Popular Mechanics Article Shares Opinion About New Age Smart-Locks

A new article has appeared today in Popular Mechanics magazine (online - and due to be printed in the October 2015 print edition) giving readers an opinion of the authors feeling about the new smart locks that are being seen across America.

The article, written by popular guest author Schuyler Towne (also an admin at Lockpicking101.com), offers an opinion that is supported by many lock industry professionals, home handymen, DIY'ers, building contractors and any homeowner that has seen the failure of their new prized smart lock.

Schuyler makes a really good point that many residential locks today might look really good, but dont actually improve the security of your home. In fact, the emergence of electronics in many smart locks has forced the manufacturers to skimp a little on the security aspect of these locks, by packing the needed wiring in place of better construction, using battery technology that really hasnt improved since the last century, all in the aim to keep costs competitive.

Like many locksmiths and other industry professionals, Schuyler points out that the age of the mechanical key will still be with us for a great many years to come. Sure, the beauty of being able to operate your entry with your smart phone is appealing (at least until the smartphone battery dies or the lock batteries wear out), but in reality, most of us are still going to be carrying the mechanical key "just in case", no?

Or the ability to give temporary access to the babysitter or the scheduled utility repair-person with a one off access code, certainly does present a part of the appeal factor because you no longer need to give them a key or leave one out under the flower pot, right?

But in reality, leaving out your spare key can open another can of worms. By NOT using a restricted key or key control system.

We do offer some better quality "smart" locks that can be installed with restricted key control cylinders instead of the ones that come with the average lock, that prevents unauthorized duplication.

Of course most restricted key control cylinders are significantly more expensive and can add significantly to your cost, but how much is the contents of your home really worth to you?

How much is your families safety and security really worth, compared to the average smart lock, where almost anyone and their relative can access so easily?

The article appears in the source below.

(source...)

August Smart Lock Reviews - Not so Smart II

We have mentioned about the August Smart lock numerous times over the last couple of years and finally have found a number of reviews about this product that we feel important to share.

Some of the reviews below are from multiple countries and experiences and may not be an accurate portrayal of the product, however often online reviews are helpful to convince a would be purchaser that they are making the correct decision about a product or service.


These first set of reviews are sourced from the Apple App Store. There are multiple pages of reviews there. We are including a selection from the first page... (click on the link above to read more)

The impetus here is not to denigrate the product offering, but more to provide our readers with more information about the product to assist with their personal research.

(reviews after the jump)

Cell Phones To Replace Car Keys And Smart Cards - According to AAA

An article that appeared in the LA Times on March 12, 2013, talks about a recent report from the AAA about the likelihood of auto keys being replaced by your cell phone becoming much more prevalent in newer vehicles.

It is no secret that the auto (car) key market has become increasingly an electro-mechanical device, in recent years.

AAA reported that in the last 12 months, they attended around 4,000,000 lockout entries in their service call logs. This number has been quite consistent over the last decade, however they are noticing a decline in the quantity of calls for this type of service.

Schlage Touchscreen Deadbolt

Schlage recently introduced their new Nexia Touchscreen deadbolt that provides multiple options contained inside one smart looking product. The ability to store up to 30 different 4-8 digit codes, auto-locking feature, built in alarm and wifi - Z Wave controllable, this new product is able to be used with a conventional mechanical key overide. This wireless, battery powered product will modify the landscape, providing users with nouveau access control technology combined with state of the art security protocols.

The video (after the jump) gives an overview of this new product.

Most Searched For Terms That Lead People Here - January 2012

This graph indicates the quantity of search inquiries that lead people to this site during January 2012.

The 10 most popular search terms include:

Kwikset Smart Key Problems

Schlage Securekey Problems

CISA Not Servicing USA anymore.

Pictured to the left is the CISA CS9800 Smart Lock. We previously posted about this product last year. While we still believe that CISA make unequalled quality products for the hotel market, it is most unfortunate that another Ingersoll Rand company has chosen to not support it's products in the US market.

There are other manufacturers of superb quality hotel RFID locks. One we like to recommend is SALTO. Salto produce modern super-high quality access control solutions, especially designed for hotels, schools, hospitals and condominium complexes. Their simple, wireless designs employ virtually impossible to hack card/rfid reader systems, that reduce the cost for installation, maintenance and service.

