Picking a cheap traditional Yale type knock-off lock.04:33

I didn’t actually get this lock with the intent of picking it…. I got it for a door that is low risk and decided to have a go at lock-picking to see how easy it was to open it without a key. Unfortunately it was really easy and only required the traditional movie-style lock picking tools of a couple of paperclips.
The lock barrel has a number of spring-loaded pairs of pins that have to be aligned with the wall of the barrel to allow it to rotate. By varying the lengths of the pins you can set a unique code for each lock. The key has a series of ramps so it can push past all the pins with the full insertion of the key matching the pin lengths and thus allowing the barrel to rotate freely operating the lock.
In lock picking this style of lock you use a flat angled tool inserted into the lock at the opposite side of the pins to apply slight rotational pressure, and then use another tool with a slight angle or ramp on the end to jiggle the pins in a random (or methodical) manner. Because there’s a slight rotational pressure the pins tend to stick against the side of the barrel and when they all align the barrel will rotate. The rotational pressure has to be firm enough to make them stick, but not so hard that it’s difficult to push the pins up or they stick in the wrong positions. If you jiggle for ages with no result then try resetting the pins by releasing the rotational pressure slightly and start jiggling again. Some locks open quickly and some require much more jiggling and combing of the pins.
This is why it’s important to choose locks which advertise some level of protection against picking when choosing a lock for a situation that requires good security.