Master Keying
The purpose of this project is to provide information, training, and other help, on the topic of master keying (specifically “split pin master keying”) for locksmiths and other security professionals.
LIABILITY Reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the information provided herein is accurate. However, no guarantee is made to the accuracy of the information. No warranty is given, express or implied. Furthermore, master keying involves countless decisions, weighing the advantages and disadvantages, in the context of the specific situation and the system design requirements. For this reason, any information or advice herein must be considered as general knowledge, which may or may not be relevant to a specific case. All liability rests with the security professional who plans, designs, implements, and maintains, the locks and keys of a master key system, or with the owner of the facility, or with the end user. By continuing to view this information, you hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless the author and copyright holder, against any and all claims.
GOOD FAITH It is assumed that any person viewing this information is doing so for legitimate and legal purposes. Anyone who misuses this information for illegal or harmful activities takes 100% of the blame for the consequences of those activities. There is a point of view which says that security flaws should be kept secret, to prevent villains from expoiting such flaws. This is known as “security through obscurity.” We assert that it is better to expose the flaws, so that steps can be taken to improve upon them, or (at the very least) the system can be accurately evaluated, rather than providing a false sense of security. The increase in security which is to be gained by free sharing of information outweighs the risk of exploitation. A free and open discussion of security issues, including flaws, must not be interpreted as encouraging any wrongdoing.
copyright 2021 by Ralph J. Forrest-Ball, CML All rights reserved.
No materials in this project (including text, software, diagrams, and photos) may be copied, in whole or in part, without explicit permission by the copyright owner. Viewing the materials on a home computer, or similar device, and/or storing local temporary copies thereof, for the purpose of viewing remotely, or viewing offline, are not considered as copying.
Note: information itself cannot be copyrighted, only the form in which the information is presented. All locksmiths are encouraged to share information with each other, and this project is certainly no exception. Anyone who views this information is free to share such knowledge with other locksmiths, as long as they do so in a form which does not violate the copyright.
tldr: Share but don’t plagiarise. Do good, not evil.