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Locking & protection

Picketing: understanding and preventing

Picking refers to manipulating the internal components of a lock to open it without the original key. Understanding this type of attack helps select appropriate protection for the door.

DEFINITION · HOW IT WORKS · ADVICE

Lock picking: understand and prevent — illustration from the MULTISECU glossary

THE KEY POINT TO REMEMBER

No device should be presented as impossible to open. The objective is to increase the overall resistance.

A manual opening

Unlike a destructive attack, picking targets the key recognition mechanism. It may leave no obvious traces, but the absence of traces does not alone prove that a lock has been picked.

The techniques and tools depend on the system. Keys produced by impression and those using percussion belong to different methods: grouping them under a single term can lead to confusion.

Select a cylinder with better protection

The internal design may include features intended to complicate manipulation. It's essential to examine the model's characteristics rather than relying solely on the number of pins or an isolated 'anti-pick' mention.

The key reproduction conditions and the possibility of managing access with a single key can also influence the choice. These address different needs from mechanical resistance.

Consider the full door assembly

An appropriate door furniture or cylinder guard contributes notably to limiting certain physical attacks. It does not automatically make all manipulations impossible.

The lock, its strike plates, the frame and the hinges must be examined alongside the cylinder. An A2P certification applies to a defined configuration: changing a component without adhering to accepted references may invalidate this configuration.

Following a suspected intrusion

Check the lock cylinder and the closure before continuing use if unusual operation is observed. The key catch or the movement of the door furniture alone does not allow for identifying the cause.

MULTISECU can inspect the installation, differentiate wear and degradation, and propose an appropriate repair or reinforcement. The aim is to restore reliable access, with clear explanations regarding the limits and capabilities of the equipment.

IN IMAGES

MULTISECU ADVICE

Uncertain about your lock?

A photo of the mechanism, along with some details about your door: we help you identify the right solution.