The 21st century has seen the rise of home automation devices, with smart door locks dominating the market.
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We previously introduced smart door locks in our article ‘Why you need smart door locks’ in which we discuss what smart door locks are and the key drivers behind their popularity.
As smart door locks grow in popularity, several concerns are being raised regarding their safety and security, given our dependence on the internet. We’ve discussed some of the most common concerns below.
Are smart door locks secure enough?
For decades we’ve used regular door locks which is based on the concept of having a unique key for a set of locks, and so far they’ve kept us safe and secure. The adoption of smartphones and the rapid spread of the internet has revolutionized how we interact with technology around us.
A key reason why most users opt for a smart door locks is due to the convenience it offers. Smart locks can be controlled by smartphones, but this places them at risk of being hacked into or being controlled using other smartphones or devices.
It is usually the primary concern that is raised by most users. Technology has you covered though. For starters, users can think of their smartphone as the unique key to that smart lock, while all communication between the smartphone and smart lock remains encrypted.
As a user when you connect your smartphone to your smart door lock, from that point in time, both of these devices are now a part of each other. Your door lock can be configured to not take any type of request from any smartphone other than yours.
In addition, users can beef up security by configuring their smart door locks along with an added authentication method such as an OTP on your smartphone to verify that it is indeed your smartphone that is being used to access the door lock. Other methods would include using biometric means such as a fingerprint or facial recognition.
What if you lose internet connectivity or electricity?
Another question we often hear related to a smart lock is if a user loses internet connectivity due to power loss or any other reason, would they still be in control of their door lock, or open a smart lock?
And the answer is, Yes you can. Most smart locks come with a regular key port which can be used as a standard door lock, along with an added option of Bluetooth connectivity, so that a user may use it with their smartphone when within range.
From where does a smart door lock get power?
Smart door locks work on batteries. The more often you open and close or use your door lock, the more do the batteries get drained.
What is the battery life of a smart door lock?
It usually comes down to the user. The more you open and close your door, the more your batteries get drained. The life of a smart door locks also depends on the technology it uses. A Z-Wave or Bluetooth-based door lock is likely to last 1-2 years whereas those that use Wi-Fi usually tend to last around 3 months.
Can door locks be hacked?
Another common question we get is can door locks be hacked?
Smart door locks are vulnerable to being hacked, but this is very subjective and comes down to multiple factors. The manufacturer and the user are equally responsible for their door locks.
Manufacturers need to ensure that their door locks comply with the highest levels of information and physical security. Safeguards such as battery backups that prevent physical break-ins need to be in place as well.
Users, on the other hand, must ensure that their door lock pins are known only to those staying within the home. Customers do opt for additional firewalls to spruce up home security and prevent any network-based attacks.
These are some of the most common questions about smart door locks. Door locks will play a huge role in the upcoming era of home automation. Several have opted for one, and if you are thinking of buying one then it is the right time to invest. Do feel free to reach out using our Contact Page, message us at info@aura-smart.com, or comment below in case we’ve missed out on any other common queries or if you have one.
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