2 Factor Authentication - Google, Amazon, Facebook Offer Improved Security To Protect Your Data

What Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Is - And How to Enable It


The large internet companies like Google, Amazon and Facebook, have been busy the last couple of years designing new security protocols in the wake of a number of much publicised data-breaches that have affected millions of people across the world.

2 factor authentication is not a new concept, however an increasing number of security system providers have been including new high-security initiatives, aimed at securing our individual and collective data from the prying eyes of cyber crooks.

You may or may not have been affected by a cyber-security breach, in recent times. Credit card companies, banks, even department stores have fallen prey to cyber-criminals, who have stolen private credit data, social security numbers, telephone numbers, addresses, email addresses etc among other personal details.

Some people have discovered that their credit ratings have been severely affected by these crooks, even to the point that they cannot even access their own private details. Criminals have found simple ways to be able to lock you out of your own accounts.

A great many users operate an email account using the popular Gmail system, but apparently less than 10% of Gmail users, adequately protect their addresses with multi-factor authentication

 This is proving to be a large factor affecting far too many people. Many new security products, alarm systems, door locks etc are introducing multi-factor authentication protocols to better protect users of their modern products.

Tom's Guide provide an article on how to set up 2 factor authentication with various large online companies. Check out their link to learn more.

The main reason we decided to include this article here, is due to us learning that behemoths like Google are introducing physical security keys to assist with multi-factor authentication procedures. This especially interests us because companies like Google have been instrumental, the last 10-15 years in designing and building electronic "keyless" products aimed at simplifying our lives, That they realize (what we) physical security product providers have been saying for so long, is almost a testament to the benefits that physical security products provide, over and beyond many electronic products.

The source below, provides another link to a Tom's Guide article that peaked our interest and propelled us to write this article.

You dont have to purchase your security key from Google. There are other providers.

If you like to be able to protect your data from the chance of being "hacked", perhaps altering your procedures for "logging in" to your portals should be a worthwile consideration.

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Codelocks CL5510 - New Product Shines Where Others Dont

Codelocks 5510 appears to (me, to) be the bees knees for Smart Locks.

This digital wireless product answers virtually all the checkboxes when it comes to entry options (except WiFi/LAN Controller)

You can use the codepad, a key, a cellphone or even a proximity card/tag, providing up to 350 individual users with access using one of the credentials.

Also, the use of Netcodes offers management the ability to provide timed access on the fly. That means that a manager can send a code by text to a users cellphone to grant them access for a limited (programmed) time. Click on the link above to learn more about using NetCodes.

Using the K3 Connect app, which is available in both IOS and Android, allows bluetooth featured cellphones to access the lock.

The added convenience for managers and security personnel using Audit Trail, allows for instant recognition of which credential was used at what time.

The product complies with ANSI Grade 2 specification. Grade 2 is often considered heavy duty residential/light duty commercial quality but often in a commercial setting Grade 2 hardware will perform like a Grade 1, but is significantly more competitively priced.

The product is not cheap, but quality products are worth more than the other garbage in the market.
Codelocks are a sought after product offering by many locksmiths and security hardware providers across the world.
For more details click the source below.


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Raycor Garage Door Lock - Rekeying Procedure Without New Tumblers

 About 6 weeks ago we took a call from a customer who requested service that no one else would provide,

The customer has an old Raynor brand garage roller door on her garage and wanted to have the lock rekeyed.

This door is about 75 years old and all the companies she called (before me) would not work on the existing product, preferring to instead attempt to talk her into buying a new automatic roller door.

After becoming annoyed at not having her needs met, her search for service led her to find me.

This first image shows the Raynor Operating handle and key cylinder from the outside.

 You can see in this second image, the configuration of the inside mechanism and how the lock and handle attaches to the door.

The chains on each side are attached to spring loaded "latches" that firmly hold the door when closed, into the running tracks.

It is not necessary to remove the lever handle to work on the key cylinder, simply remove the four screws to pull the lock casing from the frame.

The rim cylinder is quite old and still functioning well for it's age even though it appears to be slightly corroded.

The tailpiece is secured with a roll pin through the back of the cylinder plug/barrel

Here is another view of the rear of the cylinder. You can see the roll pin sitting through the tailpiece and the back of the barrel

This is an image with the roll pin and tailpiece removed

This image shows the plug/barrel with each pin tumbler removed

 We set the plug up with the new keyblank inserted, into our vise after switching some tumblers around to "alter the combination" making it different to the original key.

Measuring the new key blank and the existing plug with the new combination pins correctly inserted

 Next, we marked each corresponding spacing of each pin tumbler using our impressioning file.

Using the impressioning file to "cut" the new key directly from the pinning

 A different angle shows the progress being made in forming the new key

 Slow and steady processes, are important to maintain meticulous and exact work. We only file a little at a time and constantly check and recheck our work, so we dont "mess" it up.

This helps to make sure we do not ever need to replace parts if we accidentally lost them because we wont.

Careful processes lead to positive results

The key is almost completed

 Constantly rechecking our work to ensure the best quality.

 The completed "new key" is the brass one. The old key is the silver one we are changing

Completed and rebuilt without the need to replace anything.


Now, you can purchase after market cylinders still for these doors, but I am old school and prefer to keep as much original as i can.

One reason is that manufactured items in previous years were often produced to a higher standard and designed to last.

Unlike many of the products found in the modern era that are deliberately made using inferior raw materials and streamlined processes that often punch out significantly greater quantities while giving up quality control, in the sole intention of making sure consumers are required to constantly be purchasing new and replacement parts. (thereby keeping manufacturers in business).



The art of the craft of locksmithery can be very interesting to us old time trades people. This is just another example of the types of requests we locksmiths receive.