Smart locks are a relatively advanced means of protecting homes, offering increased security and convenience. However, smart locks like any other smart technology are not immune to hacking incidences or Cyber threats. A vulnerable smart door lock presents a clear path for intruders to access your house and endanger you and your property. Therefore, you need to take some precautionary measures to protect your smart door lock against hackers. Let’s discuss effective tips to help maintain the smart door lock and ensure the safety of the loved ones in the house.
Common Cyber Threats to Smart Door Locks
It is important to identify the cyber threats that threaten smart door locks before proceeding to discuss the measures to protect them. Even though Wi-Fi smart door locks have many benefits, they also become targets for hackers and cybercriminals. Such hacking endeavors can significantly risk our homes and privacy as a whole.
Therefore, it is essential to be aware of these risks and take all necessary measures to secure yourself and your loved ones. The following are the possible risks of attacking smart home locks:
1. Remote Hacking
As you know, traditional door locks have their keys, while smart door locks work on wireless communication protocols with other devices around them, making them more convenient and user-friendly. On the other side, small imperfections could lead to the violation of the lock and provide unauthorized access to software or hardware.
Once the criminals gain entry into your smart door lock with a camera it becomes very easy for them to manipulate the door even without their physical presence. Therefore, to stay one step ahead of the thieves, it is important to update firmware and software on a regular basis.
Hacking Techniques
- Force Attacks (Brute Force): A technique in which hackers try out as many password combinations as possible until they will eventually guess the correct password. This method can be useful if the attacker is targeting a smart lock that has a weak or default password.
- Phishing Attacks: Phishing consists of deceiving users in order to provide information like passwords or security codes via e-mails or messages. Unfortunately, once a hacker achieves this, he can easily bypass the smart lock for unauthorized access.
- Wi-Fi Spoofing: This is a form of attack where a malicious user creates a fake wireless network identical to the original one. When the smart lock connects to this fake network, the hacker can monitor and alter the data being exchanged.
- Key Fob Cloning: It involves replicating the electronic signals of the key fob in order to generate a duplicate. The hackers will be able to gain unauthorized access into the smart door by using this cloned key fob.
Choosing a secure Smart Door Lock
In the choice of a smart door lock, one should focus on the security elements, offering the highest protection against cybercriminals.
- Features to Look for
- Z-Wave Certification: Z-Wave is a highly secure and standard wireless communication protocol. Z-Wave-certified devices are among the most secure smart home devices, as they pass strict certification tests.
- AES Encryption: The Advanced Encryption Standard or AES is a well-known encryption methodology that is reliable and secure form of data encryption. AES encrypted smart locks are comparatively less prone to hacking.
- Reputable Brands
August: August smart locks are equipped with AES encryption and provide frequent firmware updates to minimize the possible risks.
Schlage: The smart locks from Schlage are Z-wave certified and contain several security levels against hacking.
Kwikset: The smart locks developed by Kwikset include encryption and secure communication for high-level security.
Best Practices to Protect Your Smart Door Lock
To minimize the above-mentioned risks, you are advised to remain cautious while using smart locks and follow the necessary guidelines.
Use Strong and Unique Passwords
First and foremost, using strong and distinct passwords could be a great way to guard your smart door lock. Do not stick to generic passwords supplied by the manufacturer; such a password can easily be cracked or obtained. But make sure you generate a strong password containing alphabets, numbers, and symbols to ensure the security of the accounts. Also, do not reuse passwords on various devices or other accounts.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an additional layer of security that you can implement in smart door locks. 2FA stands to increase the complexity of hacking by using a second factor of identification, be it a code that has been sent to your phone. Learn whether the app or platform of your smart lock supports two-factor authentication and if it does – activate this function to increase the level of security.
Check for Updates to Firmware and Software
The manufacturers regularly launch firmware and software versions to fix security issues and optimize the functionality of devices. Firmware updates for your smart door lock come with the newest features and the greatest security fixes. If the software offers an automatic update feature then it should be turned on or manually set to prompt for updates to be downloaded regularly.
Use Secure Networks
Make sure that your smart door lock is linked to a stable, private Wi-Fi connection. You should use a strong and complex password for your Wi-Fi connection and should not connect with an unsecured or public Wi-Fi network. Also, ensure that your smart home doesn’t share its network with other devices to protect it from being attacked.
Disable Unnecessary Features
Many of the advanced door locks have options that are not useful or needed, such as remote access or voice commands. Therefore, it is possible to disable such features of the software that may be vulnerable to hacker attacks in general. Check their settings and turn off any unwanted functions in your smart lock.
Monitor Access Logs
Most smart door locks offer usage reports, showing when and how the lock is being used. These logs should be checked frequently in order to identify any unauthorized access attempts by anyone. So, if you observe anything unusual, it is essential to act quickly to lock it and check the possible violation.
Educate Your Family and Guests
Make sure that all those people who had access to the smart door lock, appreciate security. Educate your family and trusted guests not to disclose passwords and how to recognize a phishing mission. An educated household can greatly minimize the chances of being a victim of cybercriminals.
Emergency Measures and Backup plans
What to do if Your Smart Lock is hacked
In case, the smart lock has been hacked, lock your home immediately. Secure the product by altering the password, updating the firmware, and possibly resetting the lock.
Backup Access Methods
It is recommended to have additional physical keys or secondary locks, therefore you still have an option to enter your home, if the smart lock has been hacked or has a technical problem. Store these backups in secure locations that can only be accessed by authorized personnel.
Conclusion
Protecting your smart door lock against cyber risks is crucial to control your home security. The outlined strategies will help you maintain your smart lock’s security and give you the peace of mind you deserve. You will need to undertake such preventive measures if you want to protect your smart door lock and prevent your home from being attacked by cybercriminals.
