We all value intelligence in life, so when we hear about ‘smart’ security, it is easy to assume. With the rise in demand for security solutions powered by the internet, though, more people are investing in smart locks. It is easy to see why, too; the convenience is astounding. Ask yourself this: have you ever been halfway to work but realised you forgot to leave a spare key for your kids?
With traditional locks, that would mean an about-turn, a trip home, and probably a few hours lost. Not to mention a few choice words from your boss. With smart locks, though, there is no need to worry. Their keyless entry design means you can simply wait for your kids to message you and then unlock the door. The same goes for anyone else: dog sitters, trade professionals, delivery drivers, etc.
So, what’s best? Sticking with the old tried and tested, or using modern smart tech? Read on. This guide, put together by a professional Bradford locksmith, provides you with all the insight you need to grasp what smart locks offer, how they work, and the most important considerations you should have.
Smart Locks VS Traditional Lock & Key Security
The first question that most people have is simple: What makes smart locks better than what I have?
If you have already invested in quality locks that are British Standards 3621 approved, you might feel safe. And justifiably so: your locks are probably pretty secure overall. For most, though, smart locks provide an extra layer of ease of use and reliability that they simply cannot get with traditional locks.
For one, your smart lock system is going to have more secure access than a simple keyhole. A skilled criminal can snap a lock or pick it; they cannot fool an access control terminal, PIN code access panel or a biometric scanner. Then, there is the case of keys.
Did you know that around one in three UK citizens will lose their keys at least once in their lives? And are you aware of how expensive key replacement services can be?
What Do Locksmiths Recommend?
While traditional locks still have their place, most locksmiths recommend moving to smart locks. Modern lock security provides so many ease of use features that it would be hard for even the best traditional locks to rival them. Locksmiths have always been at the forefront of improving security. It was expert locksmiths, after all, who came up with technology like anti-snap lock protections. Now, they are leaning heavily into the benefits and features of smart technology.
By contrast, smart locks are much easier to secure from the pain of loss. Keys that get lost need you to call a local locksmith who can re-key your doors and create new keys for you. That costs valuable time and money. With smart locks, though, if someone in your house forgets their PIN code or loses their key fob to enter the house, it can be deactivated and replaced in minutes and for little to no cost.
Smart locks are generally easier to use, more functional from afar, more secure, and less likely to leave you locked out if you lose your access credentials.
Getting Rid Of Spare Keys
There is also the benefit that with smart locks you do not need to be handing out spare keys. You no longer need a key safe to store your keys in, or a neighbour you can trust to keep a spare key.
Now, you just hand out a temporary access code to the people you would usually give spare keys to. You can create unique entry codes for other residents of your home, as well as one-time access codes for trade professionals and others. With easy tracking of access, too, there is nothing to worry about.
Smart Locks: Are They Really As Safe As They Sound?
Look, it’s totally understandable to be cautious about ‘smart locks’ and the like. The convenience sounds so easy to use that there has to be a catch, right? Well, not really!
Smart locks are as secure and as effective as they sound. So long as you have your smart locks fitted by a local locksmith who has genuine experience, you should be fine. They will help you find the right brand of smart locks for your needs first and foremost. They will also ensure that your smart locks have the following features:
- Password-protected logins so you know that nobody can just log into your smart locks and open the door for themselves.
- High-quality two-factor authentication, which means anyone accessing your doors needs to get your permission via a one-time passcode.
- 128-bit encryption, which should limit the chances of all but the most sophisticated of thieves from having a chance at opening your smart locks.
- Secure connectivity to your home Wi-Fi so your smart locks are always online, meaning you can manage them at home or from further afield.
- Auto-locking technology once you leave a set geographic field; no more mad dashes home to double-check you did, in fact, lock your doors when leaving!
Of course, the secret to smart locks is that they are only as secure as you are. If you are very lax about security, even the best smart locks might fail you. If you take your security seriously, though, there is no reason why smart locks should be anything other than outstanding in terms of boosting your security standards.
I Have Heard Smart Locks Can Be Hacked: Is That True?
