Tag Archives: Smart Home Security

Best Types of Door Locks for Security

Best Types of Door Locks for Security - Locksmith Sarasota Florida

A New Age For Door Locks

When was the last time you locked your keys in your home? How about getting halfway to your destination, only to realize that you haven’t locked your door?

Thanks to new technology, these annoyances and uncertainties are a thing of the past. You can enjoy the security and convenience of an electronic door lock at an affordable price point.

Types of Entry Methods

There are a few different types of electronic door locks, including:

  • Keypad
  • Biometric
  • Bluetooth
  • RFID

The earliest locks came with a keypad, which involved entering a pin to gain entry. While these methods are still popular, the newer models use touchscreens and have extra security features.

RFID uses radio frequencies, like a key fob or a card, to achieve entry. The main disadvantage of these is that, like keys, you’ll need the fob on your person to enter your household. This can be difficult when your arms are full of groceries or you lock them inside.

Biometric entries are likely the most sophisticated and use your fingerprint to open the door. It’s similar to the features available on newer cell phones. If you want additional people to have access to your home, simply program them into the system.

Finally, locks enabled with Bluetooth sense your phone and open automatically when you approach. These models often have a backup plan when your phone runs out of battery.

Utilizing New Technology for Locks

The nice thing about newer electronic locks is that they often offer remote entry via an app on your phone, and they can integrate with your other “smart home” features, which adds an extra layer of protection.

For example, you might realize on the beach three hours away that you left your curling iron plugged in and you can’t remember if you turned it off. You can alert your neighbor, unlock the door for them, disable your alarm system, and lock it again once they leave.

The August Smartlock

The August Smartlock consistently ranks highest in consumer publications because of its convenience and efficiency. Its sleek, circular design replaces your single deadbolt and allows you secure entry to your home using your iOS or Android device.

The August Smartlock works through Bluetooth or your wifi connection. The lock features AA backup power, so it will keep working even if your power goes out. Best of all, you can issue virtual keys to others as needed. Log records sent to your app will tell you who enters your home and when.

The Samsung Digital Door Lock

Samsung is a well-established brand in the IoT world. The main advantage of choosing a Samsung door lock is you can expect seamless integration with your other Samsung appliances, from TVs to security sensors.

The Samsung complete smart home system app can provide information about remote entries, visitor logs and more. Even if you use the digital door lock as a standalone product, you can use a passcode to unlock, or even a fingerprint on premium models. The door locks automatically when you leave, which is a convenient perk.

The Kwikset Kevo

Kwikset models often get high marks for the quality-to-cost ratio, and the Kevo is no exception. This is a historical brand in home locks, and they keep the aesthetics of their locks classic while loading them with high-tech features. The Kevo uses both RFID and Bluetooth, which allows users the flexibility of unlocking via the included fob or their smartphone. It’s both iOS and Android compatible.

Give out an unlimited number of guest “eKeys” and monitor all activity over the app. The Kwikset also integrates with the Nest Learning Thermostat, one of the most popular smart devices available.

The Schlage Camelot Touchscreen Deadbolt

The Schlage touchscreen deadbolt is a good option for those who want the high-tech convenience of a smart lock, but don’t want to deal with key fobs or controlling anything remotely via an application. Schlage Locks have the highest lock security rating, which gives you valuable peace of mind.

There are several features that give Schlage this designation – for example, an alarm sensor goes off when someone opens the door, and you’ll hear it no matter where you are in your home. The touchscreen is fingerprint resistant, so you won’t have to worry about someone tracking your code and gaining unauthorized entry. You can also set it to lock automatically after you close it.

Schlage products integrate with all Z-Wave Home Automation products to aid in your home-monitoring needs. This makes it a great value, and a smart choice for those who want scalability in their door lock.

Finding the Right Door Lock

The smart lock you choose will be based on your unique needs, budget and security goals. No matter which locks you select, however, you’ll benefit from a professional installation.

For more information about the professional installation of your security door lock, please contact us.

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Smart Home Security Disadvantages And How To Overcome Them

Smart Home Security Disadvantages And How To Overcome ThemSmart homes are a picture into the future. Different types of technology come together to seamlessly (and sometimes automatically) change functions in your house. When these processes happen without additional human interaction they’re referred to as the internet of things, or IoT (Internet of Things), a term that describes their independent interconnectedness.

