Breaking Into a Bank with Whiskey

This bank lobby/vestibule was locked (unless you had an ATM card, of course) but the doors were controlled by a Request-to-Exit (REX) sensor that operated via passive infrared.

Triggering that sensor (by, say, blowing a fine mist of whiskey through the tiny gap between the doors) was enough to cause the door controller to unlock.

I wonder what would have happened if I had done the same thing to the NEXT set of doors behind this vestibule?

[DasGrinch]

Dress for the access you want, not the access you have.

[MattHaleUK]

I tried to explain this technique to an access control designer in a London office. He didn't think it was important enough to consider in his work. I think I'm gonna start a pen testing firm.

[Mythraen]

I like how he walked away. Entering using this method would have been illegal, I suspect, but he didn't break anything (except the security systems' sense of self-worth) so... yeah... no breaking, no entering.

[Mack]

Building owners and managers need to know the problems associated with mag locks. This is a well known problem, demonstrated in a very elegant way! The typical fix for this is to change the programming in your door access controller to not release the locks after business hours with the motion. After hours exit requires pressing the REX button on the wall. I have a favorite way to temporarily disable mag locks using a pizza delivery magnet on my desk drawer. Mag locks make it easy to secure double doors that don't have a center stile between them, but they have some issues - like this one here.

[markhowards]

MacGyver uses this in the latest episode. As soon as he said “it only unlocks by motion sensor on the inside” at 21.45, i knew what was coming next.

[kstricl]

4 years later, an LPL video showing a wall safe with "bank level" security lead me to this from within the comments. I was not dissapointed.

[disownedgamer]

My God man everything about this is art lets get it up in the louvre

[disownedgamer]

I've watched this like 7 times in a row

[kenabi]

was it at least cheap whiskey? i think we could all live with some cheap whiskey being sacrificed in the name of pen testing.

[ashleyjaytanna]

I'd love to see your reaction if this was a dual Rex sensor - not withstanding that the damn sensor should NOT be active once the alarm is active...

[undersleptoverplayed]

That was the most satisfying 18 seconds of my day. Shall I elaborate?

[BSKustomz]

nevermind the gunshots in the background

[loversheretic]

To answer the question in your description, access, and probably a scary wailing noise followed by an automatic call to police dispatch. The rest depends on how well they had locked up that night and police dispatch time!

[pickbeard]

Dat some crazy stuff, I hope the ATM doesn't work the same way 😉😂😂😂

[boris]

Im not even mad! how did you think of that?

[vxbdiiy]

I haven't tried whiskey but I have been having a hell of a time using measuring tape and canned air. I can't get any REX-controlled door to open.

[GameNinja]

Can someone find the Talk this video was featured in? I can never find it. but I remember watching it and it was one of the best talks Ive ever seen.

[MikkoRantalainen]

I have to say that I felt pretty proud when I was able to guess the method after seeing the description and starting frame. On the other hand, it makes me think that this kind of attack must be pretty well known among the criminals.

Would this work with plain old water or do you actually need enough alcohol to make it evaporate faster?

[astcell]

My post office closes at 7pm and I cannot get to my PO Box until the next day. It will let you out if the doors lock at 7pm with you inside. No amount of motion just outsiude the glass door will help, it has to be inside. Will check this out next time I decide to check my mail after 7pm.

[ShannonSistrunk]

I'm just wondering what the hell you were doing when you figured out that this worked. LOL