How safe are smart locks?

Technology has changed every walk of our lives, so why should door locks be left behind? Gone are the days when you needed to lock your door manually and ensure that every person has a key to ensure they are not left outside. There is now a smart solution to lock and key mechanisms and it is called smart locks.

Apart from solving some of the common problems, a smart lock makes keyless unlocking and locking your door possible from anywhere. If you lock your car door automatically then this smart lock shouldn’t feel alien. However, a common question with smart locks is not how smart they truly are but instead, if they are really safe, and we are here to answer that question.

Smart locks: Are they safe?

The short answer to that question is yes, smart locks are safe. As a tech product, it would be unwise to call them 100 per cent safe against break-ins, and it is similar to how traditional locks don’t have the added risk of being hacked but can be picked. Smart lock security has only gotten better with use of modern authentication, encryption, and authorisation techniques. Here are some features offered by smart locks that make them safer than your traditional locks:

1. Requires login:

Manufacturers require an account and a password to access your smart lock’s features and this becomes the first line of defence.

2. Encryption:

Even after you create an account and a password, smart locks ensure that this information is masked, and most come with 128-bit encryption, a standard that makes smart locks secure. For a burglar, it would be impossible to open your lock without first gaining access to your Wi-Fi or learning your password.

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3. Authentication:

Smart locks also support two-factor authentication, which prompts users to enter a one-time PIN sent to their smartphone before making any changes to the settings. This is another step in improving the security of your smart lock.

Digital door lock: Are they safer and better than traditional locks?

The most common question with smart locks or digital door locks is whether they are safer than traditional locks, and while they largely are, it is all contingent upon you following the right security practices. In reality, a smart lock is better than a traditional lock because they are harder to pick, and similar to your smartphone’s passcode, a smart lock will lock the burglar out if the access code is tried too many times.

Since they are digital, you get full control over who gets to access your smart lock. Similar to creating a Wi-Fi password for guests, you can create unique codes for your guests to unlock your door. This feature eliminates the need for spare keys and the possibility of further duplication.

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It also helps that smart locks allow you to get notified anytime someone opens or closes your door. The way that a digital door lock is better than a traditional lock is that even if your phone is lost, you can use alternate login options. If a key for the traditional lock is lost then it could mean looking for a hardware store and getting the lock broken and replaced.

Not everything is better though about a smart lock. They require regular maintenance in the form of battery replacement and software updates. Also, aesthetically, not every smart lock is appealing. With a smart lock, you are also at the mercy of your internet connection and electricity to ensure that it functions well at all times.

While a traditional lock is the most common form of locking system, smart locks are gaining prominence and could soon become the defacto standard in homes. However, when they become more prominent, the threat vectors will also become extensive and it would mean that you safeguard your smart home even better than you do now.