But these often interconnected objects are also easy prey for hackers. And smart locks and access control systems are no exception. Controlling these remotely, via a smartphone or dedicated software, is not without risk.
Network and connectivity: security at the heart of the challenge
No risk does not exist. As for the use of connected locks, digital networks contribute to increasing the field of attack by cybercriminals. Therefore, before choosing a remote access control solution, it is essential to understand and analyze how data is collected and transmitted to management devices. The next step would be to establish a protection strategy for connected devices and their infrastructure to prevent data from being intercepted by malicious people.
Although more or less significant security flaws have been demonstrated at certain suppliers by security experts, end users also have their role to play: regularly updating management systems with numerous databases and making the network less visible to a potential external threat.
If we extend the argument to smart buildings, where a central device controls all the systems, the lack of security on the latter's network easily opens the door to hackers.
Hacking personal data
Personal data is at the center of cyber threat concerns. In terms of access control, they are essential elements for authenticating an individual and assigning him a badge. In the case of access control in a building or residence, all personal data is identified beforehand and stored in a database defined for this purpose. As part of the administration of badges and access, the objective is to limit the data to the strict minimum to limit the damage in the event of cyberattacks. It is also advisable to secure the database as well as possible using passwords.
Passwords: the beaba of security
Although not all smart locks and their control systems are the same, one thing unites them: passwords. Access security is now essentially based on passwords, which have become an integral part of our daily lives. But good practices in terms of choosing a password are sometimes difficult to impose.
Default passwords are the Achilles heel of security. It is very important not to rely on a standard communication rule between the management system and the lock and to use default passwords, but rather derived passwords which make decryption more complex.
The security of access control technologies is based on 3 intertwined pillars which are the infrastructure, the data and the encryption system. A weakness in one of these links will inevitably lead to a security risk.
Tribune by Stevenson Olibrice, Technical and IT Manager at SimonsVoss Technologies (LinkedIn).