In an age where every aspect of life is digital or technological, it makes humans wonder how much their livelihoods are in jeopardy. Digital door locks – providing security and peace of mind for countless families with security cameras and advanced keypads – are not a failsafe.
Cybercriminals have the potential to hack every piece of machinery. Knowing everything is potentially susceptible may lead many to question the validity or necessity of digital door locks. Are they worth the investment despite the risk – if so, how safe are they from hackers’ clutches?
Can Digital Door Locks Be Hacked?
Professionals assert the potential of smart locks, stating they could revolutionize the home security industry, but for now, there are concerns. Physical lockpicking has just transformed into a digital version. Though some Internet of Things (IoT) digital door locks are far more secure than a standard key lock, companies prioritize convenience over security sometimes for the sake of their bottom line – putting customers at risk.
Businesses are mitigating risks by incorporating wireless security protocols and innovations to the mechanical locking elements. The sector seeks to meld multiple-factor authentication to strengthen the barrier between hackers and homes. For example, doors with physical locks and biometric authentication require knowledge of multiple hacking spheres. The more layers, the more secure.
However, it proves cumbersome for the household, which many want to avoid. If users already associate IoT devices with convenience and security, it may prove conflicting for a future relationship with smart home tools.
How Can Hackers Compromise Digital Door Locks?
The reality is smart locks are just as likely to be hacked as other technologies and multiple avenues exist for hackers to take advantage of this popular piece of home security. They have to get creative, whether users unlock doors from Bluetooth connectivity, facial or fingerprint recognition or by entering a password through an app. Is it easy to hack a digital door lock? It depends on how.
- Plain text passwords: Companies do not know a user’s password – most only have an encrypted version. However, some organizations do not encrypt and that is a vulnerability. Hackers don’t break into the lock. Instead, they hack into the business and steal passwords to take advantage of locks.
- Identity theft or device spoofing: Hackers can use numerous methods to impersonate a digital lock user’s identity.
- Manipulation of Android Package Kits (APK) files: Hackers could thread viruses to a user’s phone when they install smart lock apps. If the virus comes through the APK file, then everything the user inputs is compromised.
Other hacking methods exist, from more rudimentary to experienced, such as Bluetooth spoofing if the hacker is in closer proximity for targeted attacks. Some are user error-based. However, situations like failing to encrypt passwords are side effects of purchasing locks associated with unreputable organizations.
The disadvantage of digital locks is the perpetuation of interconnectivity in households. Though it provides seamless user experiences, interdependency could cause security issues in its own right. Suppose there is a power outage and the user removed their physical key lock as a backup. How does this enlighten the codependency of IoT devices?
How Do You Prevent Digital Door Lock Attacks?
Both makers and users can work to decrease digital door lock attacks. On the part of manufacturers, they can prioritize security over user convenience. Often, having adequate safeguards requires extra effort for users and companies can normalize this by incorporating it into their systems. They can work with locksmiths to create more internal security measures separate from digital connectivity, like apps.
More machinery making it more difficult or impossible to pick the system will increase safety. The skills to override digital systems and intricate mechanical, physical systems do not regularly intertwine, making a multilayer safety net for residents.
Users can research what businesses they’re buying from and understand more intimately how their data could compromise if a company does not have measures in place. Research means staying up-to-date with firmware and security news to ensure products are not involved in breaches or are not patching vulnerabilities.
Though nobody can prevent a brute force attack on a physical or digital lock, users can always defer to professionals instead of DIY. If the physical setup is faulty, it will only make it easier to penetrate defenses.
Should Households Have Concerns?
Users should understand if they can open a device, there is always a chance for a breach. The most users can do is research and defer to professionals for advice when installing digital door locks to prevent attacks. Technology in this industry is advancing, melding more advanced authentication measures with more severe internal mechanisms. Eventually, they could become staples of every home.
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