuses on convenience store coupons, a vertical that is showing some of the largest growth in all of retail. Data in the report points to energy drinks, soda and juice as the highest redeeming categories for mobile coupons.

If you have a Medeco lock then you will have a specific Medeco Bump Key made for that lock. So basically there is only one bump key for a brand or model of lock. The manufacturer of these locks don’t sell the bump keys They sell the blank keys to locksmiths or companies with a key copying machine under good intentions but the bad guys will modify the key and make a bump key from the blank. This has been going on for awhile but with the advent of the internet and the free transfer of information it is has gotten out that you can make a bump key or basically a modified key that will unlock your brand of lock from a key blank. 

Lock Bumping Bump Keys and Keyless Locks

Did you know that your house key could be bought on the Online world, letting criminals of all designs and measurements into your residence whenever they desired? No, quite possibly not. That’s the type of factor that takes place in crime novels, not authentic daily life. But the police (and your property owners insurance policy) know that all today’s criminals have to do is go out on the web site and not only do they have access to a single of the locksmith community’s finest strategies, they also have helpful how-to guides to show them how to get into your home without letting anybody know they’ve even been there. Have you at any time heard of a bump key?

is a system that locksmiths have been employing for the improved element of a century to quickly disassemble a lock and allow them to either resolve it or achieve accessibility to no matter what it is that the lock was locking up. Regrettably, bump keys aren’t a clearly kept key any more. Homeowners insurance coverage companies and protection providers are engaging in their ideal to educate today’s house owners on the likely dangers of bump keys. The principle is very simple. In a standard pin tumbler lock, these as the choice identified on the doorways of most homes and apartments, the lock is made up of a series of spring loaded stacks referred to as pin stacks. When a primary is slipped into the lock the pins line up along the edge, allowing the cylinder to flip and the door to open. A bump essential is a common critical that has been filed down. Criminals purely slip the bump crucial into the lock a person notch brief of complete insertion, then bump the key with a hammer or other really hard object. The affect leads to the pins to jump, generating a smaller window in which the lock can be turned with no harmful it. Even a criminal with small knowledge (and even much less widespread feeling) can enter your dwelling without leaving any signs of breaking and coming into behind.

Conveneience Store Mobile coupon usage jumped in 2015, according to Koupon Media’s recently released 2016 State of the Mobile Coupon Industry report. The report affirms the growing trend reported by eMarketer that the number of consumers in the U.S. who used a mobile coupon in 2015 grew 18% to 92.6 million. The data found in the report also points to the rise of convenience store mobile coupons in mobile marketing:

• 42% of mobile users have used a mobile coupon
• 39% of customers spend more if they receive a personalized coupon
• 60% of customers would adopt mobile payments if offered coupons

Consumers are using their smartphones more while they’re shopping, and mobile coupon usage is growing as a result, said Bill Ogle, CEO of Koupon Media, in a press release. “In 2015 we doubled the number of coupons delivered on our platform. The fact is mobile coupons are easier to use than paper or print-at-home coupons and more retailers accept them than ever before. It won’t be long before the mobile coupon outpaces paper coupons altogether.”

The redemption data in the report focuses on convenience store coupons, a vertical that is showing some of the largest growth in all of retail. Data in the report points to energy drinks, soda and juice as the highest redeeming categories for mobile coupons.

Lock Security Strategies

If you are a residence, small business, auto, or anything at all else with a lock and important, you have to have to be mindful of lock security. Emergency lock opening is an individual of the key duties a locksmith will complete, and with superior purpose! If it locks, at some level people is heading to lock on their own out of it. If you are lucky, becoming locked out will be just an annoyance, and calling a locksmith for an emergency lock opening will be almost nothing even more than embarrassing. But improper lock safety can be very much much more risky, and obtaining locked out of your property when a little one is within or a thing is on the stove presents a large chance.

There are some uncomplicated steps which any one can take to promote lock safety in the home and stay away from emergency lock opening. You will hold all by yourself and your spouse and children safe due to the fact you won’t have to worry about receiving locked out, so you will never experience a trouble where you are locked outside when something you will need desperately is within.

A Keyless Lock Can Set you Cost-free – Motives to Obtain a Keyless Lock for your Residence

The advancement in the area of science and systems has proved its affect in nearly every single subject from modern-day day appliances to even offering protection to your properties, cars and offices. The refinement of protection is an ongoing practice and has witnessed a multitude of modifications around time. For instance, the keyless door lock lock bumping.