While it would have been nice to see CISA return to the USA market, there are other companies who see the value in servicing this market with products and services that are more competitively priced, aesthetically pleasing, using installation services that are more user friendly, economical and ultra-modern.

Good bye CISA. It was fun working with, installing and servicing your products, but it is time to look to the future instead of burying our heads in the sand buckets of the past.

Search Results for February 2011

Time for the updated search results that led searchers to this site. February 2011 Top Ten search terms across multiple search engines.

Schlage Securekey Problems takes the lead this time but it was a close race with Kwikset Smart Key Problems not so far behind.

These indices might also indicate that more consumers are experiencing problems with Schlage Securekey products than Kwikset Smartket Products, but that is not a given.

Koowy, our article about a small piece of software that we have been involved with as a beta tester has taken third this time.

Pocket Door Locks, continue to be an often sought for term, that also lead people here. Sales are through the roof for the product and no wonder. We are expecting replenishing supplies through in a few months, but there will likely be a price rise due to all worldwide costs having increased significantly.

Meroni, the highly respected European lock manufacturer gets a mention too. We are expecting hard copy samples very soon. One of the last remaining independent lock manufacturers left in Italy, Meroni is well known across the continent for it's quality and consistency.

Kwikset Smart Key - Making Keys

Kwikset Smartkey Locks have been on the market a few years now. Many of these locks have been purchased at the big box hardware stores, without any clue as to the procedure for replacing lost keys.

The lock is able to rekeyed but it is fundamental to have at least one working key.

The use of the above pictured reset tool is required to make a key when all existing keys have been lost.

First, the door it is fitted to needs to be unlocked. The lock must be dismantled and the cylinder removed.

The cylinder is then inserted correctly into the cradle and the actuator turned to the reset position. Insert a new precut key and rekey to same.

Remove cylinder and replace in lock.

In future, you can still rekey this lock provided you have at least one working key.

See also Kwikset Smartkey Fault

Schlage Securekey Problems

Baldwin To Use Kwikset

Schlage Securekey Fault

Kwikset Smartkey Problems

Schlage Securekey Bumped

Kwikset Smartkey Problems...

8/23/2018 UPDATE: We just updated the video above to a better video from our colleague Terry Whin-Yates.




Came across an interesting blogpost today that has several comments by product users, all complaining about similar problems shortly after installing Kwikset Smartkey locks.

One such comment by a poster....

"Our smartkey failed this evening. We locked both deadbolt and door as we left, came home to locked out. I called kwikset and after working with them on the phone trying to wiggle the key to the 1/4 turn position to try and get it to the learn position – nothing worked. The customer support person said since we had keys duplicated using the grinding method instead of having a locksmith stamp them out the keys had made the cams in the lock out of alignment. I asked CS how we will get in if we are on the OUTSIDE wanting in and he said we would have to either find another way in or drill out the cylinder. They are sending a replacement cylinder. No thanks – I don’t want to take the chance."

Another...

"My husband just bought this and installed it yesterday. While “rekeying” to our key, it stopped working! Now both the key that came with it doesn’t open the door nor the new key. I was looking for the company’s website for troubleshooting the problem and found this! Glad we kept the receipt as this installation is not continuing! Thank you all for commenting! You are saving more people from getting ripped off with this lock!"

Another...

"What a nightmare.My baby boy moves out to his first house and buys the kwikset smartkey to assure his security.comes home one night,pouring down rain and 28 degrees outside cant get in the house the key doesnt fit the lock .He has to sleep out in the car all night long.what a nightmare.never again will a smartkey be bought especially $80.00.there needs to be a recall on the kwikset smartkey.what a let down."

Another...

"What a joke, installed YESTERDAY, worked perfectly fine until coming home today with groceries and a 6 month old, to find out our key no longer worked. Was told by customer service that this is NOT an issue and people do not have this problem (Obviously I told him to check this website, because he was wrong)

Option one, I can take the deadbolt off my front door to bring to Home Depot and have them fix the lock, which would leave my house unsecure as there would be NO lock on my door. The other option is to wait 5-7 days for a new lock from them. He said the new lock they will send me is more efficient then the one month old lock already installed and he guarantees it will not have this problem.

