It’s amazing how convenient the modern age has become. The advent of technology has allowed for remarkable feats — including the ability to access your home without necessarily needing to rifle through your pockets to pull out a key.
As mentioned before, electronic home locks have become increasingly popular in recent years, primarily due to their convenience and ease of use. Unlike traditional locks, electronic locks do not require keys, and they can be operated using a variety of methods, including smartphones, keypads, and biometric scans. This has made electronic locks an attractive option for homeowners who are looking for a more modern and convenient way to secure their homes. Imagine, rather than having to hand out 10 key duplicates to your home, you give your family members a code which allows them to easily access the property, and safeguard your belongings at the same time.
The convenience of electronic home locks cannot be denied. However, despite this convenience, many people still hesitate to make the purchase, as they question whether these home locks are truly as safe as traditional locks. So, are they safe? In a word, yes, but just like any tech, these new locks have their own security risks associated with their usage. As such, we’ll take a look at some of the pros and cons associated with electronic home locks, and let you be the judge.
PROS
Difficult To Pick
One of the main advantages of electronic locks is that they are much harder to pick than traditional locks. With the right skills and tools, anyone can pick a traditional lock. However, electronic locks require specialized equipment and technical knowledge to bypass, as the potential burglar would need experience in coding and cyber security in order to break through the lock.
Easily Programmable
Another advantage of electronic locks is that they can be easily programmed to allow access to specific individuals. Again, we point out the convenience of giving relatives a code, rather than a key which they somehow inevitably end up losing anyways. Even beyond convenience for familial relations, electronic locks are particularly useful if you have hired a house sitter or dog walker while you are away, as you can easily give them access to your home without having to provide them with a physical key that they may or may not hold onto.
CONS
Prone To Hacking
Naturally, electronic home locks are not without their risks. One of the main risks associated with electronic locks is the possibility of hacking. Rather than having to use brute force to enter the home, hackers can potentially gain access to your electronic lock using a variety of methods, including password cracking, or exploiting vulnerabilities in the lock’s software.
Additionally, some homeowners may be concerned about the privacy implications of using an electronic lock. After all, some electronic lock companies will actually collect data on who is entering and leaving your home, which could be a concern for those who value their privacy. In a way, it’s somewhat daunting to think that some random individual could just stroll into your home if your security company has a leak in their information, and it’s for this reason that many are leery of utilizing electronic locks. As such, to address these concerns, it is important to choose a lock that has strong privacy protections in place and don’t collect unnecessary data.
Power Outages
Another potential problem associated with electronic locks are power outages. Electronic locks require power to operate, and if there just so happens to be a power outage while you’re out and about, you may find yourself locked out of your own home. As such, to mitigate this risk, it is a good idea to choose a lock that has a backup power source, such as a battery.
In summary, electronic home locks can be a safe and secure way to protect your home. Like everything, it has its pros and cons. As such, if you find that you are comfortable with the risks, as well as mitigating those potential risks, an electronic lock may be a beneficial addition to your home security.