HomeKit Are Smart Locks Safe?

[purdnost]

I’m interested in investing in a couple of SimpliSafe Smart Locks. I like the idea that I can automate doors to lock in case I forgot to do so manually.

My question is, are such locks generally safe to use? As in, is it hard to hack or bypass them, or disable them altogether?

 

[Itinj24]

The burglar trying to get into your home is likely a career criminal opportunist without an advanced knowledge in network and software encryption. They’ll try to pick the lock like any other. The individual with the advanced knowledge in network and software encryption doesn’t care about small potatoes like us. They’re looking to hack into something much more beneficial to them. Hope that puts it in perspective. Just don’t leave your phone around unlocked to make it easy for the criminal to tap unlock on the app. HomeKit doesn’t even allow door unlocking with automations, without verification. There are less secure workarounds for this but SimpliSafe isn’t HomeKit supported anyway.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Around here, if the door is locked, they use the window.

 

[TVreporter]

You can have all the locks on doors, a brick through a window — bedroom or patio — will overcome any super secure lock.

Cameras and motion lights are probably a bigger deterrent.

 

[MacManTexas56]

I’m interested in investing in a couple of SimpliSafe Smart Locks. I like the idea that I can automate doors to lock in case I forgot to do so manually.

My question is, are such locks generally safe to use? As in, is it hard to hack or bypass them, or disable them altogether?

honestly, the thing you may not even consider is "user error" or "accidents" that may occur when using homekit or your apps. We don't have smart locks, but we have a smart garage door and we had notifications set up and it's happened twice now where a notification popped up and we accidently clicked on it from our watch or phone and it opened the garage without us realizing it. We ended up just disabling it completely, but I'd worry about the same thing from a smart lock. So many people may think about the safety from hackers etc. but a big risk can be you yourself without realizing it lol

 

[xraydoc]

A burglar is more likely to just kick the door in, use a crowbar, or bust a window and go through that way. No one is going to take the time to hack your lock. If they want in, they'll find a way in, smart lock or no.

A locked door is only a deterrent to the most casual of crimes of opportunity.

I have smart locks mainly so I don't have to carry yet another key or so I can let others in remotely.

I've got so many windows that a door lock isn't stopping anyone from getting in. However, anyone dumb enough to rob my house while I'm gone will have their picture taken many, many times from multiple different angles, and police will be summoned automatically (with cellular backup) and the house will light itself up like a Christmas tree. Likely the license plates on their car will be captured, too, if they park anywhere near the house. Not to mention all the bite marks on their ankles from my two little watchdogs.

And heaven forbid they attempt to do so while I'm home... just sayin'.

But, for the OP's benefit: I've got automations so that when I turn on my alarms (either for Stay or Away), all the doors will automatically lock and certain blinds will automatically close. It's nice to know that I won't accidentally leave the patio door open or unlocked or something after letting the dogs in and going to bed. And the locks I use (Nest-Yale and Yale Assure (powered by August)) have 9V battery terminals on the outside so you can't lock yourself out because of a dead battery, and have keypads in case you've got a dead phone. So IMHO better than a traditional lock whereby if you lose your key, you're SOL.

 

[chown33]

^ Defense in depth. That's the ticket.

 

[bwayne]

I’m interested in investing in a couple of SimpliSafe Smart Locks. I like the idea that I can automate doors to lock in case I forgot to do so manually.

My question is, are such locks generally safe to use? As in, is it hard to hack or bypass them, or disable them altogether?

Here in Japan - There was (and still remains) gangs of Chinese criminals who burglar homes using info from cameras and data from apartment buildings using Chinese manufactured auto lock sets. We had to spend $5k USD replacing auto lock door cylinders and the video “doorbell” sets inside one of our rental apartments with Japanese units. Still wary of them though. I think the fact that the software and cloud service inevitably has to be trusted is the weak link.