Lock Bumping Burglaries in Texas

During the summer of 2007, a rash of mysterious burglaries occurred in the Dallas, Texas area. Residents of upscale apartment complexes would return home at the end of the day to find their doors unlocked and their apartments robbed. Even more puzzling, the thieves were able to hit a dozen or more apartments in one day! How did they do this?
Detective Scott Peterson was the one to finally solve the crime, discovering that the thieves, later known as the Bump Key Bandits, were employing lock bumping, a technique often used by locksmiths to open doors.
A locksmith in Denmark first developed the technique of lock bumping. At first, the method was to insert a key and apply a slight pressure while tapping on it with a hammer or screwdriver. The force caused the tumblers in the key's cylinder to jiggle and sometimes open up. Sometime around 2002, a simple tool called a bump key was developed to make the process easier. Bump keys are not illegal, and can easily be purchased on the internet. In fact, most commercial and residential locksmiths keep bump keys in their arsenal of tools for opening locked doors.
In 2005 Barry Wels and Rop Gonggrijp of the Dutch organization TOOOL (The Open Organization of Lockpickers) drafted a paper detailing the method and application of lock bumping. This technique finally attracted a great deal of attention in 2005 following the broadcast of a Dutch television show. The show detailed the risk of illegal entry and potential for theft by using lock bumping techniques.
Around the same time, an American security expert, Marc Tobia, began to publicly discuss the technique and its serious security risks. This information began to circulate through the media, and criminals in the United States and other countries quickly took note. Now there are numerous online resources for anyone wanting to learn how to bump locks. Kits for making bump keys are readily available to anyone with a credit card, and thus the technique of lock bumping has become a major security risk to the general public.
So how do you protect yourself and your family? Ironically, many high quality locks on the market today only make lock bumping easier. Very expensive locksets are manufactured with precise tolerances in the key cylinder. Because the pins work so smoothly, lock bumping becomes much easier. Furthermore, locks made of hardened steel are even more vulnerable because they are less prone to damage during the bumping process, whereas a cheaper lock is more likely to jam and not open.
Locks with security pins (for example, spool or mushroom pins) combined with a regular tumbler mechanism generally make lock bumping more difficult. Electronic locks, magnetic locks, and locks using rotating disks are even better options because they can rarely if ever be opened via lock bumping. Another option is a type of lock featuring trap pins. The pins in these locks' key cylinders are designed to jamb when someone tries to bump the lock.
Many companies now sell bump proof or bump resistant locks; however, bear in mind that as of yet, there is still no official standard as to what constitutes a bump proof lock. For absolute security, look for locks that don't have a slot for a key, such as touchpad locksets requiring you to enter a combination to open the door. After all, a thief can't enter your home with a bump key if there's no place to insert it!

Conveneience Store Mobile coupon usage jumped in 2015, according to Koupon Media’s recently released 2016 State of the Mobile Coupon Industry report. The report affirms the growing trend reported by eMarketer that the number of consumers in the U.S. who used a mobile coupon in 2015 grew 18% to 92.6 million. The data found in the report also points to the rise of convenience store mobile coupons in mobile marketing:

• 42% of mobile users have used a mobile coupon
• 39% of customers spend more if they receive a personalized coupon
• 60% of customers would adopt mobile payments if offered coupons

Consumers are using their smartphones more while they’re shopping, and mobile coupon usage is growing as a result, said Bill Ogle, CEO of Koupon Media, in a press release. “In 2015 we doubled the number of coupons delivered on our platform. The fact is mobile coupons are easier to use than paper or print-at-home coupons and more retailers accept them than ever before. It won’t be long before the mobile coupon outpaces paper coupons altogether.”

The redemption data in the report focuses on convenience store coupons, a vertical that is showing some of the largest growth in all of retail. Data in the report points to energy drinks, soda and juice as the highest redeeming categories for mobile coupons.

Apartment dwellers remain the most vulnerable to lock bumping attacks. Because most apartment locks can all be opened by one master key, they are extremely easy to bump, thus the reason why the Dallas thieves targeted only apartment complexes. If you do rent an apartment, insist that the locks be changed before you move in, so that prior residents cannot enter your home. If your landlord refuses to change the locks, inquire if you can replace them on your own. If all else fails, choose a safety prop or some other device to prevent unauthorized entry.