Yes, there is always the chance that a particularly technically savvy criminal hacks your smart locks. They could do so by breaking into your Wi-Fi, forging access to your Bluetooth, or even hacking your smartphone app. They could steal PIN codes if they were able to find out where you store your reminders. Yet, even with these risks, there is far less risk of smart locks being broken into than traditional locks.
The number of criminals who know how to snap or pick locks is FAR higher than those who know how to overcome smart locks. Your typical thief is more likely to try to kick your window in than discover how to hack your Wi-Fi. With the right security credentials and proper protections on your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and password protections, though, such risks become almost negligible.
So long as you have a long password (use a password generator!), you regularly change your passwords, and you invest in a high-quality smart lock system, and it is fitted by a professional, you have nothing to worry about.
The Benefits (And Challenges) Of Smart Locks Explained
We have covered many of the questions that we see people asking about smart locks above. Finally, let’s look at the basic benefits and also the potential rewards of using smart locks in your home.
The Pros
Manage Access Easier
Without the need for keys (see below), you can avoid the risk of having to leave out spare keys for people. No more leaving keys out for deliveries, trade professionals, support staff, dog walkers, etc.
You can even create one-time access codes for these individuals so you can give them swift access before revoking access again. Instead of needing to get keys cut for every regular visitor or every person living at your property, you can just generate a code which takes seconds.
No More Physical Keys
Keys are so easily lost and so easily damaged that they come with far more risks than rewards. If you are someone who has lost their keys before, or you have been the victim of keys snapping in your locks, you know how annoying keys can be. Smart locks remove the need for physical keys, replacing them with access methods like PIN codes, smartphone app access, and even biometrics. Much safer!
Rapid Replacements
Losing your keys requires the help of a professional locksmith to replace your locks and cut you new keys. Lose your access code to your smart locks, and you can replace your code within the partner app. Lose your smartphone? With GPS trackers and platforms like Find My Device™ and Find My® (depending on your phone provider), you can find your phone quicker than a set of lost keys!
Push Notifications
As soon as someone tries to open your door locks, you get a push notification. That means if someone tries your door when you are at work, you can find out. If your kids are standing and entering the wrong PIN code into the access terminal, you get notified. You can then review who is at your door and help them get access or, if needed, take action such as phoning the police about intruders.
Timestamped Access
Any access attempt – successful or unsuccessful – will be notified in your system. That means that you can always verify when the doors were opened and closed. If your kids are trying to tell you they got home at 11PM, not 3AM, you can double-check with your smart locks database to get the truth. This is great for verifying security, but also for catching out kids who have stayed out a little too late!
Auto-Locking
Smart locks are also adept at locking as soon as you leave a certain distance from your doors. That means you know your doors are locked, negating the need to run home and double-check your doors when you were already half of the way to your destination. Save yourself time and stress!
The Cons
Aesthetic Appeal
Some people find that smart locks look a bit ungainly compared to sleek, low-profile locks. The smart industry is still developing sleeker-looking smart locks. It will come in time, but for now, most models look a bit rough!
Lockout Risks
There is always the risk that your smartphone dies or the power cuts off to your smart locks. That means you might not be able to get in, or even call someone for help to come and get you indoors. That said, these can be easily resolved with backup power sources for your smart locks.
Some smart locks come with a physical key for emergencies when the power cuts off or the lock systems stop working. Still, if you don’t bring that key with you, that makes it redundant. And since smart locks are supposed to eschew the need to have a spare key, that kind of defeats the purpose, right?
Time To Adapt
While most tech-fluent people can learn how to use smart locks easily, some of us find it a little bit tougher. It might take more senior family members longer to get to grips with the system.
Are Smart Locks Right For You?
With the above, you should now feel a whole lot more confident about investing in smart locks. They might pose some challenges you would not expect. They can take some time to get used to. Overall, though, they provide a much more effective, robust alternative to traditional locks.
Now you are more informed, you should contact a local locksmith and discuss what smart locks you could have fitted. Before long, you could join the smart security revolution and feel safer and more in control than ever!