[Noisebridge-discuss] Attn: Lockpicking and Attn: Interested on Public Key Encryption

Mon Sep 10 19:22:56 UTC 2012

Taylor,
    Thank you for the lead. Four will work. I'll buy several packs of these
and paint them different colors. So, this works perfectly!

    I'll start assembling this and maybe put together a fun introduction to
both symmetric and public/private key encryption concepts. I can give a
trial run at Noisebridge and see who is interested in attending... kick the
tires on it, if you will....

Cheers,

Glen

On Mon, Sep 10, 2012 at 12:52 AM, Taylor Alexander <tlalexander at gmail.com>wrote:

> I use these:
>
> http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25ecodZ5yc1v/R-100353756/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=master+lock+4+pack&storeId=10051#.UE2bRqTyZ6k
> For chaining people to my bed. :-p
>
> But that's 4 locks with identical keying and you can buy them at home
> depot (which is convenient). Of course, every pack has its own unique key
> (well... they probably arent *totally* unique, but thats not the point). If
> you want all your locks to use the same key, I suggest contacting a
> locksmith or calling up Master Lock directly.
>
> All I really know is that you can buy that thing at Home Depot. The rest
> is stuff I've heard.
>
>
> On Sun, Sep 9, 2012 at 2:16 PM, Snail <snailtsunami at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Glen --
>>
>> There is a box of 50 or so cut combination locks (still "work", they just
>> can't lock anything) on the hackshelves in a bin. Feel free to use them. :)
>>
>> On Sep 9, 2012 11:56 AM, "Glen Jarvis" <glen at glenjarvis.com> wrote:
>>
>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>> Hash: SHA1
>>
>> I am interested in communicating difficult concepts in very easy ways.
>> Something about that gives me a kick. I want to get some physical
>> lock-key apparati and I thought the lock picking group may help point
>> me in the right direction.
>>
>> I have been explaining public-key encryption to new users for several
>> weeks now. I found the main source of confusion was that they were
>> using the concept of symmetric keys and having two keys just didn't
>> fit that model.
>>
>> I found it most helpful use the word 'key' *only* when discussing
>> symmetric keys and *never* use it when discussing public key
>> cryptography. I would substitute the words "safe" and "combination"
>> (concept per GNU Privacy Handbook
>> (http://www.gnupg.org/gph/en/manual.html) instead of key for public
>> key encryption.
>>
>> So, we would say "your public safe" each time we were referring to the
>> concept of a public key.  And, we would say "your private combination"
>> when we were talking about the private key concept.  Because this
>> repetitively used the words "public and safe" and "private and
>> combination," it seemed to help a *lot*. In fact, when we started
>> talking about "John's public safe" and "my public safe" and "my
>> private combination" it made sense.
>>
>> I also used the short story of: "Imagine I'm not home and you're
>> trying to get me a message that you know ONLY my eyes will see. You
>> call me on the phone and discuss but don't want to give me the message
>> over the phone. I explain that, outside my house, on my porch, I have
>> a safe that's bolted down into the concrete -- it can't easily be
>> stolen. I leave the safe unlocked. Only I have the combination to it.
>> So, why don't you put your message inside the safe (since I'm not
>> home), spin the tumbler to lock it, and know only I can unlock it when
>> I get home."
>>
>> This concept worked very well (it seemed to work in all cases thus
>> far). It's something physical that people can relate to. Yes, the safe
>> can be drilled into and the message stolen. and, yes, the concrete
>> could be destroyed and the safe stolen. But, those things are pretty
>> hard to do and can take a while -- I may be home before they get by
>> with it. Those same concepts are true for Public Key encryption.
>>
>> I want to take this physical concept and make a classroom apparatus
>> for it. I want a bunch of small padlocks (the small cheap kind is
>> fine). But, I need to get like 5 copies of the exact padlock (i.e., I
>> want one single key to open many different padlocks). The idea is that
>> each padlock represents a public key and they're passed around the
>> room willy nilly so anyone can have one (I'll probably paint or in
>> some way color code them so each set is easily identifiable). And,
>> then, if I could get a small box or carton or diary or something that
>> would lock, we can have people write messages, put them in the box,
>> and then lock it with a lock (e.g., I'll use a red lock because Glen
>> has the keys for red locks and I can get a message to him). These can
>> be passed around the room to be delivered to the person in question. I
>> have no idea what the box thingy will look like -- I'm open to
>> suggestions.
>>
>> I'm more troubled where can I buy a set of identical padlocks where
>> only one key will open them? (e.g., 1 key and 5 padlocks). And, then
>> can I buy several sets?
>>
>> I thought the lock-picking group may be able to point me to a vendor
>> or the right location. I hope not to spend more than $30 or so on
>> this, so we're talking reasonably cheap small locks if possible. I
>> will only use this a few times when teaching a class...  (although, I
>> think with this apparatus we could easily teach third graders how
>> public key cryptography works)..
>>
>> Any help would be appreciated.
>>
>>
>> Warmest Regards,
>>
>>
>> Glen Jarvis
>> - --
>> "Pursue, keep up with, circle round and round your life as a dog does
>> his master's chase. Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it,
>> bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still."
>>
>> - --Henry David Thoreau
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>

-- 

"Pursue, keep up with, circle round and round your life as a dog does his
master's chase. Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it,
unearth it, and gnaw it still."

--Henry David Thoreau
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