Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

> Just because the FBI bought lockpicks, doesn't mean they can go around opening locks

Similarly, just because Schlage makes high security unbreakable locks, doesn't mean they have to create lockpicks for the FBI that will work on those locks. They spent a lot of money developing those high security locks and if they create lockpicks that can break through them with ease, they lose much of the value of those locks. The unbreakable lock is no longer unbreakable. So the loss of value for the company is not just the employee time to create the lockpicks, but also the loss in value of the product line when they can no longer say that there's no lockpick that can break in.

The FBI is free to study and try to break into the locks themselves, but if it is a truly unbreakable lock, then hooray, the world is arguably safer on the whole, even if a few criminals use the locks to hide their secrets.




Consider applying for YC's Spring batch! Applications are open till Feb 11.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: