Hotel Room Security... Putting Teeth into your Do Not Disturb Sign!

[@sandy1653]

Hotel physical security is... interesting. We've got a local resort as a customer and I don't even bother getting keys from the front desk anymore to get into the server room or any of the IDFs. The doors to those rooms are so badly fitted that I can use the blade of my Leatherman to pull the latch out enough to pop the door open. And of course because it's not guest facing, good luck getting management to spend a dime on it. Especially now.

[@DeviantOllam]

hah, i can imagine so many installations like that. still, crazy that people don't even want to spend the $50 or so to marginally tighten things up.

[@KateGrayCode]

I worked for a movie theatre when I was in my early adult years. The keys were so worn and the locks so bad that I just started carrying picks in my pocket instead. It was much faster. It worked great until I was dismissed early one day and they wanted me to give the keys to my replacement. "Yeah, I don't use them" wasn't what they wanted to hear.

[@xugro]

@@KateGrayCode Please tell me that you used a comb pick thats way funnier lol

[@katiedonovanAlt]

Cute story; but personally? I would never do this, and I would never permit any of my employees to do this, either. Get the keys. Every. Time. Who knows; the PITA factor may be one of the things which finally moves them to upgrade to an adequate security profile. But every single time you gain entry THAT way? You are creating a potentially huge liability for yourself and your company. There are only a thousand or so angles ANY attorney would absolutely LOVE to sink their teeth into in this scenario. In fact as part of their training, attorneys study what are called, "issue-spotting" exercises. These are fictional or hypothetical scenarios expressed to aid the student in understanding the legal "issues" at play. Your story could easily BE one of these hypothetical scenarios with the addition of a few minor details and an actual incident. For instance, say the scenario you spelled out is completed by one of the resort guest's children observing your "non-public-facing" exploit, later duplicating it and disseminating the exploit to other guests' children. It's not long before one of them lets themselves in who is NOT particularly respectful or careful, and the pool chemicals are stored in the same secured area with the servers and now....there is an injured or possibly even dead child in that server room. It comes out during trial that the entire thing began with your trick, which began with the hotel being cheap and lazy....it would be a whole thing. Trust me: Just get the key from the desk. Every time. [BONUS: "Trick" to get them to upgrade and cover their asses? Show them this post]

[@KateGrayCode]

@@xugro a wave rake.

[@markfrolov1957]

Stayed at a hotel today and found the elevator firefighters panel open and the key was in the lock

[@DeviantOllam]

wow... got any photos of that? where was this?

[@mannys9130]

I examine all the elevators I get into now because of Dev!!! It's like a compulsion of mine now to study physical security measures wherever I go.

[@frugalsoul9984]

@@mannys9130 yes. Watching his videos opened my eyes to a bunch of stuff I didn't have any clue about

[@markfrolov1957]

@@DeviantOllam It was in San Francisco Best Western unfortunately I was unable to get a pic of both the key and the door because I want and told the employees right away but for some odd reason after they took the key they still left the panel open

[@DeviantOllam]

@@markfrolov1957 no way... The one in the SoMa? I've stayed there

[@DreamFreeFPV]

Ok, cool, the problem with this is that they only increase security whilst you're in the room. need a way to increase security of items left in the room whilst at a meeting etc. without taking my whole suitcase etc.

[@tinytowz4471]

Exactly!

[@MakeItHackin]

Deviant really has a HANDLE on door security

[@maxgarascia]

PUNishing

[@RobertBeckk]

Badum tisss

[@ColinRichardson]

Don't be a knob. (Not sure if the US has that insult?)

[@MakeItHackin]

@@ColinRichardson we don't, but we still value your door puns :)

[@ColinRichardson]

@@MakeItHackin hehe, it basically calling someone a 'bell end'... and if you don't have that insult, then it's calling someone a penis!

[@JamesJamersonIsAGod]

I stayed in hotel recently while making a long drive down the east coast to return from an extended Christmas visit. It was a good hotel (4-star), in a nice area, 5th floor corner room. Our dog was in the room with us, sleeping under the desk. The door was dead bolted and the inside security latch engaged. I had placed a pair of jeans along the bottom of the door to block the hallway light. We arrived very late and I was having trouble sleeping and was in a light stage of rest/sleep. At about 2:30 AM the room suddenly got a bit lighter and the dog bolted for the door in that low-crouch deep growl mode. I don’t think my brain really processed what was going on so I was a bit slow to react. I got up and went to the door, checked the peep-hole etc. I figured the dog had just been spooked. I then looked down and realized the jeans had been pushed back away from the door and were at the exact angle of the safety latch and then processed the change in light was actually someone opening the door... That freaked me out a bit. What if the dog wasn’t in the room? I checked with the front desk the next morning, no keycard swipes of the door, no camera angle for that corner room... they could have been lying to cover for maybe double issuing a room or? It really gave me new perspective on the physical security of a hotel room (or lack thereof).

[@Test-bi5rg]

I have heard stories about some hotels in Paris had serious security issues. The front desk clerk was bribed by the robber/thief/kidnapper to let them gain access to the resident levels, combined with not answering guests' phone calls, and deleting the security camera footage. Some clerks even sold the guests' info to the criminals so they could choose easy targets like single female etc.

[@JamesJamersonIsAGod]

@@Test-bi5rg That is absolutely terrifying! At least in my case I was on a long drive traveling through a “free-State” thus armed, half-awake and with a large dog. Can’t imagine having my wife alone in a similar or worse situation...

[@kenrogers4528]

Biggest downside to these if you suffer a medical emergency, responders can't access. The strap would be the safest for you to be able to un deploy in an emergency. The wedge seems difficult to remove if the rooms filled with smoke or if you're in grave danger

[@stevenwilgus8982]

all life is a RISK. one must weigh the RISKS/BENEFITS ratio and determine if the number is acceptable. eventually you just have to say, fudge it, drive on. live life or endure it: your choice. If you are that vulnerable health wise, 1) why are you traveling, 2) why are you alone??????? I prefer freedom over safety as a slave and thus, I take responsibility for ensuring my personal safety. these offer solutions and possibilities. all buy me time to be ready to pull a Trigger, and I ain't speakin' of a horse.

[@nes999]

As someone who in the past as had to stay in some sketchy areas i would agree its about risk. I've had to spend many nights in East Saint Louis. I've been 5 feet away when someone busted out my truck window trying to steal stuff from an empty pickup. I know my risk of someone breaking into my hotel room was greater than a fire. Other times, if i'm staying in a better area my defenses are still present but not as severe. I'm of the opinion to make myself look as normal as possible when i check into hotels. Id rather the lady with the nice purse and jewelry that costs more than my truck make a scene. Me? I'm just Joe blow with a Walmart backpack for clothes. Its downright scary what information you can gather about people from just sitting around a hotel lobby/hotel bar.

[@misterkaos.357]

Well, I suppose EFR could always break the window and climb in.

[@kenrogers4528]

@@misterkaos.357 Yeah for sure

[@cragbum87]

Firefighter here. We're trained to break down doors using forcible entry. The two methods shown may slow a firefighter down by a few extra seconds, but not by much. However, I can't speak to other first responders. I have worked as a first responder in other fields, but the only entry I was taught was forcible entry as a firefighter. All other entry methods for non firefighter first responder scenarios were to try to open the door or encourage the patient to open the door. Otherwise, wait for the fire department.

[@pawpatrolnews]

I was at LAX this past weekend and your elevator video taught me to pay attention. Due to 'unexpected construction' our gate was changed to to a different area. All of the elevators there had signs saying they are stopping at every floor so people don't have to touch the buttons (due to covid). The one we got on did indeed stop at every floor, including the employee only ones where you would normally need a key or badge 🤦‍♂️ I didn't get off on those floors, but one could only imagine the amount of problems someone could make by gaining unauthorized access to the buisiest airports in the country.

[@DeviantOllam]

Fascinating!

[@WhereWhatHuh]

Hmmmm. So the elevators were in "Sabbath" mode... I wonder if all elevators have a sabbath mode, and how it might be set... Hmmmm.

[@QueLastima]

@@WhereWhatHuh Hmmmmm. Hmmmmm. Maybe. Hmmmmm. It's done with a key... Hmmmmm. Duh.

[@WhereWhatHuh]

@@QueLastima Indeed. And to have that key would be ... very interesting. Wouldn't you say?

[@pawpatrolnews]

@@WhereWhatHuh Most definitely. Much more interesting then a normal elevator, right?

[@user-zz8ln3uh5x]

It's nice that the strap is reusable. I've found that adhesive tape works quite well in a pinch. It doesn't have to withstand brute force. It generally suffices to trick the attacker into thinking that it's not possible.

[@DeviantOllam]

True

[@nes999]

This goes for most things. You dont have to be fort knox, just tougher than most other victims.

[@beatsbyandrew]

This reminds me of when I was a kid and my family checked into the Marriott to find they had given us the key and number to an occupied room... I hope that person got a free night after strangers walked in on them watching TV.

[@Thermalions]

Been there done that, except the woman I walked in on had just gotten out of the shower with a towel half wrapped around her. Awkward.

[@DeviantOllam]

That seems to happen more often than it should

[@chrissherer2047]

That happened to my wife and myself. They had the chain on and I instantly apologized to the couple in the room. Went back to the front desk and had the feeling that the guy at the desk was closely related to all the people who look at you funny when you come back to say, "I asked you to hold the mayo on this and it is drowning in it."

[@nes999]

I've had this happen to me more than once. Ironically also at a Marriot.

[@DalePatch]

I caused this situation for a family while also working for a Marriot owned hotel. lol Part of the issue is the key card and room management systems are not linked in anyway. I was working right at the end of the pandemic and they're still using something that feels console based for the room management where I was working. So, that makes user error on the room management side easier, but what caused my accident was misreading the room number and being able to issue a key for a room that had already been issued keys. There is no verification before issuing keys to rooms that already have them. I don't even know if they logged me having to rekey the master key almost every night before the facility checks.

[@JonasVilander]

Personal thought, while the velcro method is relatively sound in the event of an emergency, the wedge tool seems a tad dangerous(at least in an overnight context) in that it would require a significant amount of time to actually get out of your room safely(especially in a fire scenario). No hate, just a circumspect thought for anyone considering the wedge tool.

[@Jomskylark]

Also doesn't it leave a giant hole in the carpet?

[@jonskillings1258]

@@Jomskylark I believe the underside of the door is what is being used to stop the movement, so the floor really only leaves a mark if you screw it in too hard, or not enough on a wood floor, and then someone opens it and the floor becomes scratched.

[@GavinPriebe]

@@Jomskylark The manufacturer assures that it only damages the carpet if someone tries to force the door.

[@owlsayssouth]

Tanstaafl. It's all about trade offs. Obviously the wedge requires more time to disengage to open the door, which could be am issue if you need to get out quickly. The same goes for not wearing shoes and clothes to bed. The easier it is to remove, the less secure it will be. I personally prefer to take a little time to prepare myself before responding to such things. And would want to be properly awake in the right mind before plunging into smoke / fire. Assuming you Don't just go out the window.

[@Aaron48219]

I didn't know who Naomi Wu was until this video. She now has one more subscriber. Thanks Deviant.

[@DeviantOllam]

she's the bee's knees, indeed!

[@FoxDren]

3:00 always amazing how a simple machine such as a wedge can remain one of the best pieces of physical security. definition of as "simple machine" for those not familiar with them. "A simple machine is a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force. In general, they can be defined as the simplest mechanisms that use mechanical advantage to multiply force."

[@ColinRichardson]

Technically, a wedge with a spiral wedge :D

[@Roxxofoxxo]

Yoo another furry :D Cute pfp!

[@zrie_prakis]

Naomi is an awesome engineer. So happy you shared her (and hers) tests and then showed some validations of your own. Good to see like minded people supporting each other!

[@ponderinggeek7861]

It's nice when the options don't mar or damage the door. Both options from Dev are great as they don't damage the door when someone tries to force it open.

[@Jomskylark]

While it doesn't damage the door, wouldn't screwing a spike into the carpet damage the carpet?

[@ponderinggeek7861]

@@Jomskylark It could if it was screwed in too far. But often the carpet will bounce back and you don't notice any divot or hole to speak of.

[@hipu]

oh boy, 5am

[@Purp1e_Grapes]

4am for me

[@DeviantOllam]

​@@Purp1e_Grapes i've fixed it. it was set to a crazy time zone because i was out of the country.

[@ativerc]

Oh boy, 8 30 pm. Thank you! @DeviantOllam

[@DBourne91]

I am interested in this. As a hotel employee I am sure I will find this fascinating and frustrating. I mean maybe hotels are different in the USA but in Canada DND means DND and we respect that. :)

[@bernie9366]

I wish I had a dollar for every time I`ve been asked to attend an occ room for a maintenance issue and the guest has DND on the door.

[@DeviantOllam]

i will be very interested in your responses and reactions, i must say... learning what methods, if any, a hotel might use to gain entry if either of these tools are in use would be fascinating. After all, someone could secure their room but then have a medical incident. I'd be interested to learn what might take place in such a case.

[@mmat1065]

@@DeviantOllam i used to do contract security for hotels a while back here in Canada. If the locks were inoperable, the maintenance folks usually had wire bent and looped at just the correct length to pull the handle (classic under door attack you’ve talked about before) If that failed and we had to get in immediately, call 911 and have the fire fighters do their thing. Doors don’t cost that much to replace when we have in-house maintenance staff (especially when compared to the liability that comes with guests being in danger). Thankfully, the furthest I’ve had to go was the underdoor wire pull. (Also, with how thin the newer iPhones are, FaceTime came in handy to get live well lit view of the inside handle to hook it. - yay to fluffy carpet flooring)

[@rstanyan]

@@DeviantOllam the closest I ever got to this was someone leaving vital medication in a room where the electronic lock failed. We actually removed the lock itself by sawing it off, but we were prepared to use a ladder to get into the room.

[@mannys9130]

@@rstanyan I had this happen too but in a different way. An organizing guest left his meds in a common room at a convention. Someone gave an event guest a key and that guest got plastered and locked himself in the room before falling asleep in a stupor from which he could not be awoken with yelling alone. We tried... 🙄 It was amazing. The deadbolt would not override with my GM key. We had no emergency keys available (thanks management). I ended up prying the window open and let the guest crawl in. It was a room he paid for. He could enter, but I wasn't going there with a sleeping guest. No way. So the guy crawled in and got his bag and went out the door after undoing the deadbolt. I told management I wanted an EMERGENCY key, not a manager key from then on. Guess what happened? Yeah, you know. 😑 Maintenance probably had fun fixing the window, but I was without other options. My manager's advice over the phone was "yell louder." Lady, I'm a grown man and it's 2am. You really want me to yell with all I got? 🤣

[@robertdole5391]

I am a hotel room now... great timing. You can also use a belt to wrap around the hydraulic arm closure on top the the door.

[@H3110NU]

I love when my Lee Valley Tools and Veritas make random appearances on vids. They’re based about 5 minutes from my house and I’ve seen them grow from one lil store, warehouse and manufacturing shop to being fairly well known with 20 stores and online purchasing but still Canadian AF.

[@DeviantOllam]

yeah, they're really awesome! so are you based in Ottowa?

[@H3110NU]

@@DeviantOllam someone knows their Lee Valley and Veritas pretty well. Born and raised in our nations capital.

[@DeviantOllam]

@@H3110NU as Tanya and Phil would say... Hottowa 😁👍

[@radioactivekitty9174]

Hah, I'm on the Ogdensburg side near their office over here ;)

[@NathanialMayweather]

That wedge looks fantastic without a doubt. The strap is pretty interesting for sure as well - I like how it is extremely basic but very effective.

[@gregoryhamp4605]

So, I actually design and implement access control plans for most of the big hotel corporations and I have contracts with many large multi family housing corporations and a couple of vacation rental chains….fire and building code make it very difficult for us to secure the rooms and stay within a reasonable budget. These are helpful tips and I absolutely agree with them. I would, however, prefer if the door stop had an emergency release of some sort, like a button on the back that would release the threads in case of fire. I will also say…some lock manufacturers are much better than others and some hotels are more willing to invest in guest safety.

[@nes999]

The problem with adding the by pass as you suggest is I could take some stiff wire under the door and activate the button.

[@bijiont942]

Funny I actually mentioned you in Naomi's video when I saw the testing. I knew you would be the perfect person to have a solution with your experience in the field.

[@joshuagarrett4879]

The door to a hotel room is just as secure as the in room safe... Meaning it's about as secure as an opaque curtain.

[@bluef1sh926]

Oh come on, in 2 days??

[@DeviantOllam]

what's a more usual time span for a Premiere?

[@bluef1sh926]

​@@DeviantOllam I don't know, maybe 12 hours max. I don't like or use premieres.

[@DeviantOllam]

@@bluef1sh926 yeah, i don't generally use them. i'll probably use them less after this, since some folk are not hot on them =)

[@jayschafer1760]

Lee Valley's Veritas tools have an AMAZING reputation in the woodworking world. Their tools aren't the cheapest, but they are built as solidly as possible and will outlast the purchaser in most cases, so they are great values for the quality.

[@ZiggityPow]

Lee Valley sells a lot of cool stuff. I love wandering their brick and mortar store whenever I'm in Vancouver or Victoria.

[@musictab7376]

every time I talk to deviant, there's always something new to learn. I was thinking about some simple security for travel, never found anything that looked like it would work in almost every hotel. these I'll have to check out.

[@lucast3006]

I’ve heard you talk about this in your lectures. Thanks, DO.

[@DeviantOllam]

thanks!

[@dcriley65]

D-Man what I love about you is your thought process, Fuck over thinking something!

[@ChasingMidnight001]

I'd like to be able to get out easily too. Watched Naomi's video and not sure if I could disengage the first one that worked quickly in the dark.

[@DeviantOllam]

that's why i really love the velcro strap

[@ChrisLoew]

The wedge ruins the carpet or floor it would seem?

[@sacripudding4586]

Looks like it just pushes in on the carpet. Probably something a vacume would fix

[@pablod6872]

I just ordered a 3-pack of the security straps. The wife and kiddo travel without me occasionally, so this should give them (and me) a little extra peace of mind during their excursions.

[@evandavis5223]

I've been carrying a tin of teeth around for years. Now I have a use for them!

[@adksherm]

Rewatching three weeks later, because I'd never heard of Naomi and went down a rabbit hole. Thanks!

[@DeviantOllam]

so glad to have sent you in cool directions!

[@MikeTrieu]

Okay, I am definitely packing that Velcro strap thingie the next thing I hit the road. Simple and effective!

[@QueLastima]

Effective for what? Why would you need that thing? I'm not breaking into your hotel room when you're in it, I'm breaking into your hotel room when you are at the fucking pool. Or during the day on your business trip downtown. I'm not going to break into your room if you're in it.

[@Dazdigo]

I can see the wedge damaging the carpet or whatever the carpet is attached to. Velcro seems best IMHO.

[@Anunnasboy]

Great pair of products Getting one for each of my children

[@DeviantOllam]

Right on. I like them both

[@babylonfive]

@@DeviantOllam Awww you know Ann's children?

[@Cobb]

We were in an extended stay a few years ago while between places and had the front desk one night assign our room to another person (mind you we had residential status at this point) and at like 1:30am the "new occupants" used the key and tried to open the door, but the ball latch stopped them from getting in before any problems happened. Wish we had that velcro strap to hold the dead bolt as it was clearly disengaged when the key was used.

[@xander0479]

Damn, that door wedge looks like you'd end up breaking the door before it moved

[@DeviantOllam]

You likely would

[@fitybux4664]

If someone REALLY wanted to gain access, maybe at some point they'd need to carry a portable battery powered circular saw? LOL. (Of course that's going to make a ton of noise and the point is to not be the easiest target.)

[@QueLastima]

@@DeviantOllam If you are staying in such a sketchy-ass hotel that you need to put that thing on the door, then... Guess what? The door is probably a piece of plywood or particle composite. And the lock is useless?

[@DeviantOllam]

@@QueLastima clearly you don't stay overseas often. and your risk matrix apparently has more to do with the establishment than with the people in the area. but you do you, boo 😉👍

[@jayschafer1760]

It's a Veritas tool, so yeah, that's probably about right. They build their tools not to a price point, but to be the last tools you will ever need to buy.

[@MichaelBerthelsen]

I actually commented on Naomi's video to check you out because you've done a lot in that field. Awesome that you're making this video referencing her!❤👍

[@lekoman]

I’d be worried about that wedge digging into the bottom of the door. If it’s a metal door, NBD, but some of your nicer hotels have heavy doors made of wood. I’d suspect any significant amount of pressure on the wedge (say, forgetting to pull it out in the morning before you leave…. etc….) would leave a nasty gouge. Not to mention against anything like a hardwood floor.

[@efnissien]

Lol - I always have a door wedge in my travel kit and used to recommend carrying one when I gave safety lectures to guys in my company. Although one of my colleagues takes the biscuit. He used to put the 'do not disturb' on the door, lay some clothes on the bed, put an empty pistol holster on the bed then he'd hang 2 wire coat hangers (one hanging off the other) off the shower head and run the shower. So slob see's 'do not disturb' and thinks 'yeah, right' - they enter... hear the shower & see the clothes and think 'ooops- ah sure, he's bollock naked and vulnerable' then see the holster and think 'what kind of person person takes a pistol to the shower?... I'd better close the door quietly on my way out...'

[@c0d3m0nk3y]

I'm curious if the wedge does any visible damage to the floor or is it so small that it doesn't matter?

[@DeviantOllam]

No damage visible

[@JosephTomasone]

Not even a gouge in the carpet from the bolt?

[@DeviantOllam]

@@JosephTomasone not if you have a remotely fluffy carpet

[@MrEqtube]

I doubt that wedge thingy would keep door closed when to the floor is marble (you Americans, visit Mediterrean!). And on Nordic hard wood it would make a very nasty dent. So it basically is usefull only on carpeted froor. Do not assume that carpeted floor is the only possibility!!! Personally, I do HATE carpeted hotel rooms. They are dusty and not well suited to allergic travelers.

[@owlsayssouth]

@@MrEqtube yes it works on hard floors.

[@Chlorate299]

I like the strap, one tug and it's free. Good if you need to get out in a hurry, and it's dark, and you're tired, drunk, or all of the above.

[@QueLastima]

"That's what she said!!!"

[@anthonyfontanez6356]

Does screwing that wedge through the carpet cause any noticeable damage? It's a great idea, but that's my only concern with it, especially for an AirBnb.

[@EidolonSpecus]

No damage that you should care about, at least. Doors and carpets are consumables for hotels. They already replace them ridiculously often as it is.

[@Jomskylark]

@@EidolonSpecus They said airbnb. And even if it was a hotel, putting holes in their carpet just isn't terribly cool. Maybe not a groundbreaking issue but seems a little unreasonable

[@Gogeta70]

@@Jomskylark Actually, I think "groundbreaking" might be the concern here... :P

[@owlsayssouth]

@@Jomskylark damage is only if the door is forced or if you over screw the thing.

[@stevenwilgus8982]

I just bought a 2-pack of the super grip strap. when it arrives, i'll deploy it.

[@Smershsh]

as a recovering woodworker... "why, Deviant, oh why do you direct me back to lee valley site.... ok, just 30 seconds, no more, just get the stop, and close the tab. just 30 sec.... though i walk through the (lee) valley of hand tools... oh, there is a veritas limited edition 40th anniversary pocket plane... how shiny... ::sounds of cash register:: "

[@DeviantOllam]

Haha, laughs in table saw

[@badlydrawnturtle8484]

I guarantee that if you put teeth in your "do not disturb" sign, someone is going to call the police and you're going to face some tough questions about where you got the teeth, what medications you take...

[@DeviantOllam]

hahaha 🦷🦷🦷🦷

[@Wynner3]

These could have come in handy about 6 or 7 years ago while on a romantic weekend with an ex-girlfriend. The motel we went to had computer issues, so they ended up double booking our room, and gave keys to other customers. The others walked into us eating dinner on the couch. We were freaked out for a minute. The motel ended up gifting us coffee mugs as an apology. I still have my mug.

[@Chiller01]

It’s kinda funny you have the mug but not the girlfriend.

[@nes999]

@@Chiller01 The marginal utility of a mug far exceeds the girlfriend.

[@rick5078]

even more interesting would be measures to prevent access while you are out of the room in order to prevent theft.

[@legion162]

Pretty cool until there is a fire in the hotel and you can't escape from the room. Maybe the velcro strap thing might be easier to undo under high stress and smoke filed room situation.

[@DeviantOllam]

yes, exactly... the velcro removes instantaneously.

[@pBlackcoat]

I wonder how you could modify the wedge to quick release the spike. Wedges come out of doors easy enough, but that spike is what makes it hard.

[@legion162]

@@pBlackcoat some weird arse mechanism like those locking grip pliers, the type with a screw/bolt on one handle, and strange spring and extra lever on the other handle, we call them mole grips in the UK, no idea what they're called elsewhere

[@DougPaulley]

Deviant is excellent at such. I can't do that with hotel doors, cos I'm Deaf and disabled, and if I have a major problem or the fire alarm goes off people have to be able to get in. Instead, I just perennially run the risk of people bursting in on me unexpectedly. I wish there was a solution that prevented people getting in unless I really needed them to come in. I suspect these are mutually exclusive criteria, unless anybody has suggestions!

[@chrissherer2047]

By fire code there must be rooms in hotels/motels which are designed for people who are blind, deaf, or physically challenged. Always ask for such a room. I started to write more but recognized my absurdity. You should have a friend or partner with you. Just basic safety in numbers type thing. I wonder if kinetic alarm notification would be helpful. Like the vibrating thing they give you when you're waiting for a table at a restaurant or something that shakes the bed when you are asleep. I know that the bathroom in rooms like I mentioned have mandatory horn/strobes but there can always be improvement. What are your thoughts on this, Doug?

[@DougPaulley]

@@chrissherer2047 cheers Chris. I always go for said rooms, because I can't manage in any other; also if the hotel has one, I always use the vibralarm/ pillow shaker that wakes me if there's a fire. I'm thinking more: I can't use the room security / door jamming methods Deviant demonstrates, because people need to be able to get in if there's an emergency etc.

[@BVSchaefer]

As a former hotel manager of 30 years, the most common way of forced entry into a hotel room is to break the jamb at the deadbolt. It's low subtlety and low resistance, but effective. Make sure the door jamb is metal on metal or, at the very least, metal on wooden stud. If it isn't, change hotels.

[@the9file]

Now I can sell the fridges I use to barricade my door. 🚪👍

[@WhereWhatHuh]

Stayed in a hotel once ... second floor room with a small balcony that could be reached from an adjacent balcony. Sliding door latch didn't latch at all. Screen didn't latch at all. All that prevented the door from opening was the "charlie bar" ... a hinged square aluminum tube on the back of the sliding door ... in one position it prevented the slider from opening, but a piece of flat stock forced through the weatherstripping could have knocked it loose.

[@jimyeats]

Very cool. I think the strap would be my preference simply because it can be uninstalled so much faster and is more obvious that it needs to be removed. Most of the time in a hotel I am with my family and younger kids, and I would be worried that the wedge would be too much of a hinderance in the case of a fire or some other event where you need to leave the room fast. Obviously everything needs repetition and practice.

[@joblessalex]

Is it bad that the local airport leaves the codes to the gates in plain view right next to the lock?

[@JulianSloman]

I feel safe while in the room - just social engineer them out - how would you apply these before leaving? - I mean if you could you'd just lock yourself out - so doesn't really help with unauthorized entry while I'm gone.

[@misterkaos.357]

Exit out the window.

[@owlsayssouth]

Never leave anything you can't miss / want safe in your room when empty. This is obviously for use to secure an occupied room.

[@OneOfDisease]

I was in a hotel last week that had a press button on the inside knob in order to open the door from the inside you had to press button and turn knob. It would help against under door attacks but not against someone with a key.

[@WillOnSomething]

"HELLO?????!!! HOUSEKEEPING!!!!!!"

[@0xbenedikt]

I’m not that paranoid. I’ve been to many many hotels and never had an issue that would want me to additionally lock the door.

[@Scoon83]

Doesn't that second one leave a hole or rip in the carpet though? I can't imagine the hotel staff would be too pleased

[@Mister44]

Very cool - but if you have hardwood or tile floor, you are going to mess up the floor pretty bad with that spike. They should make a foot for those surfaces.

[@Arachnoid_of_the_underverse]

A cheap way just off the top of my head, would be to remove the handle from outside the door.

[@DeviantOllam]

most hotels look down upon that

[@QueLastima]

@@DeviantOllam What no, I always bring the toolkit to remove the hotel handles. 🤪

[@Skorpychan]

A simple plastic door wedge seems like it'd work fine on carpet. Teeth to grip into the carpeting, and you can backfill the interior of it to stick hook-side velcro on to grip to the carpet as well. The downside is that you may not be able to get it off the carpet again.

[@kinyutaka]

It should be noted that hotel employees are allowed to circumvent the deadbolt for a reason, like if your room was on fire and you were incapacitated. Also, you can get in huge trouble if you use these to prevent the workers from evicting you because you broke rules or overextended your stay.

[@BryanTorok]

I like these items and may buy one for our next trip. But, I would like to have a way to secure the door while we are out to protect our possessions when out of the room. Also, the idea of using a disguised trail cam (maybe made to look like an alarm clock) to catch a thief on video and have evidence would be good.

[@mrkultra1655]

Thanks

[@curley6531]

thanks a lot for another great video dev! lots of ideas when on the road.:)

[@skillzilla111]

I remember you mentioning in a video some sort of camera system that you can set up so when somebodys been to your room when your out you can see who it was. I didnt find any good products googling. And I was hoping youd talk about which cameras you recommend for traveling and staying in hotel rooms.

[@KylejvT]

I used to used a small tool that slotted into the strike plate then had a pin on the other side. Same idea as those DIY fork locks you see just much stronger. If you like I can make you one to try out.

[@FakeJeep]

KZbin recommendation. I will say that most door locks now do not allow general use cards(house keeping and front desk) to override the deadbolt. It will flash red for them just as well as yours. E-keys and /some/ GM keys will override the deadbolt. Not just anyone is supposed to be carrying an EK or GM... but every hotel is different, and so are their locks.

[@d.l.harrington4080]

All well and good to keep folks out if you are in the room, but I don't even want them in the room when we are out. The way those card reader locks work, it recorders the time and who entered the room. I have found that most Hotel management don't know how to use the reader for it if they even have one. I use a trick that my dad taught me. Put something small in the door jam close to the floor. When you get to the room, look to see if it is still there before you open you door. When the door opens, it should fall to the floor. It won't keep people out but at least you will know that someone has violated your space.

[@ozzyo6733]

I stay in hotels a few days a week, every week. I can tell you that the wedge is the best thing going until you have a room with tile near the door and then it's strap time.

[@aaronanderson3027]

Looking fit AF!

[@TheRavenCoder]

What about solutions like the VIRIDI Portable Travel Doorlock (on Amazon)? I've seen several hotel/travel locks of similar design and wondered if they're any good.

[@DTG4844]

I read the title and took it literally

[@cervelo9465]

What is also required, is to disable unwanted access into hotel room - when you are not in the hotel room.

[@ronjohnson1800]

Curious, your thoughts on what happens when you have a medical emergency and can’t open the door- barring a battering ram you die?

[@mickys8065]

if theres a medical emergency where somebody on the outside needs to open the door without help from the inside, the guy is probably long dead before the hotel staff realises

[@user2C47]

That was your own bad decision when you decided to secure the door.

[@dddhhh2612]

I got on to you through the LPL! You got good stuff!

[@ShockMicro]

I've watched so many videos of people breaking *into* things, it's very interesting to see the opposite end of the spectrum.

[@stevenarcand5025]

Those are great....but what if you go out for the day, how do you secure from the outside?.

[@Blumetric7]

Excitedly waiting! 😬🔥

[@manp1039]

seems to me the wedge under door potentially can be defeated by an under the door stick the would kick the portion of wedge touching the underside of the door, to the side.. causing the entire wedge to spin .. and because of that metal bit .. it creates a pivot point.. perhaps an improvement on the door would be to make it much wider.. so attempts to kick it to spin it off would not be possible because there would be wedge preventing it from spinning?

[@Tatorhead1234]

Okay I'm trying to find something for a hotel bathroom door. Of course its always outswing doors so that limits my options. What kind of security can one use for that?

[@QueLastima]

Nothing like an open out hotel door to leave you ass out. Am I right or what?

[@Tatorhead1234]

@@QueLastima well I work for a crew that likes to play pranks so I'm looking for a way to lock it

[@Eralen00]

That metal wedge looks like it works well, only thing I'd be worried about is damage to the door. If it's just a wooden door like that one, the wedge is surely gonna cut into it, right?

[@Seansmit23]

I have worked in hotels for 7 years and I get the point of stopping thieves for example out. But this is a huge health and safety issue, Here in the UK at least. The room is not yours for one. Now if you come and stay and do something to block access to the room, be it by staff or not you are putting your self at risk. If there was a fire for instance and you was incapacitated in the room be it by smoke, or say you fall, or even a medical emergency.... your dead. If I found out a guest at a hotel I work at was doing this I would be kicking them out.

[@terminator3605]

Untill that second one rips up the carpet now you gotta pay fines and fees

[@Chiller01]

Great information as always.

[@curtishoffmann6956]

Deviant - how much damage was there to the carpet from the wedge when you got done pushing hard on the door?

[@DeviantOllam]

Zero

[@curtishoffmann6956]

@@DeviantOllam Ok, good. That was my first thought when I saw you tightening the spike into the floor. Hotel clerk: "Is that the sound of a slab saw cutting through the concrete floor in your room?" Voice through door: "D-o n-o-t d-i-s-t-u-r-r-b..." Hotel clerk: "Oh, ok. Sorry, my bad."

[@thecloneguyz]

@@DeviantOllam Have you seen the tiny C-clamp on the hinge trick?

[@DeviantOllam]

@@thecloneguyz I have seen that although it doesn't seem to afford great advantage of leverage. Unless I'm missing something.

[@thecloneguyz]

@@DeviantOllam give it a try sometime you will be really really surprised how much force it takes to overcome the C-clamp and most of the time it just rips the screws right out of the door if they're not tight.....

[@JohnDlugosz]

Re wedges: I've used a cedar wedge in the crack of the door, next to the knob and dead bolt, to keep the door pressed tightly against the weatherstripping. Left to itself, the weatherstrip would push back 'till the bolt hit the edge of the slot, which was not tight enough to do a proper job of keeping the draft out. I accidentally found that this prevents the door from opening at all. How effective is this against someone who's really determined? Does it simply depend on the door's exact fit and isn't generally useful for some random door? Because it's *so simple* and cheap. The ceder wedge I'm talking about is sold in packs of 20 or so and used when installing doors and windows to get it centered nicely in the opening.

[@KateGrayCode]

In college, we'd push on the doors and shove pennies in the crack. It jams up the lock and makes it near impossible to get out without help. We'd also make the elevators malfunction on people. Turns out that if you used a phone book in the door, it would close just enough that the inner doors wouldn't reopen, but not enough that the elevator would actually move. You were stuck until the elevator self-reset (something like 10 minutes IIRC), or someone removed the phone book.

[@matt200717]

As an attacker, if you suspect that door wedge of being there, do you think it might be possible to fish for it underneath the door and drive it out (pivoting around the spike) with some kind of punch and hammer setup?

[@DuskHorizon]

It doesn't have to hold out for hours against determined strike teams, it just has to be good enough to make other rooms more enticing.

[@insolentjaguar]

That entryway looks like something out of Beetlejuice or something Tim Burton

[@Gbcue]

The real problem is: how do you keep people out of your room while you're away?

[@DeviantOllam]

i have nothing i care about in my room when i'm not in it, but i'm unique in that regard. (and i have hidden cameras to document entry)

[@ridiculouslycoolguy]

That wedge looks like a great way to fuck up the carpet and forfeit your deposit.

[@ab.3800]

didnt even realise this was a Viss video till halfway in and I was like this voice sounds familiar

[@Mr.T4LLY-0]

Would like to see a serrated side to that wedge. Smooth metal on carpet can't be a good mixture?

[@sanansa4567]

really cool stuff. But I think it is a liability that hotels don't have better door security.

[@jordansean18]

I'd be worried about tearing a hole in the carpet if you don't have it secure enough.. but a bill for damaged carpet is probably worth it to stop an attack.

[@mannys9130]

3:37 ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) I love every physical security vid you make. I'm not quite smart enough yet to follow digital security vids at the moment unless you did some "digital for dummies" vids. I'm working on it though. Maybe a vid about how Joe Schmoe could install and use a VPN on a device or his router to stop ad spying, or use Tor or something else. How and why data theft over WiFi can happen unknowingly. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I was about to say your target audience is professionals, but that's not true the more I think about it.

[@rockclimber1985]

VPNs are a weird ground when it comes to security if you want to truely be anonymous you have to completely stop using your internet without it or it practically does nothing. if youre using it for sea base treasure finding sure thats different. but for any generic user most consumer grade VPNs usually have installers for phone/computer. Routers are a bit more advanced as you usually have to flash firmware to gain that functionality or buy a pre-flashed router and then pop in the info. TOR isnt completely safe/anonymous either as certain 3 letter agencies have nodes on the networks to watch traffic.

[@aaroneidinger]

VPN companies use a lot of marketing to make you think you're running naked on the internet without them. Most sites you go to have a secure connection so you're not really running as naked as we used to back in the day. I use a VPN under three circumstances. 1) I'm using my employer's internet connection and I don't want them to see what I'm doing or where I'm going. 2) At home, I don't want my ISP to see what I'm doing or where I'm going in the event I might be doing something I probably shouldn't. 3) I'm using a public WiFi of some kind (restaurant, library, etc.) and they have a filter of some kind preventing me from seeing some content (e.g. Taco Bell's WiFi seems to prevent access to imgur.com for some reason).

[@itwasrightthere]

Set my alarm, or sleep. Sleep. I’ll watch it later. :)

[@DeviantOllam]

i've fixed it. it was set to a crazy time zone because i was out of the country.

[@ConstantlyDamaged]

@@DeviantOllam It was actually going to be a sane time for my (East Australian) timezone. Oh well, out now.