Bump Keys and Lock Bumping Information

TULSA, OK -- If you think your home is secure, just because you lock the door, think again.

Criminals can get past 90 percent of all locks with a simple technique called lock bumping. It leaves absolutely no trace, so police and insurance companies will never know.

lock bumping is done with bump keys that can be bought online. They will fit in nearly every lock made.

When you put in the bump key, it won't turn, but hold it a certain way, give it a few taps and it opens.

The criminals already know how easy this is, but many others don't.

"I've been doing this 35 years and used to do it all the time," said Randy with Holders Security.

Tom and Lois were very curious to see whether their home could be broken into with the lock bumping technique and were unnerved when they saw it could.

It would take a criminal just a moment and a tap to be inside their home.

"Amazing, absolutely amazing," Lois said.

The method is much quieter and attracts less attention from the neighbors than kicking in the door.

Patrick thought his home was secure, until he saw home could be broken into the same way.

"It seemed pretty easy, just tap and he was inside," he said.

Lock bumping is done with a bump key, which means you modify a key with deep cuts, then put it in, give it a tap or two and you're in.

Gene Holder with Holder's Security says this works because the vast majority of locks are pin-tumbler locks, which means there are two sets of tumblers in the lock and once you tap the bump key, it separates the tumblers so the key then turns.

Holder says criminals know about this because word travels fast in those circles. There are plenty of how-to videos on the Internet, which means the good guys are playing catch up.

"It's a good idea people know what's happening out there, then there are options, ways of putting security on there," Holder said.

Sheri Renfrow, owner of Tapestry of Faith Gifts near 41st Street and Peoria Avenue, wishes she would have known about lock bumping before she became a victim of it.

"The policeman said to me he felt they used what they call a bump key to get in the front door," Renfrow said.

Burglars got into her store and took jewelry, money and other valuables.

No window was broken, there were no scratches on her lock and she was left with a sick feeling, especially when trying to explain it to her insurance company, who had never heard of the technique.

"If you're worried about lock bumping in particular, there's a number of products on the market, high-end locks are resistant to lock bumping or a number of products that are relatively inexpensive that basically the lock turns part of the lock, in place where even your key can't open it," Tulsa Police Sgt. Brandon Watkins said.

A few companies make high-security locks that are bump proof and cost $100 to $150. It's still cheaper than an alarm system, although experts recommend you have both.

No one knows how many break-ins are caused by lock bumping because it leaves no evidence, unlike kicking in a front door, which is still the most common type of burglary.

Conveneience Store Mobile coupon usage jumped in 2015, according to Koupon Media’s recently released 2016 State of the Mobile Coupon Industry report. The report affirms the growing trend reported by eMarketer that the number of consumers in the U.S. who used a mobile coupon in 2015 grew 18% to 92.6 million. The data found in the report also points to the rise of convenience store mobile coupons in mobile marketing:

• 42% of mobile users have used a mobile coupon
• 39% of customers spend more if they receive a personalized coupon
• 60% of customers would adopt mobile payments if offered coupons

Consumers are using their smartphones more while they’re shopping, and mobile coupon usage is growing as a result, said Bill Ogle, CEO of Koupon Media, in a press release. “In 2015 we doubled the number of coupons delivered on our platform. The fact is mobile coupons are easier to use than paper or print-at-home coupons and more retailers accept them than ever before. It won’t be long before the mobile coupon outpaces paper coupons altogether.”

The redemption data in the report focuses on convenience store coupons, a vertical that is showing some of the largest growth in all of retail. Data in the report points to energy drinks, soda and juice as the highest redeeming categories for mobile coupons.

Locksmiths and Bump Keys - Lock Bumping

As soon as upon a time, bump keys became public information and that manufactured locksmiths extremely unsatisfied. Why? It gave locksmiths a bad impression in society and spread out trade secrets that exposed how endangered the public had become with locks that are at present on the industry leading to suspicion and uncertainty among the normal society. Even so, to the locksmith business the rise in the popularity of bump keys brought equally constructive and unfavorable penalties. Not only did it make it much more essential (and harder) for a locksmith to gain credibility in purchase to be successful in a legit organization, it also caused a elevate in criminal prices with petty thieves trying less complicated robberies using locksmith tactics; even though this did convey a lot more function to the genuine locksmiths, it also created the profession appear effortless and brought forth the weak point of safety these days, which arose even much more difficulties to the genuine locksmiths.

