Smart Locks and Hacking

Smart locks have become common in many homes, adding safety and useful features to many residents. At Artie’s Lock and Key, we have provided our customers in Fairfax, Virginia with the best lock care and services since 1975. As industry experts, we receive many questions about the best types of locks and how to stay safe. One question we receive about smart locks relates to their safety. Specifically, is hacking a smart lock something to be worried about?

Hacking a Smart Lock

Typically, smart locks are very safe, and hacking them is highly difficult. However, this depends on several factors, including whether your lock is properly installed, whether it is up-to-date, and whether it has proper security configurations. Here are some ways smart locks can be hacked.

• Bluetooth Sniffing: Smart locks communicate via Bluetooth connections. Like other types of wireless connections, Bluetooth signals can be hacked with the right tools. However, when your smart lock is using the newest software, hacking is very difficult, and due to being a short-range type of communication, Bluetooth connections cannot be hacked from far away. 
• Wi-Fi Hacking: Your home’s Wi-Fi is connected to your smart lock. If your Wi-Fi configuration or modem has vulnerabilities, hackers could use these to hack into your smart lock. Like Bluetooth, the hacker would both have to be close and have access to your network. 
• Out-of-Date Apps or Firmware: The operation of a smart lock also requires a mobile app on your smartphone so you can control it. If your app isn’t updated to the newest version, vulnerabilities could be explored. You should always update your applications when indicated to do so. This also includes the firmware on your smart lock.

Staying Safe

You can help protect your smart lock from hacks by taking the following steps.

• Use Trusted Brands: Smart locks made by well-known companies with good reputations tend to have more robust security and better support with updates. Cheaper locks may lack these levels of protection.
• Update Your Locks: When new firmware for your lock is available, you should install it as soon as possible. These patches fix any found security flaws and help protect your lock from hacks as they remove any discovered vulnerabilities hackers could exploit. 
• AES Encryption: When buying a smart lock, consider 128-bit AES encryption. This advanced form of security is almost impossible to hack by brute force due to its complexity. This means a hacker would have to know your exact password or break into your Wi-Fi to access your system.

If you have any questions about smart locks or want to install or update your smart locks, contact us today.

Categorised in: Smart Lock Installation

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