Home Security: Smart Locks VS Deadbolt Locks
Whether you’re a homeowner, property manager, or a renter, home security is always a hot topic. As more and more technology hits the scene with the promise of extra security, homeowners are becoming increasingly interested in “smart” home security options, like smart locks. But how safe are these smart locks, and can they be hacked easily? Let’s look into the pros and cons of smart locks and see if they’re the right choice for you.
As you navigate the web for information on smart locks, a series of questions will arise: Can a smart lock be hacked? How easy is it to hack into a smart lock? Can I depend on a smart lock for my home security? The first thing to know is that the best solution for home security when comparing smart locks to deadbolt locks comes down to networking, safety, and lock quality.
Home Security: Networking
Let’s start with the basics. A smart lock is a door lock that can be integrated into a network, which means it not only controls when the door is locked or unlocked, but it can also pair with different applications to give you other benefits too, like unlocking the door from your smartphone! Better yet, it means not having to carry physical keys around with you or handing them out when guests come to stay. As a homeowner who hosts guests often, this can be super useful: create access codes specific to your guests, so they can arrive when it’s best for them, no need to deal with the hassle of coordinating arrival times!
When a door lock is connected to your home network, your level of security increases. Why? Because once the lock is installed, it is remotely connected to your smartphone, allowing you to:
- Set alerts so you always know when the lock is opened or closed
- Check in real-time about the latest door openings
- Set an anti-pry alarm so you will immediately know when someone tries to pick the lock
Better yet, the chances of someone being able to hack your smart lock are pretty low, as they’re encrypted and thus more challenging to access. Most smart locks out there are fairly safe, and various manufacturers have created enhanced security features to further enhance the smart lock’s ability to provide the best in home security like anti-peeping false password, fingerprint, and voice access. As you can imagine, you’re far more likely to encounter a skilled burglar who can pick a traditional lock, than a skilled hacker who can pick your smart door lock.
It’s important to remember that neither deadbolts nor smart locks can guarantee 100% unbreakable protection. But, between the two, smart door locks have an advantage over traditional locks when it comes to home security.
Home Security: Safety
Smart door locks, per their namesake, have several “smart” features to offer, such as:
- Virtual Passwords: This allows you to set a password that can’t physically be seen when typing it on the keypad.
- Time Limits: You can create a time limit for a certain passcode, which means access using that passcode only works for that set amount of time. This means you will be notified anytime someone attempts to access that passcode outside of its active period.
- Alerts: If someone attempts to tamper with or pick the smart lock, you will be notified immediately.
When it comes to traditional locks, skilled lockpicks can gain access within a minute. But for a smart lock, it can take experienced and well-equipped thieves around 10 minutes to pick a smart door lock, which is plenty of time for you to receive a notification, alert the police, and get help. Who knows? Smart locks may be the safe way to catch those pesky burglars!
Home Security: Quality
In terms of physical strength and body resistance, both traditional and smart locks are valid options. Hardware locks are divided into ABC categories based on their anti-theft levels, where the C level is the highest.
The good news is, most smart door locks out there are above Class B. And though smart lock bodies tend to be made with a metal shell, which is more delicate than traditional hardware locks, the smart lock’s panel design is what makes them harder to pick as a whole. Plus, without having to carry around any physical keys, you eliminate the risk of having them taken from you.
Final Verdict
The good news is, whether you decide to go for a deadbolt or smart door lock, you’ll get the job of home security done. At the end of the day, it honestly depends on what you prefer. As a homeowner, you may find the extra cost of installing a smart lock is well worth the price of admission when you consider the convenience of not having to carry around keys (or deal with lost ones), paired with the additional features smart locks provide. Additionally, if you have trusted vendors you work with who come to work at the house, you can create access codes for them to gain entry in case you’re ever running late—a win-win!
As we all know, there’s a lot more to homeownership than deciding whether a smart lock is the right choice for you. As always, if you’re looking for homeowner tips and tricks, we have plenty of those on our blog. And if you run a property and need assistance managing it, we can help with that too! Schedule a free consultation with us today, and let’s see how we can work together.
