Sometimes we forget how much trust we place in the little things around us like a lock on a door or a badge on someone’s shirt. We see those symbols and assume everything behind them is safe, but it doesn’t always work that way. A person with enough confidence, or the right story, can slip through places we think are locked down tight, and most of us never notice it’s happening.
My guest today is Deviant Ollam, and he’s one of the rare people who gets invited to break into buildings on purpose. He talks about how he fell into this unusual line of work, the odd moments that shaped his career, and why understanding human behavior matters just as much as understanding locks or alarms. Listening to him describe these situations, where he’s walking through offices, popping doors, or blending in with repair crews, makes you realize how blind we can be to our own surroundings.
We also get into the practical side of things: the mistakes companies make, the small fixes that go a long way, and why teaching employees to slow down and ask a few extra questions can make all the difference. It’s an eye-opening conversation, especially if you’ve ever assumed your workplace is more secure than it really is.
“If someone tries to rush you past a moment of hesitation, that’s your signal to slow down and ask questions. Be politely paranoid.” - Deviant Ollam Share on XShow Notes:
- [03:24] Deviant shares how early adventures, abandoned buildings, and curiosity about locks pulled him toward physical security.
- [06:20] A story about a law firm reveals how an office “secure” door was bypassed instantly, exposing major hardware flaws.
- [09:16] Discussion shifts to how the locksmith and safe technician community reacted to his public teaching and how that’s changed over time.
- [13:28] The topic turns to security theater and the gap between feeling safe and actually being protected.
- [16:18] An explanation of symbolic locks versus real security products highlights how easily people mix up the two.
- [19:11] Conversation moves into the lack of clear U.S. lock standards and why European systems make things easier for consumers.
- [21:51] Layered security comes into focus, emphasizing that the goal is to delay and deter rather than stop every possible attack.
- [24:35] Monitoring tools, overlooked windows, and forgotten blind spots show how attackers often choose the easiest entry point.
- [27:38] We look at the politics of penetration tests and why coordinating with building management is essential.
- [31:28] Escalation testing illustrates how long suspicious behavior can go unnoticed inside an organization.
- [34:34] The need for simple, obvious reporting channels becomes clear when employees aren’t sure who to alert.
- [37:00] A breakdown of common cover stories shows why attackers lean on confidence and industry jargon.
- [39:50] Urgency and pressure tactics surface as key components of social engineering and why “polite paranoia” helps.
- [41:14] A viral prank underscores how easily an unverified person can be escorted into restricted areas.
Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.
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- Deviant Ollam
- Deviant Ollam – You Tube
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- Practical Lock Picking: A Physical Penetration Tester's Training Guide
