What Are The Risks Of A Digital Door Lock? The rise of digital door locks has many homeowners rethinking their security options. While these locks are convenient and, in some cases, more secure than traditional locks, they also come with several risks. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the dangers of digital door locks and what you can do to mitigate them.
Read on – What Are The Risks Of A Digital Door Lock?
Electronic door locks are pretty simple to hack, especially for older models of digital door locks. Older electronic door locks used a series of wires and voltage boxes to measure the input from the user’s access card or passphrase, but newer digital door locks use keypads for entry instead.
There is less chance for system weaknesses with keypads that could lead to theft, although this is still a risk with even some high-tech digital door lock systems.
There is no doubt that an electronic locking system can be more expensive than traditional deadbolt installation and repair services. For example, installing a new lock on an exterior door requires a professional locksmith to remove the existing lock and door handle and then install a new door handle and lock compatible with the digital door lock system.
Replacing a deadbolt is a straightforward process by comparison, which only requires the removal of the old lockset and installing a new one.
If you have ever tried to enter your PIN or access code into an electronic keypad too many times without success, you know exactly what we mean! Some people take it as a challenge, but others get so mad at their keypad for not accepting their input correctly that they break it in frustration while trying to force themselves past this obstacle.
We don’t recommend vandalizing any property, but there is no denying that this can be a big problem if it happens.
As you probably know, most keypads are made of sensitive electronic components that can become easily corrupted or damaged by exposure to too much electronic interference.
This interference typically comes in cell phones, mp3 players, wireless signals, baby monitors, and other similar devices that produce an electromagnetic field when in use close to your digital door lock system’s circuitry.
When your keypad becomes corrupted by exposure to these types of signals, it may not accept input correctly, and rapid-fire code entries may lead to false locking/unlocking events (caused by the keypad trying simultaneously to get multiple inputs).
Like keypads, access card readers are also electronic components that can be damaged by exposure to too much electromagnetic interference. This is especially common for damage caused by faulty access cards.
If you don’t regularly check your access card to make sure that it’s clean and not damaged, then it may cause malfunctions in the reader when brought near the circuits of your digital door lock system. The only way that a broken or dirty access card could affect a traditional deadbolt would be if someone used a bent piece of metal or another object to bypass the lock via the latch bolt hole.
Although magnetic locking systems have been known to produce false alarms from time to time, the same cannot be said for digital door locks. When a traditional deadbolt is installed correctly and fails to operate via its locking mechanism because an object has been inserted into the latch bolt hole, this will typically produce a false alarm.
However, when a magnetic lock experiences system failure due to an interruption in power supply, battery issues, or dirty/damaged magnet surface (which can lead to stuck latches), it will usually not cause a false alarm because no object has been inserted into the latch bolt hole from the outside of your home’s door.
Most users know that digital door locks use different types of “lock” mechanisms – mechanical bolt style locking systems vs. latch bolt style locking systems. In an automatic bolt-based system, when the door is closed and locked, power is applied to it to prevent it from being opened by any means except via the touchpad.
This type of mechanism does not risk a stuck latch because there is no possibility that someone can jam something into the hole to keep your door in a fixed position – only your code can do this!
However, when using a latch bolt style locking system, at least one point where your digital door lock will be vulnerable against someone trying to break in if they can jam something into the hole (which may block or obstruct the movement of your electronic latch).
If you have ever used or currently use a digital door lock system for your home’s security purposes, then you have probably realized that they fail from time to time. If your electronic lock malfunctions due to some defect, damage, or another failure while you are asleep, then you will be unable to get back inside your home – this is unacceptable!
Although this might not necessarily be a problem if it occurs while you’re awake and able to get to the touchpad to reengage power to the system, what happens during the night when something goes wrong?
This is one of the biggest concerns when dealing with digital door locks – especially multi-point locks. Since these devices are often installed outdoors where they are exposed to all sorts of weather conditions, damage due to exposure may occur over time or even immediately upon installation!
If not correctly waterproof and protected from corrosion, these systems will eventually break down due to organic & inorganic factors such as moisture, ultraviolet radiation (from sunlight), dirt, dust, and sand. As a result, these types of locking mechanisms will need to be replaced from time to time – which is not the case with traditional deadbolts.
Digital door locks are a great way to increase security and privacy in your home, but they also come with some risks. The most significant risk is that someone could break into your house by breaking the lock or using an override code. Depending on what type of digital lock you have installed, there may be additional risks, so it’s essential to read reviews before purchasing one.
If you’re considering installing a new digital door lock for increased safety and peace of mind, we can help! Contact us today if this sounds like something you want more info on! Our team would love to provide information about all types of digital locks and help find the perfect solution for your household needs.