A locksmith works in a circle, building locks, perfecting them, promoting them to the public and then possessing to choose them or disassemble them for men and women who have lost or misplaced their keys. It may seem to be amusing but it is not as easy as it might appear considering that the market place demands continual updates and improvements.

Luckily, the public expertise of bump keys wasn’t taken also seriously, the idea misplaced its popularity really quickly and the results weren’t as devastating as anticipated. Locksmiths are still respected and are nevertheless a very necessary group and in some methods, the sudden publicity over the bump keys enhanced organization for locksmiths, so all in all we can say it was truly fairly good.

Criminals will often try to invade homes, business, autos and safes. If they are stubborn adequate they will locate ways to commit unlawful entries and, fact be advised, the bulk doesn’t care to waste their time mastering how to make use of bump keys.

Lock bumping is not new, even even though the public knowledge is latest, experiments with bump keys have been performed for numerous many years, by German and Dutch locksmiths for example, and it was only a subject of time before it all became public. The dread it produced in society produced it a scapegoat for the real threats to our safety- the lack of obligation of the public and the underestimation of criminals all over the place.

In finish, lock makers did not suffer significantly with the information of lock bumping and their organization was not impacted in a huge foundation or in the long run and locksmiths are nevertheless respected and essential around the world.

The recognition of bump keys soon died out, it was merely a quick burning flame in globe of society’s novelties. Soon after all bump keys are not the only software used by locksmiths and are only one particular of several objects that can easily stop up in criminal hands. For that reason the operate of locksmiths all over the place is nonetheless very secure.

