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Tech News and Commentary
Dave and the team discuss ICE’s interest in buying eBay, Disney+’s user numbers, Apple keeping Chinese stores closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, Amazon Show’s barcode scanning feature, scooters and the law, consumer concerns about smart technologies, MacBook Pro shutdown problems, and more.
Tommy in Guntown, Mississippi listens on SuperTalk Mississippi and asked: “What’s y’alls opinion on the A.I. as far as locking your door from your phone. I think it would be easy now for someone to pick it, if that’s the right word for it. How safe is it right now and do you think we need to wait a while before we use this kind of stuff?”
Tommy, you’re not wrong, but you’re wrong about the method.
It probably won’t be the AI or the software in general that it will be easy to compromise but the body of the lock itself.
Traditional locks have a study body of some kind that holds a core filled with pins or discs, electronic locks tend to have less sturdy bodies made to be easily opened to replace batteries or change codes.
That’s the main vulnerability, some smartlocks can be taken apart with just a screwdriver and some knowledge, that’s pretty bad. The software is typically safe enough, it’s not the easiest vector of attack.
Now, realistically, most residential locks are very, very easy to pick. If you have a $10 lock, it won’t stop anyone who want to pick it and most people don’t want to buy a $100 lock.
Also keep in mind, that locks are a deterrent only for people who would get into your house if it was super effortless, but who won’t bother to throw a rock through a window. There’s only so much they can protect you, they’re mainly there to provide the first basic line of defense.
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