Let’s say, for example, that you have a smart watch, digital thermostat, radio, and coffee pot connected to the IoT. When your smart watch senses movement, it sends a signal to the thermostat to crank up the heat a bit and make it cozy for when you step out of the shower. The radio turns on to your favorite morning news station while the coffee pot happily brews your favorite blend. Sure, it sounds like a scene from a science fiction novel, but this is 100 percent possible in today’s world. And technology is only growing more powerful.

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Make The Smart Choice

Although convenience is a big part of smart tech, it’s useful for another important aspect of our lives – home security. The hands-free design and lightning fast response make these devices inherently better for keeping your family and property safe. Some of the most popular products are making their way into more homes, and it’s easy to see why with their benefits.

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Amazon Echo

This gadget serves as a centerpiece for most smart home tech. The intelligent speaker can take direct orders and control other connected smart items. In fact, you can place Amazon orders by simply speaking. Echo and Alexa devices provide astonishing, unique interactions to make your life easier. CNET gives Echo a 9 for features, 8 for usability, 9 for design, and 7 for performance.

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WeMo Insight Wifi Switch

This advanced plug-in works similarly to Belkin’s WeMo light adapters. Simply plug in any device or appliance to control it entirely from your phone. WeMo Insight allows you to make a power schedule, analyze energy usage, and more. The Insight is easy to move around the house, unlike some other models, so you can experience this flexibility on a variety of gadgets. CNET rates the Insight Switch an 8, 8, 8, and 9 for features, usability, design, and performance.

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Nest Learning Thermostat

The Nest is one of the most revolutionary and power saving smart gadgets. This device learns your habits to keep your home as comfortable as possible. The most interesting feature about the Nest is that it adjusts the temperatures during the day or night to save costs. Instead of a constant 68 degrees in the home, the thermostat allows degrees to fluctuate while you’re at work, then readjust before you return home.

Nest also functions as a diagnostic tool for forced air systems. It monitors output and usage to look for any unusual patterns or readings. This can help you catch problems earlier before they become difficult to manage.

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The Trouble With Technology

Unfortunately, a digital home has its own weaknesses, as with any appliance or home gadget. Power outages affect most of these devices immediately, although some may have a backup source. In the event of a Wi-Fi outage almost all of them will be rendered completely useless. Most notably, smart home gadgets are at risk for being hacked.

Recently, Samsung saw some serious issues with their smart home software. In fact, hackers could unlock doors and remotely set off fire alarms. Naturally, these issues pose a serious threat to a family’s safety. Even when you’re not home, the idea of thieves strolling right through the front door is unnerving.

The security analysis was carried out at the University of Michigan with the help of Microsoft. They carefully examined an entire platform, from lightbulbs to keypads. Many of the items were easy to breach. The team even managed to add a new PIN to the keypad of a backdoor so they could gain access at any time without hacking the system again.

Earlence Fernandes, a researcher at the University of Michigan, said this was the worst-case scenario for some devices. “If these apps are controlling non-essential things like window shades, I’d be fine with that,” he said. “But users need to consider whether they’re giving up control of safety-critical devices.”

Smart Home Security

Fortunately, smart home security is always on the rise. Manufacturers like Amazon and Google continually work to make each device more secure. Updated programming is a huge step toward keeping hackers at bay, and it requires no additional effort from the homeowner in many cases.

online-safety

Going Invisible With Tor

It’s much harder for thieves to find things that are invisible. The Guardian Project from Tor aims to do just that. These new capabilities obscure the location of the servers running dark websites. This keeps your IoT working at full capacity without being visible to others.

Tor also prevents unauthorized access in the unlikely event that your IoT network is located. The intermediary computers can’t make a connection with the destination computer unless the proper password is offered. The program offers a much higher level of security.

The biggest problem with Tor is the setup. Every single device must run the Tor program and include the right code. Setting up new devices can turn into a time-consuming and potentially frustrating setup. However, a few minutes of inconvenience are worth the peace of mind, knowing no remote person can log into your doors, lights, or coffee pot.

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