Can Smart Door Locks be Hacked?

(Last Updated On: July 16, 2023)

Can smart door locks be hacked?

The short answer to this question is yes, as you might expect. Technically, it is feasible to hack smart door locks, including your own, though not easily because there are a few simple techniques to protect yourself. What you need to know about the dangers and how to keep your house secure is provided here.

It’s critical to realize that, with enough time and effort, any lock—smart or not—can be broken into. The distinction is that whereas traditional locks can frequently be picked with some simple equipment, hacking a smart lock typically calls for a more sophisticated strategy and is not a simple task.

Hackers may access smart locks in a few different ways, but the most popular one is called “brute forcing.” Up until the right one is discovered, all character combinations are tried. Despite the fact that it may seem like an absurdly lengthy process, computers enable it to be completed very rapidly.

Exploiting a software or hardware vulnerability is another method of breaking into a smart lock. This is typically accomplished by identifying and taking advantage of “bugs” that can give access to system components that are supposed to be off-limits. Once more, a more complicated strategy is usually required for this rather than just picking the lock.

What does this mean for you, then? It’s crucial to understand that even if your door has a smart lock, there is always a chance that someone could enter your house without your consent. This does not imply that you should replace your smart lock with a conventional one, merely that you should be aware of the risks and take precautions to reduce them.

 

The anatomy of a Smart Door Lock

The anatomy of a Smart Door Lock

It’s critical to comprehend the various parts of a smart door lock and how they interact in order to comprehend how a lock can be compromised.
A smart door lock’s primary parts are:
-The locking mechanism: this component of the lock holds the door firmly in place. Although there are many different kinds of locking mechanisms, mortise or deadbolt locks are typically used in smart door locks.
-The handle: which you hold in order to turn the door’s locking mechanism.
When you use your smartphone or another device to activate the lock, the motor turns the locking mechanism.
-The sensors: which can sound an alarm or send a notification to your phone when someone tries to open the lock, are what detect such attempts.
-The battery: which typically needs to be changed every few years, powers the motor and sensors.

An chance for a hacker to enter your house could arise if any of these parts are not functioning properly. For instance, if the sensors are not functioning properly, a hacker may jam them to prevent them from detecting attempts to open the lock. Or, if the battery is low, a hacker could be able to power the lock with their own device and open it without your consent.

Do you depend on electronic door locks?

So, how secure are smart door locks? Both yes and no, is the answer. Vulnerabilities are always a possibility with security systems. Smart door locks can, however, be a very efficient way to defend your property and discourage criminals when used properly.

Many smart locks also include built-in security features that are missing from traditional locks. For instance, some smart locks have wireless transmission that is encrypted, tamper-resistant design, and deadbolts that cannot be picked.
Even while no security system is impenetrable, smart locks offer far higher levels of security than conventional locks.

The dangers of smart door locks and ways to prevent them

Although the majority of smart door locks are made to be secure, there have been rare cases of hacking. One of the most well-known instances included a Texas family who had their house broken into despite having a smart door lock.
Despite the fact that this is a singular incidence, it does raise some questions regarding the security of smart door locks. You can take the following steps to lessen the likelihood that your smart door lock will be compromised:
Since your front door serves as the entrance to your house, it makes sense that you would want to make sure it is as secure as possible.
Despite providing a higher level of protection than conventional locks, these locks are not without dangers. What you need to know about the possibility of smart door lock hacking and how to safeguard your house is as follows:

– Use a secure password: Use a strong password that would be challenging for hackers to decipher when configuring your smart door lock. Avoid using passwords that are simple to guess, like “password” or “123456.” Use letters, numbers, and special characters in combination instead.

– Maintain software updates: Smartdoor manufacturers frequently offer updates for their products to correct any security flaws that may have been found. In order to take advantage of the most recent security updates, make sure your smart door lock software is always current. If new versions are available, you may typically arrange your lock to update itself automatically. For details on how to do this, visit the website of your manufacturer.

– Use two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication is a security measure offered by many smart door locks (also known as two-step verification). This means that in order to unlock the door, you will need both something you have and something you know (such as a password) (such as a smartphone). Since they would require both objects in order, this makes it much more difficult for hackers to enter your home.

-Beware of phishing scams: Avoid clicking on links or attachments in phishing emails or text messages that imply there is a problem with your Smartdoor account or that someone is attempting to break into your house. This can be a phishing scam intended to deceive you into disclosing important information or infecting your device with malware. Never reveal the password for your smart door to anyone.

 

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