Ask Lemmy

If you watch lock picking lawyer, you may as well just leave it open. Most smart locks seem to prioritise convenience over security. -possibly check that your insurance is happy with a smart lock.

Locksmith here. What specifically are you looking for? I can tell you now, avoid Level, they are incredibly vulnerable to brute force attacks. I would also steer clear of any "Amazon" type smart locks. If it's not a major brand, it hasn't been vetted and there's little one can do as a consumer if it fails.

I'll give more detailed recommendations depending on your needs, and pro/con of the options available that meet that need. Do you need:

• A key override if batteries die?
• (Or no key at all, ever?)
• Internet connectivity/app integration?
• Latch monitoring?
• Price range?

I know enough about smart technology to know the best lock is the old school analog ones. A hacker can break into many RF based locks with a toy turned garage door opener master key.

The cloud based always connected to the internet ones are even spookier and I dont trust my network security enough for that shit and honestly neither should you

Look I understand the temptation of smart technology connecting to your phone but were not talking about a fridge with a camera and mic that connects to the internet here. If there's one thing I dont want hackers potentially getting into its the literal locks and bolts to my home and car. Get something analog.

Watch the Lockpicking Lawyer videos on youtube and just stick with a normal lock. Any lock that doesn't suck major balls will cost way too much.

I've been using a set of Yale's digital combination locks for more than a decade and they have been great. They support multiple codes of up to at least 8 digits, but you can choose fewer. Battery life has been very good and they're easy to change.

They have no exterior keyway, which makes them harder to bypass using conventional methods. If you get stuck outside with the battery dead, just hold a 9V battery against two contacts on the underside of the keypad to provide power.

We have them on all three of our exterior doors. Between those, and our keyless cars, we no longer need to use keys.

Physical Abloy-style lock, not a "smart" lock.

Go see some cybersecurity type people, & see that they put physical security in place where they value real security.

ITIS ( Information Technology Information Systems ) has many vulnerability & attack-surfaces that "dumb" metal doesn't.

If you look, you will discover that there is a news-story about a company which did the hotel-locks for zillions of hotels in our world, that had a fundamental compromise in their design, & now everybody has to replace all those locks, but .. that isn't going to happen, is it?

IOW, criminality-industry was helped by all that "convenient" ITIS.

Please consider going with an Abloy Protec style physical-lock.

The Lockpicking Lawyer could get in, as could some of his equals, in mere minutes, but for the opportunistic-jackassery of normal robberies?

You can't EMP a non-digital-lock to kill it, can you?

There isn't a backdoor in the thing ( unless you multi-key it, but even then, with 21 iirc discs in the thing.. it's still locked )

etc.

Schlage makes a keyless entry lock that isn't strictly "smart" (no wifi or Bluetooth) but is pretty well made and as secure as any common deadbolt lock. I have two and have been using them for several years with no problems. I can't remember the model but they are in the $100 price class and most major hardware outlets have them.

As others have said, I'd stay away from any kind of fully remote lock.

Is a key that big a problem? Don't you have to carry other keys anyway?

https://biggaybunny.tumblr.com/post/166787080920/tech-enthusiasts-everything-in-my-house-is-wired

Why would not needing a car key mean you can't use other keys anymore? Just get a key and put it in your wallet.

I've had no issues with my Eufy smart lock. It has a fingerprint reader which is super convenient. It also allows you to program in multiple people, each with different codes, fingerprints, and allowed access time.

Take an electrical lock with good mechanical quality. No smartness inside the lock itself, just a + and - wire.

Then put the "smartness" inside the house, where it cannot be attacked.

A cheap keypad on the outside, so you can replace it every year without shedding a tear.

If you're gonna be putting a number lock or anything of the sort on anything, make it a lock box to keep the key for the door in.

Focus on a secure key lock instead of trying to find a better alternative, the best you can do is a harder to pick key lock.

I have a couple of u-tec ones. They work on a fingerprint or code. You can set codes for other people either permanently or temporarily. If you have the Wi-Fi bridge you can lock it and unlock it from a distance. They're not cheap.

Related question: is there a product that can tell me if my door is locked or not? I’m not interested in a lock that is capable of unlocking itself, but I want to make HASS routines that remind me to lock the door.

Yale z-wave work well and last a long time between needing to replace batteries, and can run off of rechargeables. Can add to home assistant and work with Siri and Alexa integrations on home assistant.

Had some Schlage locks that ran through batteries way too fast.

What's wrong with a 4 digit combination?