 China's economy picks up speed in fourth quarter, ends 2020 in solid shape after COVID-19 shock By Gabriel Crossley, Kevin Yao 6 MIN READ BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s economy picked up speed in the fourth quarter, with growth beating expectations as it ended a rough coronavirus-striken 2020 in remarkably good shape and remained poised to expand further this year even as the global pandemic raged unabated. Residential buildings under construction and a power station are seen near the central business district (CBD) in Beijing, China, January 15, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang The world’s second-largest economy has surprised many with the speed of its recovery from the coronavirus jolt, especially as policymakers have also had to navigate tense U.S.-China relations on trade and other fronts. Beijing’s strict virus curbs enabled it to largely contain the COVID-19 outbreak much quicker than most countries, while government-led policy stimulus and local manufacturers stepping up production to supply goods to many countries crippled by the pandemic have also helped fire up momentum. Gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 6.5% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Monday, quicker than the 6.1% forecast by economists in a Reuters poll, and followed the third quarter’s solid 4.9% growth. GDP grew 2.3% in 2020, the data showed, making China the only major economy in the world to avoid a contraction last year as many nations struggled to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. And China is expected to continue to power ahead of its peers this year, with economists forecasting GDP to expand at the fastest pace in a decade at 8.4%, according to a Reuters poll. “The higher-than-expected GDP number indicates that growth has stepped into the expansionary zone, although some sectors remain in recovery,” Xing Zhaopeng, economist at ANZ in Shanghai. ADVERTISEMENT “Policy exiting will pose counter-cyclical pressures on 2021 growth.” Backed by the strict virus containment measures and policy stimulus, the economy has recovered steadily from a steep 6.8% slump in the first three months of 2020, when an outbreak of COVID-19 in the central city of Wuhan turned into a full-blown epidemic. Asia’s economic powerhouse has been fuelled by a surprisingly resilient export sector, but China’s consumption - a key driver of growth - has lagged expectations amid fears of a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. Data last week showed Chinese exports grew by more than expected in December, as coronavirus disruptions around the world fuelled demand for Chinese goods even as a stronger yuan made exports more expensive for overseas buyers.  Yet, underscoring the massive COVID-19 impact worldwide, China’s 2020 GDP growth marked its weakest pace since 1976, the final year of the decade-long Cultural Revolution that wrecked the economy. Slideshow ( 4 images ) Overall, the slew of brightening economic data has reduced the need for more monetary easing this year, leading the central bank to scale back some policy support, sources told Reuters, but there would be no abrupt shift in policy direction, according to top policymakers. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, GDP rose 2.6% in October-December, the bureau said, compared with expectations for a 3.2% rise and a revised 3.0 gain in the previous quarter. Highlighting the weakness in consumption, retail sales fell 3.9% last year, marking the first contraction since 1968, records from NBS showed. Growth in retail sales in December missed analyst forecasts and eased to 4.6% from November’s 5.0%, as sales of garments, cosmetics, telecoms and autos slowed. However, China’s vast manufacturing sector continued to gain momentum, with industrial output rising at a faster-than-expected rate of 7.3% last month from a year ago, hitting the highest since March 2019. ADVERTISEMENT LINGERING RISKS IN 2021 Ning Jizhe, head of China’s statistics bureau, told a briefing that there would be many favourable conditions to sustain China’s economic recovery in 2021. This year marks the start of China’s 14th five-year plan, which policymakers see as vital for steering the economy past the so-called “middle income trap”. China still faces many challenges, not least the tensions between Beijing and Washington and how they would play out under the new U.S. administration led by President-elect Joe Biden. As well, rising labour costs, the aging population, and a recent spike in credit defaults add to risks for an economy that is still trying to reduce a mountain of debt. “We should be alert to the following problems in 2021: first the imbalance of economic recovery. Compared with investment and export, consumption is weak as a whole and has yet to return tosan clemente houses for sale normal levels,” Wang Jun, Beijing-based chief economist at Zhongyuan Bank. “The second is the problem of excessive and rapid credit contraction.” ADVERTISEMENT The central bank is poised to keep its benchmark lending rate unchanged in coming months while steering a steady slowdown in credit expansion in 2021, policy sources have said. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a government think tank, sees the macro leverage ratio jumping by about 30 percentage points in 2020 to over 270%. While this year’s predicted growth rate of over 8% would be the strongest in a decade, led by an expected double-digit expansion in the first quarter, it is rendered less impressive coming off the low base set in pandemic-stricken 2020.  Some analysts also cautioned that a recent rebound in COVID-19 cases in the northeast of the country could impact activity and consumption in the run-up to next month’s long Lunar New Year holidays. “Control of people-flows has started, so the risk of a widespread outbreak of Covid should be small,” said Iris Pang, ING’s chief China economist. “But the risk of a technology war between China and some economies remains if the U.S. does not remove some measures.” Additional reporting by Stella Qiu; Editing by Shri Navaratnam Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The Making of a Bump Key

A bump key is made by taking a key that already fits into a particular brand of lock and filing it down. But turning a blank key into a bump key isn’t as simple as it looks in those Web videos.

First, a key must fit into the lock someone wants to pick—even if the key can’t open the door, it must slide all the way into the lock. A thief would also need to schlep around hundreds of keys to the home(s) they intend to enter since there are so many different key fits on the market.

“Just think of the selection displayed when you get a key duplicated in a hardware store,” says John Galeotafiore, our director of testing for home improvement.

Next, the crook would need to file the cuts in the key down to the deepest depths and then use a “bumping” tool to bounce the pins and open the lock.

“Ultimately, the consumer is responsible for assessing the risk of an attack from bumping,” wrote Marc Weber Tobias, author of Locks, Safes, and Security. In a 2006 analysis on lock bumping, Tobias pointed out that apartment buildings or business complexes that utilize one standard lock brand and model face a high risk of having their locks vape pen compromised. The same goes for homeowners whose old keys fall into the wrong hands after a lock has been changed for a similar model.

By Devon Thorsby, Editor, Real Estate Dec. 22, 2020, at 10:55 a.m.

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Housing Market Expectations in 2021

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The housing market continues to flourish as many buyers flock to the suburbs for more space, affordability and options that aren't necessarily tied to an employer's location.(GETTY IMAGES)

THE CORONAVIRUS pandemic that took over much of 2020 led to some unexpected outcomes in the housing market. After a brief initial period of low activity in home sales, homebuyer activity vastly outweighed available homes throughout much of the U.S. for the remainder of the year as people sought more space, ideal home features and affordability.

Now, with the promise of widespread access to COVID-19 vaccines on the horizon, extended time at home is shaping how people live every day, as well as what they want from their home and where they want to live well beyond the the pandemic.

