Lock expert finds security flaw affecting thousands of apartments

A Pittsburgh lock expert has uncovered a security flaw that could affect thousands of apartment and condominium buildings across the country.To get more news about smart lock door wifi, you can visit securamsys.com official website.

The problem is with some intercoms that residents use to talk with visitors and let them in the door.Marc Tobias, an attorney and lock expert, said many of these systems are not secure, potentially allowing intruders to get into a building without any sign of forced entry.

Tobias has one of these systems in his own condo building.Using a small shim that is available at any auto parts store, he opened the intercom panel in 12 seconds.He also used a key he bought on Amazon for $15 to unlock the panel.

“Now I have access to all the electronics, and I can cause the elevator to come or I can open up the front door,” Tobias said. “It's a big concern in any building.”

Tobias did not go into details to avoid giving burglars a how-to guide. But he said unlocking the intercom panel can give an intrepid intruder a way to get inside any building.If you can circumvent the system you have access to the building. It's that simple. And then once you're in the building you can do whatever you want,” he said.

Tobias said the problem is a cheap lock used on the panels. He took his concerns straight to Keri Systems, the company that makes the panel on his building and thousands of others, including many in the Pittsburgh area.“I talked to their CEO and their entire engineering team. They really had no idea,” Tobias said.

“We want to thank Marc for bringing this to our attention,” said Ken Geiszler, CEO of Keri Systems. “He knows his stuff and so when he articulated the two mechanisms that someone could use to get into the box we took that seriously.”

Geiszler said he is replacing the cheap locks with high-security locks like one that Tobias obtained for his building. Tobias said the key for the new lock cannot be replaced with a cheap imitation bought online. He said the new lock cannot be picked with a shim.
Geiszler said he told some of his competitors in the security panel industry about the problem Tobias uncovered.“We did reach out to them because we do consider it an industry-wide problem,” he said. “There are millions of systems out there probably just in the U.S.”

A lock industry official told Action News Investigates the problem affects most apartments, condos and gated communities that use intercom systems.
“Could something catastrophic occur from that? Certainly,” said Mark Imhof of Midwest Security Products.

That's a big concern for some Pittsburgh apartment and condo tenants.“I think it would be pretty important to get on that soon because if you're saying they have problems, I mean I don't want problems at my place,” said Mark Connelly of Pittsburgh’s South Side.

“I think it's horrible. I mean that's really scary. If that's something going on, residents of any apartment building especially here on the South Side need to be notified of that,” said tenant Emily Kovacs.

Geiszler said any tenant who has concerns about the lock on their intercom panel should bring it to the attention of their building manager.

6 things you can do right now to protect your smart home devices from hackers

Start by securing it with a strong password. PC Magazine has these tips to get you started . To get more news about smart lock door wifi, you can visit securamsys.com official website.
Also consider changing the SSID (Service Set Identifier), which is the name of your Wi-Fi network.
And make sure you’re using the highest security protocol possible.
An older model router could also mean aging security protocols - so it might be time to replace it.

Two-factor authentication can provide an extra layer of security by requiring anyone logging in to a device to provide another credential, such as a one-time code sent by SMS or email.
Most attackers that have access to a stolen password will not have access to a secondary credential.
Update your router and devices often, as companies roll out bug fixes and features constantly. Many devices will update automatically when on Wi-Fi, but some will need you to do a manual update.
Learn what security features are available for a device before purchasing it or installing and connecting it to your home network. According to Travelers, If your smart speaker is connected to your Wi-Fi router, which is also connected to your smart TV, your video doorbell and your smart thermostat, then any one of those products can pass on vulnerabilities to another. If one item is hacked, the rest may be susceptible to the hack.
5. Avoid public Wi-Fi
Want to access one of your devices remotely to turn on the light? Maybe you forgot to lock the door and want to access the smart lock.
When away, avoid using public Wi-Fi as it is not in a secure network and open to hackers.
SafeWise recommends that you use your cellular plan instead of a public network.
6. Monitor your network
Manually monitor who is on your Wi-Fi. Wireless Network Watcher is a program that monitors and tracks the number of devices that are connected to any particular wireless network. Here’s how to see who is on your network.

With keyless, smart and alternative door locks becoming more common, there’s a great deal of opportunity to find the one that’s perfect for your home.To get more news about best fingerprint door lock, you can visit securamsys.com official website.

We previously shortlisted the best smart locks available. While this article focuses more on the keyless aspect than smart functionality, smart locks are still a proven method for keyless entry into your home and have been included in the list.Security is one of the most important factors but other features, like ease of use or multiple access options, might be more suited to the lifestyle of your home.

For front door locks, an option that provides a variety of entry methods can prove to be helpful over time. They can be more reliable, too, as battery-powered locks can run out of battery and you may need emergency access (however, most electric locks alert you when they’re low on battery).

When you allow access to friends, family and visitors, it can be important to keep a tab on who can enter. A lock that has smartphone app compatibility is a good choice, as you’ll have control over who has access.

Smartphone apps that offer remote entry can also be useful if you’re often out of the house, as you can grant entry for deliveries, visitors and family members.

If you’re after something simple, a lock with a straightforward keypad, or one that’s activated using a key card or fob, might be all you need. They can be more affordable than other options, especially if you’re unlikely to use the other features.This compact door lock from Kwikset has been designed for ease of use. It features a one-touch locking mechanism, so you can leave the house quickly with the peace of mind that the front door is locked. You can also activate the option to have the door lock automatically after 30 seconds.

