It is no longer just a vision of the future: the doors can be opened on request via smartphone, fingerprint, PIN entry or transponder. Those interested can equip apartments, houses and entire residential complexes with electronic door locks.
In addition to all the convenience, there are also security concerns and fear of hackers. We show whether the security concerns about electronic door locks are justified or not.
A smart door lock primarily increases the comfort in the smart home. Users no longer have to search for their key, they just pull out their smartphone.
They can be unlocked using a simple smartphone or a security badge, for example. There are also much more sophisticated locks that open with a biometric imprint or even with the iris. Their installation is quite simple in most cases since they can be inserted in place of a traditional lock.
An electronic lock opens when it detects the proximity of an electronic key, such as a smartphone or a magnetic card. Electronic keys and the rights associated with them are defined by an administrator, who is none other than the main user.
Some electronic door locks even notice when the residents approach the entrance door and open automatically. This is not only useful with arms full of shopping bags. We show which security aspects an electronic door lock entails and whether existing concerns are justified.
Security in the event of a lost key: It happens faster than you think and unfortunately more often than hoped. The front door key is lost and in the worst case the lock has to be replaced. A smart door lock no longer needs a conventional key, just a smartphone.
Should this ever be lost, the access rights can easily be withdrawn and no stranger has access to the apartment. A further relief is the unlocking via PIN entry or fingerprint.
There is a locking history: some electronic door locks track who last unlocked the door and when. This makes it possible to see transparently who literally walks in and out of the home.
Residents receive non-traceable activities via push notification. Nice side effect: Parents can understand that their children have arrived home safely from school.
Pay attention to a secure radioconnection: the shorter the radio connection, the more secure. This applies in particular to transponders or components that communicate via, radio-frequency identification (RFID) or Bluetooth.
Smart door locks – is it easy for hackers and burglars?
This type of smart door lock can be seen from the outside. More likely to deter burglars. Most criminals expect a classic lock that they can pick quickly with tools such as a lock pick. The time required to open the electronic component is greater and requires special expertise.
The security concerns when using electronic door locks are quite justified. Ultimately, users should not have to worry about a little security for a lot of convenience.
Overall, an electronic door lock is more likely to deter potential intruders, and the cracking of an electronic door lock is associated with a high level of risk and time.