In 2021, here are a few trends shaping up for the housing market:

• Interest rates are expected to remain low but increase gradually.
• Average home prices will rise.
• San Clemente Home Buying with current low inventory will remain low, despite plenty of new construction.
• Homebuyers will stay focused on the suburbs.
• Renters hurt financially by the pandemic will continue to struggle, and rental assistance is needed.

Here's what experts are predicting for buyers, sellers, renters and new construction in 2021.

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Buying

The coronavirus pandemic drove mortgage interest rates to historic lows for most of 2020, and all signs point to 2021 beginning with continued historically low interest rates. On Dec. 17, Freddie Mac reported the average mortgage interest rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage was 2.67%, more than 1 percentage point lower than the average rate at the same time in 2019 and a new 50-year low for average rates.

Low interest rates, the continued creation of new households across the U.S. and a desire for more space among existing homeowners drove demand through the roof in 2020. Many areas were seller's markets, meaning there weren't enough homes available to match the number of active buyers.

In many ways, the high demand and positive growth in home prices over the course of 2020 were a surprise, as skyrocketing unemployment created concerns about unpaid mortgages on a widespread scale. "I think a lot of us were preparing for a crash," says Danielle Samalin, CEO of Framework, an online platform focused on empowering homeowners.

Instead, the housing market continues to flourish, although dense urban centers are seeing less interest as many buyers flock to the suburbs and outlying areas for more space, affordability and options that aren't necessarily tied to an employer's location. Walkability to shops or outdoor attractions still has its benefits, but buyers appear focused most on having enough personal space for everyone in the family.

Many of the home buyers (and renters) leaving the city for the suburbs were likely to make that move eventually, says David Sigman, executive vice president and principal of LCOR, a real estate investment, development and management company based in New York. "(The pandemic) just accelerated that, and that's why we saw this rush to the suburbs," Sigman says.

With expectations for higher rates of homebuilding and a relaxation of the pent-up demand following the shut-downs early in the pandemic, experts expect sellers to have the advantage in 2021.

But homebuyers shouldn't feel concerned about being able to find a home. If the economy remains stable, mortgage interest rates will likely tick back up over the course of the year while remaining low from a historical perspective. Realtor.com predicts mortgage rates will end the year with an average around 3.4%.

Because the market is expected to remain in favor of sellers throughout 2021, Samalin says her company is focused on helping buyers navigate the homebuying process in a way that will help them avoid getting emotionally caught up when faced with stiff buyer competition.

For buyers who are still worried about job stability, holding off on a home purchase may be the right move. However, lenders have proven through the course of the pandemic that they are willing to work with borrowers facing unemployment or expensive medical bills in order to avoid a future foreclosure crisis.

"No one wants people to suffer, and everyone wants people to take up the options that are available to them. Foreclosure is expensive to the lender," Samalin says.

Selling

A major contributor to the low supply of homes on the market in the latter half of 2020 has been the fact that many homeowners are choosing not to relocate now – especially if they're already in a san clemente house with plenty of space for remote work and virtual schooling.

While low mortgage interest rates can be an incentive to buy a new home now, they're also an incentive for people to refinance and stay in their current home longer. "Making mortgage money so inexpensive contributes to the 'why move?' (perspective)," says Mark Fleming, chief economist for title insurance company First American Financial Corporation.

Additionally, most home sellers don't effectively increase housing inventory without also contributing to rising demand. "They're turning around and buying a home, usually in the same market," says Danielle Hale, chief economist for realtor.com. "Ultimately, they don't lead to a net increase of inventory."

The expected increase in home prices, however, may entice some owners to san clemente houses for sale sell. With home prices closing out 2020 around 7.6% above the average home price at the end of 2019, realtor.com predicts 2021 will yield an additional 5.7% increase in home prices by the end of the year.

Keep in mind that these numbers represent the expectation for housing on a national scale. The effects on individual housing markets will vary widely. Speaking with a local real estate agent can help you learn more about how home prices and activity are faring in your area.

Of course, the continuation of the pandemic as the vast majority of the population waits for access to a vaccine leaves room for uncertainty. Hale warns of the possibility of a double-dip recession that could remove some buyers from the market as affordability again becomes a key concern.

Even if that happens, however, current homeowners are likely to be largely OK, Hale says. "Homeowners tend to be in a point in their lives – they tend to be a bit older, they have more savings, they have resources to tap if something happens," Hale says.

