Are Smart Locks Safe? A Lock Expert Explains | WSJ

Can smart locks provide more than convenience? From thermostats and rugs to lights and speakers, smart home technology upgrades have gained popularity since the Covid-19 pandemic. Smart home locks are often keyless and can be opened with a passcode or opened from your phone. But do these actually increase the security of your home?

WSJ asked Marc Tobias, a lock security expert, to test out the Google Nest x Yale Lock by looking at the hardware, convenience and security of the lock.

Photo: Cesare Salerno

Expertly Tested
This video series puts products in the hands of experts with specific skill-sets. Featured specialists use a selected product in their everyday routine and report back their highs and lows with the device. The tried-and-tested expert reviews will help viewers decide what to buy.

0:00 Meet Marc, a lock security expert
0:57 Next x Yale Lock
2:12 Hardware
3:09 Convenience
3:51 Security
4:53 Final rating

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#WSJ #Security #SmartLocks

[Jamie-mqyy]

Ngl, this is a straight up ad disguised poorly

[trentclark]

A realistic security test would at least give an expert or even better a team of experts a month or so to play with it. Let's be realistic the risk isn't someone randomly coming up against a new device it'll be when someone discovers an easy compromise and shares it widely. WSJ you shouldn't be advertising products, you should be giving honest reviews.

[technologic_dev]

shortly after this

"Hello everyone, this is the lock picking lawyer and today I’m going to show you why you shouldn’t buy the Yale lock"

[Mister.Unknown]

WASTE OF TIME ALERT: Spoiler, he doesn't even try to force it, manipulate it or break it to enter and simply says "looks good to me"

[joelavrunin]

His bump tool won’t work too well on the Yale smart lock, but will work great on the window next to it.

[FrancisSiuChock]

Reality with break-ins is the thieves don't pick locks, they use brute force to kick a door in, or they break the glass if there is any on the door. You are far better off reinforcing and hardening your door and jamb before you upgrade to smart locks. These locks are meant for convenience and buying into a connected home.

[timjones]

What happened to YouTube labeling Ads?? This is shady. You are supposed to disclose the fact that you are clearly advertising this product.

[cofa]

I see "Leading Lock Expert" but no Lock Picking Lawyer, i'm out.

[tonyperkis]

5:15 "copies of keys today can be expensive"
They're like $2 each, dude.

[Azrael__]

"You can hear the motor driving the lock"
LockPickingLawyer would probably use a rotating magnet to turn the motor.

[tomtakumi]

Nah. Guys please call Lock Picking Lawyer.

[EnvyTheRealest]

This is definitely an ad. No way a veteran locksmith like him would ever speak highly of a smart lock if it was his own words.

[cltibzy]

“Copies of keys can be expensive” really? 3 bucks maybe

[vish]

WSJ: I’ll give this a 4/5

“ Hello everyone, this is the lock picking lawyer and today I’m going to show you why you shouldn’t buy the Yale lock”

[Mr_ToR]

Very clever to talk about security when using a glass and wood door :-)

[mescheryakovrobert]

every pound is a seedling, invest your
seedling to creat a tree, re-invest your
seedling to creat a forest. to become
rich you must value savings more than
spending

[ishmeetbindra]

This feels like an ad for smart locks but with extra steps
I demand for Lock Picking Lawyer

[ali]

I watched whole video, thinking he is gonna break the lock at any moment 😅

[audiohazardnut]

He put it as nice as he could to make it sound like it's slightly better than a regular lock. Because of the other things that were not tested.

[justincase]

To pick this lock, you don’t ask a locksmith. You ask a hacker. Old mechanical gen vs next gen.