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The ethics of lock picking and telling
In 2004, a video circulated on the Internet showing how a standard Bic pen could be used to open the U-shaped Kryptonite bike lock. The company recalled the locks, replaced newer purchases, and changed the design for new locks. Problem solved, right?
Not exactly. Despite the fact that the problem had been revealed 12 years earlier in a British bike magazine, Kryptonite had continued to sell the locks unchanged. Angry customers filed a class action lawsuit that was settled in 2005, with Kryptonite offering to replace all affected locks or provide vouchers, and compensate people whose bicycles were stolen as a result of the lock being picked.
"If you don't make the problems public, the companies don't fix them and the consumers buy shoddy stuff," said Bruce Schneier, chief security technology officer at BT.
There's been plenty written about breaking into the virtual locks that safeguard sensitive data on the Web. But the picking of real-world physical locks is becoming an increasingly popular pastime for some. Enthusiasts have formed sporting clubs and hold regular competitions. Security researchers write books about how locks can be broken into and show how it's done on blogs and videos and at security conferences.
Naturally, lock manufacturers aren't happy. They argue that publicizing the vulnerabilities causes people to panic unnecessarily and puts the public at risk by giving criminals information they can use to break door locks, safes, and other secured assets.
But, just like third-party disclosure of vulnerabilities in software forces manufacturers to acknowledge security holes and patch them quickly, lock manufacturers will find they can't escape the scrutiny and will have to be held accountable for their products, experts say. … Read more
