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On top of the software aspects many smart locks neglect the actual locking mechanism leaving the lock vulnerable to easy tricks like shimming. Smart locks also

On top of the software aspects many smart locks neglect the actual locking mechanism leaving the lock vulnerable to easy tricks like shimming. Smart locks also have to consider how they'll function without electricity. An exposed slot for a battery could let an attacker instantly fry the lock from the outside.

300bps 8y ago
An exposed slot for a battery could let an attacker instantly fry the lock from the outside. A long time ago I got drunk at my birthday party so my wife drove us back to the beach house we rented. She parked my car so that it was about five inches overhanging someone’s driveway. Their driveway wasn’t blocked but it was a dick move and they retaliated by shaving off candle wax into my car’s door locks. Fortunately I always used remote unlock but back then most people still used physical keys to unlock their car. People can mess or destroy any lock. There are legitimate concerns about electronic locks for sure but I don’t understand setting the bar so much higher for them than mechanical locks.
- michaelt 8y ago
  I don’t understand setting the bar so much higher for them than mechanical locks. Based on the smart lock reviews I've seen on youtube channels that review locks, rejecting 98% of smart locks on the market doesn't require that you hold the smart locks to a higher standard than the mechanical locks. Because the reviews I've seen indicate almost all smart locks fall a long way short of the security of equally priced mechanical locks.
- daxterspeed 8y ago
  While I agree that the bar is high for smart locks I think that comes down to the promises made by making a lock "smart". Good software security should make a smart lock safer than even some of the best traditional locks. I'll admit my example is poor. A good smart lock wouldn't default to unlocked if electronically fried. I still think it's worth being worried about how easily and discreetly you can vandalize a lock.
  - fyfy18 8y ago
    Do any smart locks actually do that? That just seems negligent from the manufacturer. To access my apartment building I need to go through two magnetically locked doors, so if the power is off they are off, but I assume that's for safety reasons so you can easily get out in an emergency. I was under the impression smart locks just exposed the normal locking mechanism on the inside.

300bps 8y ago

An exposed slot for a battery could let an attacker instantly fry the lock from the outside. A long time ago I got drunk at my birthday party so my wife drove us back to the beach house we rented. She parked my car so that it was about five inches overhanging someone’s driveway. Their driveway wasn’t blocked but it was a dick move and they retaliated by shaving off candle wax into my car’s door locks. Fortunately I always used remote unlock but back then most people still used physical keys to unlock their car. People can mess or destroy any lock. There are legitimate concerns about electronic locks for sure but I don’t understand setting the bar so much higher for them than mechanical locks.

michaelt 8y ago
I don’t understand setting the bar so much higher for them than mechanical locks. Based on the smart lock reviews I've seen on youtube channels that review locks, rejecting 98% of smart locks on the market doesn't require that you hold the smart locks to a higher standard than the mechanical locks. Because the reviews I've seen indicate almost all smart locks fall a long way short of the security of equally priced mechanical locks.
daxterspeed 8y ago
While I agree that the bar is high for smart locks I think that comes down to the promises made by making a lock "smart". Good software security should make a smart lock safer than even some of the best traditional locks. I'll admit my example is poor. A good smart lock wouldn't default to unlocked if electronically fried. I still think it's worth being worried about how easily and discreetly you can vandalize a lock.
- fyfy18 8y ago
  Do any smart locks actually do that? That just seems negligent from the manufacturer. To access my apartment building I need to go through two magnetically locked doors, so if the power is off they are off, but I assume that's for safety reasons so you can easily get out in an emergency. I was under the impression smart locks just exposed the normal locking mechanism on the inside.