And Onity, the maker of those ultra-common locks, initially downplayed the threat, deleted information about the hack from its website, and is charging its hotel customers for the replacement hardware necessary for a complete fix.

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The only hardware store in Harrison is selling replacement fenceposts at cost, but even that break won't help ranchers who can't afford to feed their catle.

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Earlier this year, Mr. Cook coaxed Apple hardware chief Bob Mansfield out of retirement after his staff complained about working under his replacement, according to people familiar with Apple's hardware group.

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Advocating a cheaper, simpler replacement for its own products may seem like an odd strategy for a hardware vendor like Palo Alto, Calif.

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This rapid turnover creates rapid replacement costs and raises questions about how to decommission and dispose of old hardware, which can also cost money.

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