41 Free Lockpicking Ebooks, Guides and Other Resources

Lock picking is the technique of opening a lock without a key while avoiding damage to the lock or its door. There is no law or regulation on lock picking, so it is legal as long as one has permission from the owner of the lock to pick the lock in question. Lock picking tools can be freely bought and sold. There are several clubs where lock picking is practiced as a sport. There are some locks that can be opened in seconds by even the most novice lockpicker, and there are some locks that take a great deal more skill, and may take minutes or even hours for even the most skilled locksmiths.

If you’re interested to learn more about lockpicking, you’ll find a curated list of free ebooks, awesome guides, tools, communities and other resources relating to the security and compromise of locks, safes, and keys below. The general concept behind lockpicking is relatively simple but practice makes perfect.

Ebooks & How-to Lockpicking Guides

1. Art of Lockpicking
   Educational website with animations detailing the process of picking locks.
2. Beginner’s Guide to Security Pins
   Short article guiding beginners comfortable with picking padlocks towards an understanding of more complex locks.
3. BosnianBill’s Lock Picking for Beginners
   YouTube playlist of selected instructional videos sorted in order from first principles to techniques for specific locks.
4. CIA Lock Picking Field Operative Training Manual
   Guidebook covering terminology, tool use, and techniques for picking the vast majority of pin and wafer tumbler locks.
5. Deviant Ollam’s Lockpicking Video Presentations and Advisories
   Collection of physec talks and locksport advice for all skill levels from a world-reknowned expert.
6. Easy Pickings – Mini Lockpicking Manual
   Widely-distributed beginner’s manual with diagrams showcasing how to pick various entry-level locks.
7. MIT Lock Picking Guide
   Famous introductory text by Ted the Tool.
8. Lock Picking: Detail Overkill
   Exceptionally thorough guide for those who want more than just the basics.
9. Locksport International Guide to Lock Picking
   Locksport primer in the style of a comic book, with photographs and speech bubbles.
10. How-to Lock Pick – Our Free Lock Picking Guide
    A free updated, illustrated guide to help you understand and learn to pick locks with various tools.

Contests, Conferences and Events

1. Chaos Communications Congress (CCC)
   CCC hosts the German Lockpicking Championships.
2. DEF CON
   Annual infosec industry conference which is popular with many lockpickers featuring a locksport contest.
3. Hackers On Planet Earth (HOPE)
   Annual conference often featuring a locksport competition and presentations on physical security.
4. LockCon
   Annual, invitation-only international conference about locks for members of respected locksport organizations.