Slightly related to this, the Lock Picking Lawyer on Youtube has number of videos where he tries a Ramset gun [1] against different padlocks. For example:<p><a href="https://youtu.be/Wimo09WV-rY" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/Wimo09WV-rY</a><p>This was interesting as it was an attack that certainly would not have crossed my mind.
Would be interesting to see how other types of locks would do against this kind of tool.<p>[1] <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ramset-MasterShot-0-22-Caliber-Powder-Actuated-Tool-40088/202046595" rel="nofollow">https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ramset-MasterShot-0-22-Caliber-P...</a>
The video is a compelling demonstration of a design flaw, but I am always skeptical of lock opening displays that do not occur in a real-world application of the lock.<p>Yeah, you ramsetted a lock. In a vise. Can you do that if it is dangling from a chain between two gate halves? Or would you bring out a bench and vise to your target?<p>Ok, you picked a lock. In a vise. Is it easily pickable while hanging from a hasp, with a door behind it?<p>Ok, you drilled open a smart lock. Is the drill able to be positioned in such a manner when the lock is installed on a door?<p>It doesn't look like it.<p>After drilling, you need to insert a screwdriver and manipulate a latch.<p>Is drilling/manipulating faster/slower/easier/more difficult than picking, raking, ramsetting, grinding, kicking, or prying?<p>I like clever, but clever isn't always practical.
Easier way to open a smart door lock in 3 seconds...use a hooligan tool[1]. For $150 USD a SWAT team(or someone who practices for a few hours) can be in your room in no time.<p>[1]<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halligan_bar" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halligan_bar</a>
This is probably the sole reason I went with an August (don't buy their doorbell, BTW), which effectively slips over the existing deadbolt knob. Now I just have to worry about August's BT/software/network stacks, but I don't have to wonder about how good the lock is. With something like the lock in the article, I have to worry about the tech side <i>and</i> how much effort they put into the lock. I almost wonder if, like so many tech "innovations" today, if they didn't just wrap some tech around an unvetted lock mechanism they found on Alibaba and called it day when the software worked.
Isn't the point of a lock just to keep honest people honest? I mean you can buy the world's sturdiest, more secure lock and attach it to the world's strongest door, someone with a hammer can easily break a window.<p>If someone is determined and willing, there really is nothing you can do to stop them from breaking into your house.
Security is usually a lemon market. The buyer can't really tell if its secure or not, depressing what people are willing to pay, which makes it bad business to invest in making a secure product.<p>It's rather difficult to find electronic locks, even for safes, that aren't obviously less secure than traditional options.<p>Which is pretty sad considering that an electronic lock could be substantially more secure if it was designed well.<p>The stuff that is reasonably secure, like kaba-mas products, are quite expensive because its catering to a market that simply isn't buying on price.
This is so terrible. There is an enterprise market for mature electronic locking systems, as they are used in virtually any modern office building. And then there is the (affordable) consumer market, and most stuff even looks crappy.<p>I really would invest 500€ for a small (3 outdoor locks) system, but there is virtually no product which I can trust in.
I avoid everything as branded as smart: locks, TV, watch, etc. I am not sure why people think it is a viable way forward with the technologies we currently use.
Turns out powers tools work well on non-Turing complete locks too.<p>The interesting part of the threat model for smart locks are cases where a physical attacker is _not_ present.
Eh, I'd design an electronic lock that is operated with a phone app. There'd be nothing visible of it on the surface of the door. There'd be no way to tell what the make/model of the lock was. There'd a flange the full length of the door so you couldn't even tell where the bolt was.
"How do you know where to drill it? The lock has the manufacturers logo on the front face – drill the side of the lock in line with the top of the logo. How helpful!"<p>In that case easy, move the logo elsewhere.
Why even put the lock on the outside? All smart locks I've encountered just communicate wirelessly with a smart lock inside. Physical keys are used as a backup.
The 'better' lock that has rollers in the bolt to make it harder to cut off is pretty cool. But I found out there is a reciprocating saw with counter action available! Seems perfect to cut rollers. <a href="https://toolguyd.com/dualsaw-reciprocating-saw/" rel="nofollow">https://toolguyd.com/dualsaw-reciprocating-saw/</a>
Where I live, the smart locks I saw are mounted in from the inside and go over the existing screw bolt thing that unlocks the door. From outside you would have no idea that it's a smart lock. But yeah, they don't have something outside you could touch an NFC tag on to unlock
Security isn't about preventing someone from breaching the "lock".<p>It's the level of difficulty (measured in time) that it takes to breach the "lock".<p>That being said, given unlimited resources; no lock is unbreachable.
Tbh with smart locks I'd be more interested in the lock detecting a break-in or destruction of the door mechanism, so it could for example call the police if someone smashes in the door.