Smart Locks – A Clever Assistant or a Cunning Enemy?
Technology is advancing every day. To the delight of homeowners, a major step has been taken toward convenience, as you no longer need to carry house keys with you. Is rapid technological development and smart solutions a blessing or a curse for us?
A smart lock is yet another proof that people can surprise us with their inventions. A homeowner can leave their home with their hands in their pockets and everything they need is in their smartphone. This technological solution has many positive aspects. When renting out a property, the owner can keep control in their hands, as a smart lock can be controlled remotely. In other words, a tenant does have access, but if needed, the property owner can monitor the lock's status. If you want to rent out your property through Airbnb, you can give each visitor their own personal code using a smart lock. This is certainly safer than providing physical keys, as a smart lock cannot be copied as easily.
Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where we've already left home and try to remember whether we actually locked the door or not. Having the key in your phone provides a convenient and quick way to check this – minor worries and frantic rushes back home are now a thing of the past.
It is also very convenient for families with children. You don't have to worry that your child will lose the key while playing outside. You can open the door for them yourself or give them access to the lock through their phone. You've invited friends over, but you're currently standing in a store queue buying snacks? No problem, because you can easily open the door with your phone so your friends can make themselves comfortable inside.
Some locks also come with the ability to monitor lock usage remotely, and if a key were to go missing, you can electronically block the lost key if needed. This is a simple and quick solution that doesn't require replacing the lock mechanism like traditional locks would, where you'd have to change the entire lock system. Smart locks can also be connected to other smart home systems. When the lock opens, programs signal each other about the lock opening, which in turn performs programmed actions (shutting blinds, turning on heating, etc.).
In addition to a smart device, locks can be opened in several ways. This could be, for example, a fingerprint, code, card, or chip. Smart technology also has negative sides that people should definitely be made aware of. With technological advancement, the risks also increase. Smart locks are conveniently on your mobile, but are they also secure? As time goes on, thieves come along as well.
Is a smart lock durable enough? Security can be divided into two categories – a smart lock must be secure both against a physically breaking-in thief and against a hacking thief. If the key is also connected to other home systems, a hacker could break into all of them at once and easily open blinds and access other functions.
Some smart locks have a function that alerts you if the lock is opened in some other way, but is this fast enough to save your property? It could happen that if your phone is stolen, a thief can open multiple different locks, because the key is configured to open your garage door, apartment, and cottage door. In such a case, a quick-acting thief could cause considerable damage.
There are also battery-powered locks, but the risk is that the batteries run out, in which case you would still need to have a traditional key on hand. This makes it somewhat more vulnerable than a lock that uses a traditional key. There are more concerns – you've gone to watch your child's school play and been filming the whole time with your phone, the car has no charging option, or you've completely forgotten your phone in the rush.
Speculating about other smart solutions, such as a door lock that opens with a fingerprint, another concern comes to mind. You've left the key at home and the stairwell door is decorated with a fingerprint-activated lock. It's a harsh winter day, it's -25 degrees outside – will modern technology withstand such harsh cold and let you into your home? Modern technology is not weather-resistant enough, so you should still carry a key with you when leaving home during cold weather as a backup option.
When installing a smart lock, you should definitely familiarize yourself with its pros and cons. Talk to a specialist in the field, discuss the lock's security through. Also carefully consider which lock might be right for you. Everyone likes convenience and wants to keep up with the times, but is this always the best solution.
Article author: Arco Vara
