4 ms·

I went keyless a while ago. I highly recommend it. It's helpful for friends, dog-walkers, etc. Also, no keys to misplace! (I rarely drive.) However, I use

I went keyless a while ago. I highly recommend it. It's helpful for friends, dog-walkers, etc. Also, no keys to misplace! (I rarely drive.) However, I use a simple PIN-code lock, not a phone-based lock. I'm not sure the phone system is worth the extra overhead for me. I can't wait until I can ditch the wallet too... Edit: I've had the Schlage keypad locks for about 3 years now without any problems. I haven't even had to replace a battery yet.

DanBC 12y ago
May I ask what lock brand? I used to work in a factory that had a reasonable quality push button mechanical lock in combination with insurance grade cylinder lock on a sturdy door. That cylinder lock was sometimes left "on the latch" when people were working there. One night (they worked night shifts) a guy got access by brute-forcing the pin-combination lock. It took him (there was CCTV) about 7 minutes to get in.
- wpietri 12y ago
  It's been a long time since I used one, but don't push-button mechanical locks have a pretty small space of possible combinations?
  - omgbear 12y ago
    Yea -- the common rectangle ones with 10 buttons don't care about ordering, so you have combinations not permutations, and a tiny search space.
    - mikeash 12y ago
      Just to put a number on "tiny": if there are 10 buttons and the code is 5 digits long, there are 252 possible combinations. If it takes you four seconds to try a combination then your expected time to brute force the code would be about 8 minutes.
      - nostromo 12y ago
        This isn't a concern on newer locks. You can use longer codes, order matters, and they throttle failed passcode attempts to prevent brute-force attacks.
        mikeash 12y ago
        I assume you mean electronic locks? Simple mechanical code locks are still pretty common.
hackuser 12y ago
> I've had the Schlage keypad locks for about 3 years now without any problems. I haven't even had to replace a battery yet. What does a battery-operated keypad lock do better than a mechanical one? EDIT: Or were you being sarcastic?
- frogpelt 12y ago
  You don't have to carry a key with you.
  - hackuser 12y ago
    I meant, what are the differences between an electronic keypad and mechanical keypad.

DanBC 12y ago

May I ask what lock brand? I used to work in a factory that had a reasonable quality push button mechanical lock in combination with insurance grade cylinder lock on a sturdy door. That cylinder lock was sometimes left "on the latch" when people were working there. One night (they worked night shifts) a guy got access by brute-forcing the pin-combination lock. It took him (there was CCTV) about 7 minutes to get in.

wpietri 12y ago
It's been a long time since I used one, but don't push-button mechanical locks have a pretty small space of possible combinations?
- omgbear 12y ago
  Yea -- the common rectangle ones with 10 buttons don't care about ordering, so you have combinations not permutations, and a tiny search space.
  - mikeash 12y ago
    Just to put a number on "tiny": if there are 10 buttons and the code is 5 digits long, there are 252 possible combinations. If it takes you four seconds to try a combination then your expected time to brute force the code would be about 8 minutes.
    - nostromo 12y ago
      This isn't a concern on newer locks. You can use longer codes, order matters, and they throttle failed passcode attempts to prevent brute-force attacks.
      - mikeash 12y ago
        I assume you mean electronic locks? Simple mechanical code locks are still pretty common.

hackuser 12y ago

> I've had the Schlage keypad locks for about 3 years now without any problems. I haven't even had to replace a battery yet. What does a battery-operated keypad lock do better than a mechanical one? EDIT: Or were you being sarcastic?

frogpelt 12y ago
You don't have to carry a key with you.
- hackuser 12y ago
  I meant, what are the differences between an electronic keypad and mechanical keypad.