🔓 This $130 lock got picked with a water can
You know I love a good tech takedown, and this one is peak internet.
Meet Trevor McNally, a former U.S. Marine staff sergeant turned full-time YouTuber with a very specific hobby: lock picking. On his channel, he tests locks the way most of us test leftovers, with low expectations and a lot of curiosity.
He’s not a locksmith, but he really knows his way around a lock, a pick and a camera. That led to him getting sued.
🎥 Shim happens
It started when one of his viewers left a comment daring him to try the “virtually unpickable” trailer hitch lock from Proven Industries. This is a $130 heavy-duty beast designed to secure your trailer, boat or RV.
The company bragged about its toughness. So McNally took up the challenge.
He bought the lock himself, no sponsorships or tricks, and filmed the whole thing. What he did next was pure genius. He grabbed a Liquid Death can (yes, the trendy water brand in a tallboy can) and sliced it open.
With a pair of scissors and some patience, he shaped the thin aluminum into a shim. Then, with barely any pressure and zero damage, the lock popped open. Click. Done.
It didn’t take brute force, a power drill or some secret tool. Just curiosity, scissors and a can of water. And yes, the whole thing is up on YouTube. Go watch it now. It’s oddly satisfying.
⚖️ Unlock and loaded
Here’s where it gets messy. Instead of fixing the flaw or saying, “Hey, thanks for the heads-up,” Proven Industries sued McNally. They accused him of defamation, trade libel and copyright infringement, saying his video hurt their sales and reputation. Whaw whaw, did the big bad internet hurt your feelings?
McNally then doubled down and posted even more videos showing the same shim trick on other locks. Eventually, Proven Industries settled through mediation.
They didn’t admit fault, but they did agree to revise the lock’s design, update their product disclosures and refund buyers who were part of McNally’s testing.
As for lock whisperer McNally, he walked away with even more followers, over 12 million views and the win.
The lesson? If you call something “unbreakable,” it better be. Otherwise, someone with a camera, a can and an adventurous streak might unlock more than you bargained for. On this weekend’s show, I have another popular YouTuber, a lawyer who got his own viral video about this case.
Tags: internet, sales, video, videos, YouTube
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