The electronic deadbolt lock can be unlocked using the backlit keypad, with the option of customizing eight access codes – as well as a master code option. The lock can be installed with just a screwdriver where no hard wiring is necessary.The Keyless Connected Chrome Lock from Yale can be activated using a number of different methods. You can enter an access code, use a key card or key tag, unlock with a remote fob or use the smartphone app for remote access.

The smartphone app is particularly helpful when letting in family members and visitors, or for delivery workers to safely drop off parcels when you’re not in. The lock also has added security features like a built-in tamper alarm, encryption and incorrect pin code features.similar to the Keyless Connected Chrome Lock, the Conexis L1 Brass Lock can be unlocked in a number of ways, including a key card, key tag, phone tag and smartphone app.

The Conexis L1 app has a nifty feature that allows you to send virtual keys to others, giving access to any friends or family you choose. It gives you full control to manage who can enter if you want to disable anybody’s virtual access.This slim and sleek door lock offers multiple keyless ways to access your home. Unlock your home via fingerprint scanner, smartphone app, passcode, card or remotely using the app. Fingerprint access is perhaps the most exciting feature here, and it’s reassuring to know that there are alternative ways to enter for when your finger isn’t clean or dry.

The door locks by twisting the handle upwards, and the lock is powered by four AAA batteries. There’s an emergency USB charging port in case the battery dies, and the lock can be access using a key that works as a reliable backup, too.If you’re looking to keep your door’s lock and handle in one place, this option from FITNATE is a door knob with an embedded keypad lock. The lock has some important features, like an alert when the lock is low battery, silent mode and a night light for late-night locking, and an automatic locking mechanism that can activate after 2.5 seconds.

The Linus Smart Lock has a lot of features. You unlock it via an app and with a Yale Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, you can monitor the activity of your door and see who has entered/left and when, as well as being able to grant access to visitors when necessary. There’s even a feature that tells you if the door is closed or if it’s been left ajar!

With keyless, smart and alternative door locks becoming more common, there's a great deal of opportunity to find the one that's perfect for your home.To get more news about best smart lock for door, you can visit securamsys.com official website.

We previously shortlisted the best smart locks available. While this article focuses more on the keyless aspect than smart functionality, smart locks are still a proven method for keyless entry into your home and have been included in the list.Security is one of the most important factors but other features, like ease of use or multiple access options, might be more suited to the lifestyle of your home.

For front door locks, an option that provides a variety of entry methods can prove to be helpful over time. They can be more reliable, too, as battery-powered locks can run out of battery and you may need emergency access (however, most electric locks alert you when they're low on battery).

When you allow access to friends, family and visitors, it can be important to keep a tab on who can enter. A lock that has smartphone app compatibility is a good choice, as you'll have control over who has access.

Smartphone apps that offer remote entry can also be useful if you're often out of the house, as you can grant entry for deliveries, visitors and family members.

If you're after something simple, a lock with a straightforward keypad, or one that's activated using a key card or fob, might be all you need. They can be more affordable than other options, especially if you're unlikely to use the other features.This compact door lock from Kwikset has been designed for ease of use. It features a one-touch locking mechanism, so you can leave the house quickly with the peace of mind that the front door is locked. You can also activate the option to have the door lock automatically after 30 seconds.

The electronic deadbolt lock can be unlocked using the backlit keypad, with the option of customising eight access codes - as well as a master code option. The lock can be installed with just a screwdriver where no hard wiring is necessary.The Keyless Connected Chrome Lock from Yale can be activated using a number of different methods. You can enter an access code, use a key card or key tag, unlock with a remote fob or use the smartphone app for remote access.

The smartphone app is particularly helpful when letting in family members and visitors, or for delivery workers to safely drop off parcels when you're not in. The lock also has added security features like a built-in tamper alarm, encryption and incorrect pin code features.Similarly to the Keyless Connected Chrome Lock, the Conexis L1 Brass Lock can be unlocked in a number of ways, including a key card, key tag, phone tag and smartphone app.

The Conexis L1 app has a nifty feature that allows you to send virtual keys to others, giving access to any friends or family you choose. It gives you full control to manage who can enter if you want to disable anybody's virtual access.This slim and sleek door lock offers multiple keyless ways to access your home. Unlock your home via fingerprint scanner, smartphone app, passcode, card or remotely using the app. Fingerprint access is perhaps the most exciting feature here, and it's reassuring to know that there are alternative ways to enter for when your finger isn't clean or dry.

The door locks by twisting the handle upwards, and the lock is powered by four AAA batteries. There's an emergency USB charging port in case the battery dies, and the lock can be access using a key that works as a reliable backup, too.If you're looking to keep your door's lock and handle in one place, this option from FITNATE is a door knob with an embedded keypad lock. The lock has some important features, like an alert when the lock is low battery, silent mode and a night light for late-night locking, and an automatic locking mechanism that can activate after 2.5 seconds.

This would work great for the front door, but also would be a good fit for bedrooms, office rooms, or other private rooms within a business.The Linus Smart Lock has a lot of features. You unlock it via an app and with a Yale Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, you can monitor the activity of your door and see who has entered/left and when, as well as being able to grant access to visitors when necessary. There's even a feature that tells you if the door is closed or if it's been left ajar!