This is a somewhat technical chapter, and it's needed to help educate you about one of the most common security issues I come across daily: magnetic locks on the wrong side of doors.
What is a magnetic lock, or maglock? How does it work, and, more importantly, why the hell does it matter that we know?
Every security system has a flaw. The reason for the flaw is that it's how the system is meant to work. You could create a perfectly secure system, but it would be unusable. Physical security systems exist to allow only certain people in. So, to be effective, a security system must stop being a security system briefly and for the right reasons.
A maglock is a locking mechanism generally found on doors or gates. It consists of three components: a metal plate, normally attached to the top of the door; an electromagnet attached to the door frame; and a mechanism to authenticate against, often a badge reader by the door.
The mechanism for authentication can differ. How it works is not part of this chapter, but the end result is that if you are authenticated, the system cuts the power to the electromagnet.
Here is a little drawing I did to show how a maglock works.
When it's locked, power runs to the electromagnet and prevents the metal plate from moving, keeping the door locked.
There are situations where you can force the two plates apart and gain ...
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