A shim is a tool that is used to bypass padlocks. It works by retracting the spring-loaded catch that restrains the shackle. Like other types of lockpicks, shims can be professionally made or improvised out of easily available materials like aluminum cans.[1]
Higher security padlocks typically use techniques that make shimming impossible. The most common being the use of ball bearings instead of a spring-loaded catch, noticeable because the indentations on the shackle are round instead of wedge-shaped.[1]
References
- ^ a b Ollam, Deviant (2012). Practical Lock Picking: A Physical Penetration Tester's Training Guide - Second Edition. pp. 162–175.