Jordan O'BrienIn order for consumers to adopt a smart lock, they need to be confident that they’ll be secure enough to keep their belongings safe. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for Utah-based Safetech Products, which was recently told by the New York attorney general’s office that it needed to step up security, due to the fact that its smart locks were pretty easy to hack.
In a settlement with the office of New York’s attorney general, Safetech Products has agreed to encrypt all of its smart lock passwords, electronic keys and other credentials within its locks. It will also take extra steps to ensure that users remain secure, such as prompting users to change the default password upon initial set-up, as well as an overhaul of its security protocols.
Some smart lock manufacturers have been commended for their products, ensuring that they remain secure, while also being easy for consumers to operate. That includes smart locks from experts such as Yale, as well as newcomers like August. Safetech didn’t meet those same standards, and its padlocks and door locks were both caught in the crosshairs.
In its criticism of Safetech Products, Eric Schneiderman, New York attorney general, released this statement: “Companies employing new technologies must implement and promote good security practices and ensure that their products are secure, including through the use of encryption.
“Together, with the help of companies like Safetech, we can safeguard against breaches and illegal intrusions on our private data.”
Safetech is not the only company to have given smart locks a bad name. Kwikset was recently sued in Florida for supposedly being culpable in the rape and murder of a young woman by the building’s security guard. This particular lock could supposedly be made to work with any key, and also was easily broken by a screwdriver and paper clip.