Level responds to lock picking claim, says Level Lock+ exceeds standards

The developer of Level Lock+ decries "exciting headline" about lock picking, and says that its device has been granted the best grade possible in every category by the BHMA standards body.

Level's response comes after a YouTuber demonstrated picking the Level Lock+. As reported by AppleInsider, the methods used were the same tension tool and bump key approach that works on regular locks, and Level confirms that.

"For compatibility, Level uses a typical type C lock cylinder from a major industry supplier and is commonly available in hundreds of lock brands on the market," said the firm in a statement sent to AppleInsider. "It's no secret that any consumer grade lock cylinder can be readily picked by those with some expertise and tools."

"The only way to limit vulnerabilities around the keyway is to remove it entirely," continues the firm. "That is an idea we continue to consider closely though the vast majority of customers prefer the comfort of the keys they have been used to for decades."

Regarding the lock hardware, the company reports that "we have received the BHMA [Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association] AAA rating for strength, durability, and finish."

Furthermore, Level says that lock picking "accounts for only 4% of home break incidents.

"While it makes for an exciting headline, homes are broken in most via open doors and windows, or forced entries," says the company. "Level products help minimize home break-in risks with Auto-lock settings at your control — a feature that no analog lock can match."

These auto-lock settings, again as reported by AppleInsider, mean that a Level user will be automatically notified when a lock has been opened.

18 Comments

TechnoTacno 4 Years · 24 comments

About 2 years ago

It’s alarming that the BHMA has rated a lock that can be picked in seconds with a AAA rating.

How can a consumer find a secure lock if the rating suggests AAA and can still be picked in seconds?

jayweiss 13 Years · 76 comments

A lock is a device for keeping honest people out. A criminal WILL break in if they really want to.

chadbag 13 Years · 2029 comments

TechnoTacno said:

It’s alarming that the BHMA has rated a lock that can be picked in seconds with a AAA rating.
How can a consumer find a secure lock if the rating suggests AAA and can still be picked in seconds?

Because for a consumer type lock it meets the criteria. It seems almost all consumer locks “suffer” from the same deficiency: A professional can pick a consumer lock relatively easily. Regardless of brand (not a “Level” issue exclusively).

retrogusto 16 Years · 1140 comments

To me the point here is that it’s a lot of money for a lock that provides a relatively low level of security. To be this easily picked, it probably doesn’t have a lot of pretty standard security features that you can find even on some very reasonably priced locks, such as spool or mushroom pins that require more skill to open than just a quick rake job. And I guess if they didn’t bother with that, it probably also doesn’t have any hardened steel shielding that would make it tougher to drill out. And for a fraction of this price, you can get something like a Medeco which is extremely difficult to pick.

As others have noted, most people will be fine with a low-security lock, and others can swap out the cylinder for something better if they need to and are aware of the issue, but at this price people might assume that they are splurging for good security.

maury markowitz 17 Years · 370 comments

TechnoTacno said:

It’s alarming that the BHMA has rated a lock that can be picked in seconds with a AAA rating.
How can a consumer find a secure lock if the rating suggests AAA and can still be picked in seconds?

Almost all locks can be picked in seconds. All you need is the tool. The high-security locks for homes generally add security by making the keyhole have a weird shape so the pick won't fit. So the Norman, for instance, uses a key that looks like an S in cross-section, so a normal flat pick won't fit into the curved slot. But that's it, after that it's the same mechanism. So all you have to do is use a different pick, which is why you have a lockpick SET, not a lockpick.

There's a great article on the topic here:

https://books.google.ca/books?id=x3YlRSphAaMC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Go to page 128. "Ninety percent of all key cylinders sold can be picked in 10 seconds."

But much more important: only 10% of illegal entries are unforced, and the vast majority of those are using a copied key - like the one you gave someone you trusted.

The idea that you're losing security by using a standard barrel is simply not an issue. Every house around you has one of these locks - how many of them have been robbed by someone picking the lock?