In the meantime, how the heck am I supposed to get in and out of my house if my lock doesn’t work?

WHAT A JOKE! Take these stupid things offffff the market"

Another...

" I received the new smart key cylinder from

Kwieset and installed it on the front door. From the get-go I had problems, only some of the existing keys worked. Bought new keys and they seemed to work better for a short time. Now they are giving me problems. I have to jiggle them inside the lock to unlock the door and even now they are giving me problems. Finally I had enough: no trust in the lock and never knew when I would be locked out again. I took the smart key cylinder out and installed the old lock, which is a non smart key. At least now I have peace of mind that it will always work. I am keeping the old smart key locks, because I know with all the problems that everybody is having, there has to be a recall and maybe I can get my money back, but I will not hold my breath. Keep complaining to Kwikset about the so called smart key. I wasn’t very smart to buy it in the first place."

Many people seem to think that locksmith services are too expensive. In fact locksmith services are often cheaper than purchasing the DIY products from the big box hardware stores, because locksmiths have taken the time and training to master their product lines. Installation, service, maintenance all taken care of by a true technician with experience in the field.

I understand the perception that DIY is often cheaper, but realistically the locksmith (one of the oldest professions) has deliberately trained to service, advise and protect consumers from the poor advice and suggestions often received at the big box stores from untrained, unknowing part time sales assistants.

I regularly see both Kwikset Smartkey and Schlage Securekey products in the field. Often they are purchased by consumers at the big box hardware stores because most locksmiths refuse to stock them.

I can easily reset the tumblers for clients, often because they have lost the reset tool for the Kwikset or are simply unaware that the process is uncomplicated. The Schlage Securekey is a little more complicated process to re-key, but this is because many customers no longer have access to the blue reset key.

For the better (and often cheaper) products, visit your local locksmith today and find out the why's and how's behind purchasing suitable functional and correct locking systems and products.

See also Kwikset Smartkey Locks - Making Keys

Kwikset Smartkey Fault


Kwikset Smartkey Non-Destructive Entry

Top 10 Searches for April 2010

This website has been very kind to me in the last few years with an average of 300-500 search hits every month since 2006. There are probably some good reasons for this luck, but I suggest it is likely because of the significant amount of original content included here-in.

I have decided to try to include a monthly post highlighting the 10 most popular searched for terms that led viewers to this site.

These search results are gathered from my Google Analytics reports.

As you can see, there are significant numbers of searches for keyword terms surrounding keyed pocket door locks.

Our Cowdroy P697 Pocket Door Lock with Key, is proving (not surprisingly) popular in it's genre.

Other popular keyword search terms in the past month, include Schlage Securekey Problems.

Schlage Securekey is a new product recently released by Schlage in answer to and to compete with Kwikset's Smart-Key product line. The widespread discussion and marketplace concern about the lock bumping phenomenon, has forced some lock manufacturers to update their product designs.

We have been conducting our own tests of the Schlage Securekey product and anticipate presenting some interesting findings in the not too distant future.

Strikemaster II seems to be continuing it's popularity in searched for terms. The product is beautifully designed to prevent door frame casing failure, effectively preventing the most common break-in method of door kick-ins.

Expect to see more articles about the popular searched for keyword phrases in upcoming posts.

What Locks Cannot Be Bumped

Many searches lately seems to be from people who are concerned about Lock Bumping.

In the USA, there are many advertisers who try to portray their products as bump proof or bump resistant.

The truth be told, there are only two (2) 100% guaranteed bump proof locks available today in the USA. Bilock and Abloy.

The new Kwikset Smart Key system is considered almost completely bump proof too, however there are many published bypasses for these locks so be aware before relying on them to secure your homes.

Other locks that cannot be bumped include, all wafer/disc tumbler locks including automobile locks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, boat ignitions etc.

The bumping principle works on all pin tumbler locks that use pin stacks. A pin stack is found in standard pin tumbler mechanisms, like Yale, Schlage, Kwikset, Corbin Russwin, Titan, Defiant, Baldwin, Lockwood, Byrd, Medeco, Mul-T-Lock etc.