Are smart locks safe?
Yes, with a caveat that has nothing to do with hacking.
A good digital lock is as secure as a good key lock, because the security comes from the bolt, the door and the frame, not from whether you turn a key or type a code. Nobody in Perth is getting into houses by hacking locks — they get in through weak back doors, sliding doors and frames. The real risks with a digital lock are mundane: a code you never changed, a flat battery, and a cheap lock nobody can service.
- What matters
- The bolt, the door and the frame
- Real risk
- An unchanged code, not a hacker
- Always
- A second way in on every lock we fit
- Call
- Amco Locksmiths, 08 9444 2089
What actually makes a door secure
The lock is not usually the weak point
In twenty-five years I have not once been called to a house where someone defeated the lock electronically. What I get called to is a back door forced at the frame, a strike plate held in by twenty millimetre screws that tore out of soft pine, and sliding doors lifted out of their track. A digital lock throws a real bolt like any other lock. If the bolt is solid and the frame holds it, the door is secure. If the frame is soft, it does not matter what is on the front.
Can a smart lock be hacked?
In theory, and researchers have demonstrated it on particular products. In practice it is not how houses get entered, because it is far harder and far riskier than kicking a back door. If you want to reduce that risk to nothing, buy a keypad lock with no WiFi and no app. That is a sensible choice, and Carbine in particular makes code-and-tag locks with no app at all.
The risks that are real
- A code you never changed. The factory master code is printed in a manual that is on the internet. Change it the day the lock goes on.
- A code you gave out and never removed. The whole advantage of a digital lock is that access can be taken away — but only if you actually take it away.
- Worn keys on the keypad. On an older lock the used buttons wear shiny, which narrows the guesses considerably. Change the code occasionally.
- A flat battery — not a security problem, but it is the thing people actually worry about.
- A lock nobody can service. An unbranded lock bought online with no Australian support is worse than a key, because in three years nothing can be fixed.
What happens if the battery dies
You still get in. Every lock we fit keeps a second way in — most take a key, and some let you hold a nine volt battery against the front to wake the lock long enough to enter your code. Most warn you for weeks first. We would not fit one that left you standing outside.
Where a digital lock is genuinely safer
No key under the pot, which is the first place anyone looks. No key to lose at the beach. No key a former tenant, an ex-partner or a tradesperson still has in a drawer. For a household where keys circulate, a digital lock is a real security improvement, not just a convenience.
What customers say
Tap any review to read it on Google.
“I highly recommend Magnus from Amco Locksmiths. He was very quick to respond to my enquiry and was able to see me the next day. He showed up on time, had great communication and was very professional and friendly throughout the process.”
Read on Google →“I recently moved to a new house and wanted to change the locks for security. Magnus arrived on time and worked efficiently to do just that, also cutting more windows keys and rekeying the garage remote. He even oiled the squeaky garage door at no cost! I would use Amco again in a heartbeat.”
Read on Google →“Great communication advising when he would arrive. Quick, friendly service and very knowledgeable. Highly recommended.”
Read on Google →“Very friendly and replies fast! Definitely recommend!!”
Read on Google →“I needed an emergency locksmith today (Friday) and Magnus from Amco came to the rescue. Absolutely pleasant man very friendly and curteous. Explained everything including cost upfront. Completed the job professionally. Will definitely recommend Amco Locksmiths and Magnus anytime.”
Read on Google →Straight answers
Are smart locks safer than key locks?
About the same, and better in one respect: there is no key to copy, lose or leave under a pot. The security of any door comes from the bolt, the door and the frame rather than from how you open it.
Can a smart lock be hacked?
It has been demonstrated on some products, but it is not how houses actually get entered in Perth. If it worries you, choose a keypad lock with no WiFi and no app — we fit several.
What is the biggest real risk with a digital lock?
A code that was never changed from the factory setting, or a code given to someone and never removed. Both are entirely in your control.
What if the battery goes flat?
You still get in. Every lock we fit has a second way in, usually a key, and most warn you for weeks beforehand.
Do I need WiFi for a digital lock to be secure?
No. WiFi is for convenience — checking or opening the door from away from the house. A code-only lock has no internet connection at all.
Are cheap digital locks worth it?
We would not fit one. The problem is not the first year, it is the third, when nobody can supply a part or tell you how to reset it. We fit six brands we can get support for.