History Main / SwissCheeseSecurity

* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': Monarch's security seem to have this at the Chinese outpost monitoring Mothra. When a power outage disables the security lock on Mariko's door, none of Monarch's security seem to think to try and restrain her while she's walking around the outpost freely amidst the awe of witnessing [[AdaptationalHeroism Monster X]]'s rebirth.

** ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'': [[Characters/MonsterVerseHumans Apex Cybernetics]] have terrible security, with Team Godzilla having little trouble sneaking through their facilities. Of course, given their supreme hubris, this is completely in character.

* In ''Film/JurassicPark'', Hammond trusts the entire security of his park to mere electric fences, and has no backup plan in place if electricity ever fails. Since the incoming tropical storm left them with a skeleton crew, there is also no security force on stand-by for emergencies. Robert Mauldoon is the only armed person on the entire island, though more armed guards are seen in the opening sequence. The park seems to lack traditional zoo security deterrents, such as concrete barriers and pits, which work even without electric power.[[note]]There is a pit on the inside of the T-Rex's fence, but it seems to [[PlotHole vanish and appear as any given scene requires]].[[/note]]

* Bernie Rhodenbarr, in Lawrence Block's Burglar series, comments on how his uncle lifted a sign by pretending to be maintenance. Bernie himself often uses the clipboard routine.
* The security of ''Franchise/JurassicPark'' was showcased to be pretty poor in the first novel, but Isla Sorna/"Site B" on ''Literature/TheLostWorld1995'' has it beat in sheer awfulness. The only true measure the place has against human intrusion is its isolation -- when the protagonists have to use a computer in a fashion similar to the previous novel, the system actually allows them to create a new user profile (with full access privileges) after several failed login attempts.

* ''Literature/SoonIWillBeInvincible''. Supervillain Dr. Impossible actually steals a PlotCoupon out of the New Champions headquarters. He [[DiscussedTrope reflects on the lousy security]], saying it's because heroes rely on their own reputation to keep villains away. If someone gets in anyway it'll just mean a fight -- as most heroes are BloodKnight types they've no objection.
* In ''The Outfit'', Literature/{{Parker}} is incredulous about how easy it is to break in the mansion of Bronson: a mob boss he has come to kill. He eventually theorizes that Bronson must be so confident in his cover in Buffalo that he doesn't feel the need to have obvious (or efficient) security.
* ''Literature/WordsOfRadiance'' (second book of ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive''): Referenced when Hoid visits Kaladin, but technically not an example since Hoid has more supernatural powers than the rest of the planet put together. Still gets a pass since no one knows that.

* PlayedForLaughs in ''WesternAnimation/{{Elemental}}''. Ember and Wade effortlessly walk through a security fence, with Wade flowing around the bars and Ember literally melting it as she steps through. Wade then asks "Why do we even have these?", to which she replies "Who knows".

* ''Film/Lifeforce1985'': [[EvilIsSexy Space Girl]]'s escape and subsequent FullFrontalAssault on the space research facility faces no resistance aside for some (read: 3) helpless, unarmed security guards that do little to nothing at trying to stop her and are easily taken care of. After blasting the glass windows in the foyer, she calmly exits the premises into the night.

* Played for laughs in ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}''. Sam knows that some of the most effective security measures don't rely on trying to keep people away, but on making people ''want'' to stay away. Need perimeter security for an unguarded ship? Surround it with signs saying ''[[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff100/fv00014.htm "Come in! Let's talk AMWAY!"]]'' Want to have a private conversation without raising suspicion? Set up a booth marked ''[[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff800/fv00751.htm "Want more e-mail? Sign up here for SPAM!"]]''

* Characters/{{The Punisher|FrankCastle}} once broke into a remote Russian nuclear silo thanks in part to the incompetence of the guards. When one of the officers points out that it's understandable (it really is in the middle of nowhere), the general replies that they're guarding ''nuclear missiles''- it's discipline they need.

* Marvel has a lot of abandoned assets with all their high-tech equipment inside ready for someone to take over. When [[Characters/MarvelComicsCyclops Cyclops]] and Characters/{{Emma Frost|WhiteQueen}} had their renegade X-Men, they took over the old Weapon X facility which had everything in order. Characters/{{Cable|NathanSummers}} and other heroes had occupied crashed Helicarriers before and one incarnation of the ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}} even take over a secret U.S military base. Despite being government property, nobody ever reclaims them and occupants have a field day squatting on these bases.

