Month: September 2018

What Are Remote Access Keys and Why Do I Need One?

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In our increasingly technological age, it’s hard to imagine going anywhere without your phone. These hubs of data and internet access come with us almost everywhere, unlike other physical items, including keys. This can lead to a tricky situation if you leave home in a rush, phone in hand, only to realize your keys are locked inside the house.

Fortunately, all this new technology has provided us with a way to utilize our smartphones in a new, innovative way. New locking mechanisms transform our smartphones into digital keys for the locks on our homes or commercial businesses. Remote access keys in Fairfax, VA provide tenants the opportunity to lock and unlock their doors using their phones instead of a physical key.

This technology certainly sounds interesting, but you may be thinking, “Do I really need this?” While it may seem a little over the top, remote access keys are actually a great solution to problems that physical locks and keys have caused over many decades.

Understanding remote access key systems

Also referred to as “smart lock” systems, remote access locks are hi-tech ways to lock and unlock doors using the internet. Users can use their cell phones, tablets and other internet-connected devices to control the locks on their homes or businesses remotely.

This allows you to access locking information from just about anywhere. If you’re not sure if you actually locked the door before you left, you don’t need to go home anymore—you can simply pull out your smartphone and lock the door from wherever you are. When you return home, your phone can connect to the Wi-Fi system and unlock your door automatically as you approach it.

These types of locking systems utilize Wi-Fi enabled locks and mobile apps to control remote access. There’s no need for keys, but users can also set up a code to enter on a physical keypad as a backup security measure if their phone is dead or lost.

Many remote access keys also have other great features that make life easier for you. You can schedule a code to work during specific times of the day, so if a maintenance person needs to visit for repairs, they’ll only have access when they’re expected to be there. The code can be changed remotely, too, in case you’ve had a security breach.

The mobile app that works with your remote access lock can also notify you every time someone enters your home, so you know if there’s been an intrusion. With access and notifications from anywhere, you can feel much more safe and know your home is truly secure.

Who needs remote access keys in Fairfax, VA?

Remote access keys may not be the right choice for everyone, but their simple design and useful features can help in a variety of applications.

This kind of system is great for people who tend to forget their keys a lot. Rather than chase down a locksmith in Fairfax, VA or wait for someone with a key, you can use the keypad to let yourself into your home or let your phone’s wireless connection unlock the door for you when you get close.

They’re also ideal for people who have guests visiting their house often. If you rent rooms of your home to AirBnB patrons, for example, you can set a code for them to use when they arrive, so you can stick to your existing schedule without fuss.

Contact a locksmith in Fairfax, VA to learn more about remote locking systems

If you’re interested in installing remote access locks in your home, contact a local locksmith like Artie’s Lock and Key. Our team offers full-service residential, commercial and automotive locksmith services. Visit us for rekeying, lockouts, lock installation and repair and access control systems. We’d be happy to help you promptly and provide our services with the ultimate level of customer care.

A Locksmith’s Dilemma: The Copying of Restricted Keys

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If you’ve ever been given a key for a housing property or a business, you’ve probably seen a key stamped with the words “Do Not Duplicate.” These keys imply that duplicating them is illegal, which helps to deter some people from duplicating the key when they are not supposed to.

However, a large majority of those keys are actually capable of being copied legally. This is because most of the Do Not Duplicate (DND) keys are considered “unrestricted” keys, meaning they are just like all other keys. While you may find a locksmith in Fairfax, VA who will not duplicate a DND key, many will without asking questions, making them a less secure option.

There is another type of DND key that is actually illegal to duplicate. These keys are called “restricted” keys and provide a much higher level of security for your home or business. Unfortunately, this also means that getting copies of your restricted keys is more difficult, even if you are the owner of the key.

What is a restricted key?

Restricted keys are often patent-protected and created by a specific manufacturer using specialized equipment. This makes duplicating the restricted key very difficult, if not completely impossible, if you are not working with the original locksmith in Fairfax, VA. If you attempt to have a locksmith duplicate your restricted key, but they are not the original manufacturer of the key, they will likely turn you away.

The reason for this is twofold. First, without the required equipment, a new locksmith who is unfamiliar with the process will simply not be able to produce a working key. Second, it is illegal to infringe on patent-protected keys, so locksmiths won’t copy them for fear of potential legal and financial repercussions.

How to duplicate a restricted key

If you need to duplicate a restricted key, you’ll need to receive permission from the owner or provide proper documentation that you are the owner of the keys. You’ll need to take this permission to the original locksmith, or to a dealer that has been authorized to duplicate this key type by the original locksmith. There, your locksmith will require specific sets of information, including your formal permission for duplication, the number of requested copies and more, before producing copies and making a record of the duplication.

This may seem like a hassle, but the extended duplication process is necessary in order to preserve the high level of security restricted keys provide. If the keys were easy to reproduce, your home or business would not remain very secure.

Work with a reliable mobile locksmith in Fairfax, VA for your lock and key needs

Are you in need of locksmith services for your home or business? Artie’s Lock and Key is your go-to locksmith in Fairfax, VA for full-service residential, commercial and automotive locksmith services. Visit us for rekeying, lockouts, lock installation and repair and access control systems. We’d be happy to help you promptly and provide our services with the ultimate level of care. Reach out today to learn more!