Renting

The pandemic's economic impact has been far less kind to the rental market in the U.S. than the homeowner market. Renter households have, on the whole, been more deeply impacted by the shutting of retail stores, restaurants and other workplaces requiring in-person work that isn't necessarily considered essential. As a result, the ability of tenants to afford rent has been a growing concern during the pandemic.

As of Dec. 6, just 75.4% of apartment households in the U.S. made a full or partial rent payment for the month of December, according to a survey of 11.5 million units of professionally managed rentals by the National Multifamily Housing Council. It's a noticeable drop from the 80.4% of households that had paid full or partial rent by Nov. 6. By the end of the month of November, 93.6% of households had made a full or partial payment, so there is an expectation that the share of renters covering their rent in December will rise before the end of the year.

While temporary and partial eviction moratoriums at federal, state and city levels have helped avoid mass evictions throughout the country thus far, many are concerned about what will happen when moratoriums are lifted in 2021 if financially strapped renters do not receive relief.

On Dec. 21, Congress passed a new coronavirus relief package that will provide $25 billion in rental assistance and an extension of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-issued eviction moratorium until the end of January 2021, in addition to unemployment assistance and stimulus checks. Still, for those who have struggled financially throughout the pandemic, money problems are unlikely to end overnight and will be a factor throughout 2021.

But financial struggle isn't the only thing the rental industry will see in 2021. Real estate information company Zillow expects to see the creation of new renter households to bring fresh demand to the market as the country begins to rise out of the pandemic.

"With a vaccine on the horizon and Gen Z continuing to graduate from college, we expect the cloud of uncertainty surrounding the pandemic to lift and demand for rental units to surge in 2021," Zillow senior economist Chris Glynn said in a press release. "Though the coming rebound in the rental market is good news for some, it will certainly put millions of renters who were hit hard by pandemic-related income loss in an even more tenuous position, and further government intervention will likely be needed to avoid a painful wave of evictions."

The pandemic has additionally shaped how many apartment communities are approaching their amenities. Common spaces including a pool, rooftop deck and lounge area have been popular in apartment communities for years, but now apartment owners and developers are looking at how these common areas can also meet the needs of more remote workers, while allowing for the privacy people will want.

"We're going to have an increase in need for amenity space," says Simon Aftalion, development director for Markwood, a real estate investment, development and management firm based in Beverly Hills, California. "Large space can be bifurcated into smaller, more intimate settings … (and) directly contiguous to an outdoor element."

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New Construction and Development

The answer to high demand among homebuyers is to build new houses, and for those houses to meet the space requirements many are seeking after a year spent working, learning and relaxing all at home.

Fortunately, homebuilders appear to be rising to the challenge. The U.S. Census Bureau reported more than 1.54 million housing starts, or the beginning of construction on a house, in November this year. The rate of new home construction is 1.2% higher than October, and 12.8% above the rate of housing starts in November 2019.

Looking forward to 2021, homebuilders are expected to continue to amp up sea summit new construction. Building permits issued, which reveals planned construction on homes that has not yet started, were nearly 1.64 million for November, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. For the entirety of 2021, realtor.com predicts housing starts will be up 9% compared to 2020.

Even with consistent growth in builder activity, most housing markets can still expect the number of homebuyers to outpace the inventory of available homes. "I'm pretty sure you just can't build it fast enough," Fleming says.

For all new construction, you can expect popular home features that have become necessities amid the pandemic to be front and center. In particular, extra rooms or nooks for at least semi-private remote work and school spaces will be a major focus, as well as outdoor space that makes it easy to personalize outdoor living.

Afflation says in apartment buildings in more dense parts of Los Angeles, private outdoor space has become the focus, including when square footage is limited "even if that means the size of the unit's (interior is smaller), as long as you can go work and do a Zoom call so it's shaded, the sun isn't in your face and it's next to your (apartment)," he says.

While planned construction on new apartments and condos will go forward in 2021, the public's shift in preference to a more suburban setting means you won't see as many builders eager to start planning for more multifamily housing in city centers for a bit – at least not until the future becomes clearer for a post-pandemic housing market.

"We're expecting kind of a slowdown. I think there'll be fewer apartment buildings that get started in 2021 than in other years," Sigman says.