Rekeying: An Ongoing History
Technology has a profound impact on the way we live our lives. This is no secret and is, in and of itself, pretty easy to figure out. However, it is indeed a truth. Fourty years ago it was not fathomable that a computer might ever be smaller than a room. Thirty years ago, you would have been called insane for suggesting that nearly every person on the planet would be using a computer. Twenty years ago nobody dreamed that most of the important aspects of your life could be controlled and altered by a device that fits in your pocket. Ten years ago nobody could have imagined that you could have a unique social experience over little more than thin air. The point is that the phrase ‘never say never‘ is entirely applicable here. What might be impossible today could potentially be an everyday experience five years down the road.
Locksmithing seems to be a simple enough industry to understand. It is all about security, simple and straight-forward. You have something in a container of some sort, a deposit box or a house or what have you. You wish to keep it safe and secure so that only you or those you trust will have access to it. However, with such a simple goal there must be a means to achieve it. It is not the goal that is affected by time, but the means of achieving it. Goals stay the same, but the technology changes how we reach these goals. Simple locks are comprised of, usually, of a pin-tumbler system. A series of small cylinders prevent the lock itself from spinning. Insert the right key and the pins are arranged in such a way as to allow the lock to spin and allow access.
With the advent of mass production, and thus identical parts production, the process of re-keying emerged. Basically, if the user of the lock suspects that their security may be at risk, a locksmith would come in and rearrange or slightly alter the lock’s pin configuration, so that it could only be accessed by a newly-cut key. It was invented in 1863 by a New Jersey locksmith, and with the advent of computers and the Internet rekeying has taken on a new meaning. In that sense, it refers to the changing of the encryption key of an ongoing communication stream. The professionals at A-1 Locksmiths know all about rekeying, along with any and all locksmithing issues. If you require assistance in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, give them a call 24 hours a day at (972)-284-7500.