--->'''The Doctor:''' [[BavarianFireDrill Act as if you own the place.]]\\

* In the ''{{WesternAnimation/Rugrats}}'' episode "Toy Palace" where Tommy and Chuckie are left behind in a toy store, Stu and Chaz go to the security guard for help looking for them. The guard doubts the babies could be in the store because the security system is top of the range and would have picked them up. He is right about the security system being top of the range and it actually does spot them several times. The problem was the guard wasn't paying attention to the monitors.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'':,

* ''Film/{{Lifeforce}}'': [[EvilIsSexy Space Girl]]'s escape and subsequent FullFrontalAssault on the space research facility faces no resistance aside for some (read: 3) helpless, unarmed security guards that do little to nothing at trying to stop her and are easily taken care of. After blasting the glass windows in the foyer, she calmly exits the premises into the night.

** Password security questions. Some services (usually email) will require you to pick from a set of pre-written questions and write answers to them, and if you forget your password, you're to answer this question in order to reset your password. Most of these pre-written questions will ask for answers that can easily be obtained through SocialEngineering such as "What city did you grow up in?" or "What's your mother's maiden name?" (which for many is ''their own middle name''); worse, most of the time you can't just make up your own questions. Granted, the next step after answering one of these questions is usually to then have a password reset link emailed to you and you'll need to be able to access your email account to use the link (thus security questions simply prevent random folks from spamming your email account), but if the question is the ''only'' thing guarding your account from a password change, the answer is effectively [[ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish an extremely weak alternative password]] in practice, unless you get crafty and make a password-grade answer that doesn't actually answer the question. Of course, you can always lie, if you can remember your specific answer, such as a pet of a species or type you never had.

* In ''Literature/MostlyHarmless'', Ford nicks a single identity card from the ''Guide'''s new boss Vann Harl, and it means that ''everything'' recognises him as being Vann Harl for ''any'' purpose. This is explained as being because the galaxy's biometric security systems are so involved and complicated that many people can't be bothered with them, and so carry an Ident-I-Eaze card that makes the systems believe they've already been through all that, and represents technology's greatest triumph over itself and common sense.

* In ''Literature/MostlyHarmless'', Ford nicks a single identity card from the ''Guide'''s new boss Vann Harl, and it means that ''everything'' recognises him as being Vann Harl for ''any'' purpose. This is explained as being because the galaxy's isometric security systems are so involved and complicated that many people can't be bothered with them, and so carry an Ident-I-Eaze card that makes the systems believe they've already been through all that, and represents technology's greatest triumph over itself and common sense.

* Anyone who's done any sort of delivery service such as UPS or pizza delivery eventually encounters a gate requiring a code. Oftentimes, they'll be given a list of gate codes for their area or are allowed to ask. Thing is, now they have the code and can give it to anyone they want, including burglars, solicitors, or even just hacks who want to harass the people behind the gates. This is why most gates have "call" features these days which serve a dual purpose: keep the code safe, and also provide a convenient way for the person to reach a given address should they not know the code or another vehicle isn't driving in that they can just tail behind. The homeowner will only let people in on official business, and since they already know you're coming and have official business it isn't an issue...theoretically speaking, as the homeowner may be out and about, either having forgotten about the delivery or assumed the driver will somehow finagle their way in. Or the delivery is not under any name on the directory.

See also BavarianFireDrill, ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy, NoOSHACompliance, UnguidedLabTour, WidelySpacedJailBars, and WhatsUpKingDude. Compare UnsafeHaven and CardboardPrison.

Any hurdles they should logically run into seem to be deliberately not shown. Sometimes this is just a matter of not having enough money for a transitional set. Sometimes it's a plot hole. Expect TheGuardsMustBeCrazy trope for some of these places. If the character has already broken in when the owner returns, it overlaps with TrespassingToTalk.

Characters can enter the premises of a supposedly secure facility whenever the plot necessitates it, despite presumably locked doors, security guards or obvious obstacles. Any trouble they should logically run into seems to be deliberately not shown. Sometimes this is just a matter of not having enough money for a transitional set. Sometimes it's a plot hole.

Expect TheGuardsMustBeCrazy trope for some of these places. If the character has already broken in when the owner returns, it overlaps with TrespassingToTalk.

If the facility in question actually does have good security but is easily breached anyways, it may be a case of DungeonBypass. Or maybe the person who penetrated the security has a special ninja skills or {{Parkour}} abilities.

