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Elevator Hacking: From the Pit to the Penthouse

DeviantOllam · talk · Watch on YouTube

Security & hackingMechanical & precision engineering

What it is

Deviant Ollam's two-hour conference talk explains how elevators work, from the pit and buffers to the car top, controller logic and access-control features. It shows how this knowledge can be used for optimization and for bypassing building security.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN commenters call it an absorbing, entertaining deep dive on elevator security and the go-to link whenever elevators come up.

  • 9 people recommended it
  • 7 different months
  • 6 strong recommendations
  • first 2014, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “watch this[0] entire (super entertaining) talk from Hope X about elevator security.”

    Entertaining talk explaining how elevator safety measures work.

    _asummers, 2016-04 · Strong recommendation · in “Mosh: the mobile shell”

  2. “I recommend the full 2 hour version, with all the secrets”

    Full two-hour version with all the secrets.

    unixhero, 2018-07 · Strong recommendation · in “Ask HN: What talks or videos do you suggest to watch on a long flight?”

  3. “just about elevator security which is fantastic.”

    Deep dive on elevator security with consultant Howard Payne.

    thejenk, 2019-06 · Strong recommendation · in “I'll Let Myself In: Tactics of Physical Pen Testers (2017) [video]”

  4. “I would also highly recommend this talk”

    Highly recommended talk on elevator hacking.

    royjacobs, 2021-07 · Strong recommendation · in “List of Special Elevator Modes”

  5. “it was so interesting to me that I ended up watching the entire 2 hours in one sitting.”

    Absorbing two-hour talk watched in one sitting.

    mpd, 2021-07 · Strong recommendation · in “List of Special Elevator Modes”

  6. “My personal favorite”

    Personal favorite among Deviant Ollam's elevator talks.

    nhhvhy, 2026-07 · Strong recommendation · in “Elevators”

  7. “his elevator with Howard Payne talk”

    Two-hour elevator talk with Howard Payne.

    lathiat, 2018-12 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: Best talks of 2018?”

  8. “I have to also mention another video of theirs”

    Related elevator video by the same creators.

    wolrah, 2021-06 · Recommendation · in “Elevator Saga – An elevator programming game”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: elevators, physical security, pen testing, access control, hacker conference

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