Keyless smart locks are all the rage right now. They represent a way to integrate the lock on the front door with the rest of a home’s security and automation features. But are keyless locks – and keyless deadbolts more specifically – really more secure than their traditional counterparts?
My question is motivated by a post I recently read on the Vivint Home Security website. Vivint sells keyless deadbolts along with a complete range of additional home security and automation equipment. The post in question suggests that keyless deadbolts are more secure.
I can see their point to a certain degree. For example, taking keys out of the equation prevents them from falling into the wrong hands. Still, a skilled burglar determined to get into a house probably won’t be stopped by a keyless deadbolt any more than he would have been by a traditional lock. So then why invest in keyless deadbolts?
More About the Technology
The starting place is understanding the technology behind a keyless deadbolt. A keyless deadbolt is a deadbolt lock with a strong bolt that slides firmly into the door frame. Deadbolts have historically been more effective than handle locks because of their design and inherent strength.
To make a deadbolt keyless, you need to install a small electric motor that moves the bolt back and forth. These days, keyless deadbolts are also smart locks. They can be activated and deactivated through a variety of means including:
- Â Â Â Keypads and access codes.
- Â Â Â Biometric scanners.
- Â Â Â Mobile devices.
With a keyless deadbolt, you might walk up to the front door and enter a 4-digit access code to unlock it. You might also pull out your smartphone and unlock the door with a mobile app. Even scanning your fingerprint is an option. The point is that you activate and deactivate the lock with something other than keys.
Getting Rid of the Keys
One of the points Vivint makes in its post is getting rid of the keys. They offer three reasons for doing so. Let us look at each one:
1. Keyed Locks Can Be Picked
The first reason is that keyed locks can be picked. That is absolutely true. But it is irrelevant to the discussion on keyless deadbolts. Why? Because most keyless deadbolts come with keys just in case the electronic components fail, or the battery dies. That means a keyless deadbolt can still be picked.
2. Keys Can Be Lost and Duplicated
Vivint’s second reason for going with a keyless deadbolt is the fact that keys can be lost and duplicated. Again, both are absolutely true. Taking keys out of the equation reduces the chances that they will be lost. And if they are not lost, the chances of them being duplicated also go down.
3. Keyless Entry Is Faster
The final reason for getting rid of the keys is probably the most important to homeowners: keyless entry gets you in the house faster. Rather than fumbling with keys, you just tap your cell phone, enter an access code, or scan your finger.
Keyless Is Convenient and More Secure
Hand-in-hand with keyless entry being faster is increased convenience. Anyone who has ever fumbled with a set of keys knows how challenging it can be to unlock the front door while holding a couple of bags of groceries. Having the ability to unlock the door with a smartphone before ever getting out of the car is certainly more convenient.
Depending on how you look at it, not having to fumble with keys can also make for a more secure entry. Imagine coming home late at night. Every second spent fumbling with your keys on the front porch exposes you to potential danger. But automatically opening the door from the car means quick entry that minimizes your risks.
In that sense, it is safe to say that keyless deadbolts are more secure than their keyed counterparts. But really, the deadbolt itself is not more secure. You are more secure for using it. There is a significant difference.
Home Security Integration
One could make the case that a keyless deadbolt is more secure because it can be integrated with a home’s complete security system. Not only that, but the case is also a pretty strong one.
Because a keyless lock is a smart device, it leaves an electronic paper trail of sorts. Integrating the lock with a home’s security system means always having access to records revealing when the lock was activated and deactivated. More importantly, homeowners can get real-time updates whenever the lock is activated or deactivated.
Getting an alert in the middle of the day, when no one should be home, makes a homeowner aware of potential trouble. On a more positive note, getting an alert that lets parents know their children have arrived home safely can be quite comforting.
From a burglar’s perspective, the sight of a keyless deadbolt on the front door creates a bit of doubt. The burglar needs to consider whether the entire house is equipped with security features. If not, the lock alone may not be enough to deter him. But if so, a complete home security system makes his job a lot more dangerous.
More of a Convenience Thing
After looking at the issue from every possible angle, I have come to the conclusion that the keyless deadbolt does not make a home substantially more secure than a standard deadbolt. This doesn’t change the fact that both locks are stronger and more secure than handle locks.
The implication of all of this is that keyless deadbolts are more of a convenience thing. In fact, it is hard to argue against the convenience of not having to fumble with your keys to lock and unlock the front door.
I am all in favor of keyless deadbolts. I am in favor of home automation and wireless home security in general. When the two can be combined in a whole-home system, you wind up with a home that is both more secure and more convenient.