Characters can enter the premises of a certain facility whenever the plot necessitates it, despite presumably locked doors or obvious obstacles. Any trouble they should logically run into seems to be deliberately not shown. Sometimes this is just a matter of not having enough money for a transitional set.

If the facility in question actually does have good security but is easily breached anyways, it may be a case of DungeonBypass.

* It's sometimes fun to actually ''see'' how someone gets past what should have been rock-solid security. Some people go for a version of the FoeTossingCharge. But then, in the manga of ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'', a five-story building has been filled with warriors and magic-users fully capable of matching Lina in a fight. As the villainess gloats about her tight security, Lina walks in. [[DungeonBypass She just used a flying spell to float up to the top floor.]]

* ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero'': Saito, without being able to use any of his powers, manages to sneak into an air force base and steal a fighter jet.

* ''VideoGame/SplinterCell'':
** Sam manages to sneak into ''the CIA''. The CutScene shows him using a fake ID and regular clothes before shedding it for his stealth suit. For some reason, the CIA has plenty of dark areas for him to lurk in. In the PC version, he sneaks in from the lawn, using big, obvious fan vents. One of them he can simply slide up. The other one ''somebody left open''.

* In ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare 2's'' Highrise map (depending on how skilled your opponents are) few people pay attention to the lower levels; this makes it somewhat easy to slip into the opponents base and start gunning down snipers focused at the map's center. There are a few points in other maps like this, but this is the most prominent.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory'', the TropeNamer for GrandTheftPrototype (back when it was called Gundamjacking) happened because of this. Zeon pilot Anavel Gato is able to sneak into a Federation base by having a guy on in the inside drive out of base, pick him up, and then drive back in with him lying under a tarp in the flatbed of his colleague's truck. The guards do not mention that the truck left empty and returned with something and demand to know what is there. Then he walks into a pocket carrier, which does not appear to have any guards on the entry points, walks into the hanger, which also appears to have no security posted to it, climbs into the cockpit of a classified prototype mobile suit which is fueled, armed, and ''carrying a nuclear missile'', and flies out, with nobody noticing anything is out of the ordinary until moments before he boards the Gundam he stole. Gato even lampshades the abysmal security while he's breaking in.

* Comicbook/ThePunisher once broke into a remote Russian nuclear silo thanks in part to the incompetence of the guards. When one of the officers points out that it's understandable (it really is in the middle of nowhere), the general replies that they're guarding ''nuclear missiles''- it's discipline they need.

* ''Literature/SoonIWillBeInvincible''. Supervillain Dr Impossible actually steals a PlotCoupon out of the New Champions headquarters. He [[DiscussedTrope reflects on the lousy security]], saying it's because heroes rely on their own reputation to keep villains away. If someone gets in anyway it'll just mean a fight -- as most heroes are BloodKnight types they've no objection.

* The SpacePirates in the ''{{Franchise/Metroid}}'' games do try to secury their bases, but their technology is hilariously outmatched by Samus' Chozo-tech PoweredArmor which effortlessly hacks their systems and undoes their best encryptions. They also never think of perhaps making their ventilation shafts smaller than morphball-sized, despite then knowing that Samus uses this technique. The human Federation tends not to do much better though when Samus needs to enter one of their facilities.

* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDoctorMcNinja'':

* Tombstone, who in ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderman'' fills the DiabolicalMastermind crime lord role of the Kingpin, has a problem with Spider-Man (and later Venom) entering his office through the window. After this happens several times in succession, he [[DeadpanSnarker deadpans]], [[LampshadeHanging "I really should start locking those windows."]]

* According to [[https://www.reddit.com/r/tumblr/comments/k28to6/simple_as_that/ this Tumblr user]], his/her boss once used this trope to demonstrate to ''her'' boss how easy it was to steal a set of original Churchill documents, worth millions, in the museum they worked at. The room housing them had no security guards or cameras, and the documents were only protected by a sheet of glass secured by four screws; when she initially pointed out the security concern, she was ignored. So she bought a ticket, pretended to be a guest, wore a clearly visible drill on her belt, used it to unscrew the glass, brought the documents to her boss's office, and said, "I just stole these in 15 minutes." Once he was done being mad at her, he increased security for the documents.

** Wendell Vaughn. Getting your base broken into by a posse of supervillains once would be embarrassing. Having it happen ''three times'' on your watch, the third time ending with the attacker making off with damn near everything that hasn't been nailed down makes it look like someone took the wrong job. And yet, Wendell never seems to suffer any consequences.