Lock bypassing is a technique used by locksmiths in which the mechanical imperfections (or flaws) of a lock are exploited in such a way as to cause the locking mechanism to open without directly operating it via a key [1] (see 'bypass'). A strict professional ethic put in place by the locksmithing industry prevents much of the known bypassing methods from being released to the public, but regardless of this many are well known outside of the trade (the use of a 'slim-jim' on less modern car doors for instance, or the bypass of a door using a credit card).