Smart Lock Keyless Convenience: The Pros and Cons

Having been around for over 4000 years, with recent changes added to its design, the smart lock is like a normal lock, only more expensive. It now uses advanced unlocking devices, such as a wireless Bluetooth dongle, a wearable device or a smartphone app, instead of a key.

If you move into a new house, rent out your property, or break up with someone, you can reprogram it, in order to keep out uninvited guests and invite in those who are welcome. Nonetheless, there are some factors to consider, when using your smart lock.

Does the security of a smart lock matter that much?

The problem is, there are some problems that the aforementioned “keyless keys” can have:

·         The transmissions of keyless keys can be detected by other devices, if captured.

·         They can get jammed (in this case, the signal will never reach the lock).

·         They can be decoded (in this case, other devices can reconstruct their unique signals).

·         The keyless fobs are susceptible to theft.

Does this mean that smart locks could develop similar issues? It’s very likely that hey can. There are also additional risks in the form of phishing-style fraud and malware, if they are on smartphones. What conclusion does it lead us to? Locks only keep away honest people, and if your locks are “too smart”, villains will find a lower-tech way to get in.

The main advantage of having a smart lock is the convenience. Never again will you have to carry around keys, except for the ones you'll use as a backup, if the smart lock stops working.

There are multiple other benefits as well. If you have many guests or people working in your home, you don't need to make multiple keys or constantly change the locks, as soon as the builders finish up or a tenant moves on.

In addition, you don't have the burden of carrying around a whole bunch of heavy keys. Many of these locks also have cameras, so you will be able to see who is at the door and let them in, no matter where you are located yourself. They prove to be quite advantageous for people with mobility or disability problems.

The Drawbacks
Although the term "keyless" sounds great, there are many drawbacks. A smart lock is more susceptible to failure than a mechanical one, and because of this, your home insurer might reject it. Car owners should also be aware of the cost of having one. If a backup key or master key is lost, it will cost a fortune to do a replacement.

The technological concerns are there as well. What if your chosen lock supports the Apple Watch, but you choose to go Android Wear a couple years down the line? There's no guarantee that the router you purchase six years from now will be compatible with today's present lock, or a watch built for iOS 8 will still operate on iOS 11.

There's also the issue of technological glitches. If your internet-connection ignores the app or falls off the network, you'll be forced to use a real switch on your supposedly smart switch.

If this happens to smart locks, you'll (we'll) be forced to carry around keys for these very expensive keyless locks. How smart is that?