Smart locks are convenient, but are they safe?
Summary
Smart locks are a growing market estimated to reach $24.20 billion by 2024.
Nest, Hampton, and Kwikset are some of the key brands in the smart locks market.
Hampton invented a smart lock that’s powered by the sun.
The Kwikset smart lock can be opened with just a touch, while the Nest smart lock is one of the very few that can’t be opened with a key.
Smart locks are prone to cyber-attacks whether connected via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Many people are happy to delegate mundane home tasks to smart devices. These machines can wake us up for work, turn off the lights, and heat our home when the temperature drops. The list of things they do is impressive. Equally impressive is the fact that by 2022, almost 220 million households across the world will be equipped with smart devices. And with the growing popularity of this technology, people trust it can even take care of their home security.
The key piece of home security is the traditional door lock, but since it’s been a part of our daily lives for so long, we tend to overlook its flaws. For example, each time we change the locks, we need to issue new keys. If we can’t remember whether we locked the door on our way out, we need to go back and check. If a maid or babysitter has keys to our home, there’s no way of knowing when they used it or if they made a copy. These and many other issues inspired smart home companies to develop smart locks. People reacted warmly to this and the global smart locks market is set to reach $24.20 billion by 2024. And as the demand for these products surges, companies are in a race to win over customers.
Nest, Kwikset, and Hampton are some of the most popular smart lock brands on the market. Their devices enable keyless entry with the help of a phone app or a key fob. Combined with other parts of the home security system, such as smart doorbells, cameras, and smart home alarms, your house can become a digitally protected fortress.
How smart locks function
The way smart locks work is that, initially, you need to put a new strike plate and deadbolts in place, as well as the rear-door piece and the front-door keypad. After that, the door lock is connected by Bluetooth to its internet-connected hub. Some locks, though, work with just a Bluetooth connection. This way, you enjoy better security as the lock isn’t connected to the internet, but a Wi-Fi connection is more feature-rich. You could, for example, sit in your office while letting your kids enter the house. At the same time, smart locks can be integrated with other smart home devices, such as Amazon’s Echo or the Apple HomeKit. This means that you can, among other things, program your heating system to activate once the smart lock opens the door. The opportunities are endless and companies are improving this technology all the time.
Hamilton, Nest, and Kwikset are offering similar features
The latest smart lock system by Hamilton, Array, no longer requires a frequent change of batteries thanks to the built-in solar panel. It needs one to two hours of direct sunlight each day for the battery to last up to ten months. After that, it’ll take three hours to recharge a depleted battery. But just to be on the safe side, Array can also be opened with a key. Another cool feature it offers is geofencing. As Hampton’s CEO, Kim Kelley, explains, “When the consumer comes home, anywhere from 100 yards to a quarter of a mile—their smart device says ‘Welcome home, would you like to unlock your lock?’ You tap your phone or your watch and the lock will be unlocked when you arrive home.” And when it comes to letting a service provider into your home, you can create temporary e-keys and e-codes. These can be typed on Array’s keypad or used with a smartphone app to let people into your home at a specific time.
A similar feature is offered by the Nest+Yale smart lock as it enables you to text a six-digit code to a person who needs to enter the house. But unlike Array, Nest’s lock can’t be opened with a key. Nevertheless, Nest has a lot to offer and it’s famous for its smart home ecosystem. It produces smart security systems, smart thermostats, smart locks, and smart doorbells. These devices can work in harmony and create a pleasant and secure living environment.
Unlike those of the previous two companies, the Kwikset Kevo smart lock can be opened with just a touch. This is convenient if you’re holding small kids or groceries. But to make this happen, your phone needs to be in your pocket, with an active Bluetooth connection and the Kevo app running in the background. The downside of this is that there’s no remote control without a Wi-Fi connection. And to get that, you need to pay an additional $100 for the Kevo Plus hub that links the smart lock to the internet.
And while smart locks make your life easier, they might not make your home much safer.
Can smart locks stop burglars?
Smart locks don’t just share similar features, they also face similar problems. The security of these devices is a concern for most users, and with good reason. As the MIT professor Stuart Madnick says, “There is always a risk that a net-enabled lock will get bricked or hacked, most likely due to the actions (or carelessness) of the owner.”
Devices connected via Bluetooth are in danger as well. In fact, Merculite Security experts found that 75 per cent of the 16 Bluetooth-enabled smart locks they tested are vulnerable to attacks such as plain text passwords, device spoofing, and replay attacks. And as the retired North Carolina deputy police chief Glen Mowrey says, “Burglars are criminals of opportunity. They’re looking for the least resistance”. So, to make sure their home is completely secure, homeowners need to install a smart security system with a camera and reinforce the doors and windows, ensuring plenty of protection against burglars.
People trust the technology
As smart home tech grows in popularity, people are handing over the security of their homes to smart devices. Smart locks are part of that trend. Their rise was aided not only by the flaws of traditional door locks, but also by the ingenious features they offer. And as increasingly convenient smart locks hit the market, our lives are becoming easier. This has made some people think that their homes are also safer, but that’s not always the case. Smart locks are prone to cyber-attacks, and they alone won’t stop burglars. Nevertheless, their popularity shows just how much people trust the technology. We can only hope that companies understand the heavy responsibility that rests on them.
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Meaning of trend
People warmly welcomed smart locks and handed over the security of their homes to devices. This shows that consumers trust the technology can provide comfort and security. And as with trust also comes responsibility, many wonder if smart locks companies are up to the task. Are smart locks really as safe as they claim?
Expert Opinion
“E-codes are for people who want to punch the numbers into the face of the lock. E-keys require the recipient to have the Array app on a smart device [Android or iOS] that’s been previously paired with that specific deadbolt lock while in the owners,” explains Hampton’s CEO, Kim Kelley.
“There is always a risk that a net-enabled lock will get bricked or hacked, most likely due to the actions (or carelessness) of the owner,” says the MIT professor Stuart Madnick.
This article was originally published in 2018 on Diynxt.com.