With all the personal gadgets and household appliances, whether it is phones or watches or refrigerators, becoming ‘smart’, it was only a matter of time before the humble lock went the same route. With the smart Kwikset Kevo lock, you get a taste of the future of home security systems.
Incorporating Bluetooth 4.0 technology, the deadbolt lock requires nothing more than a mere tap to unlock itself. For people who do not have a smartphone with Bluetooth 4.0 technology, the lock also offers a key fob to tap your way inside the home. However, purists need not frown as Kwikset Kevo retains the mechanical charm of a physical key as well. Among other nifty features, the Kwikset Kevo allows you to generate eKeys that you can forward to your friends or family members online, and they can use it to enter your apartment.
On the other hand, the nifty features and space age design of the smart Kwikset Kevo lock do not come cheap. Compared to regular deadbolts, a Kwikset kevo would cost you 6-8 times more. Is the steep price worth the functionality and enhanced security? Or is it all too gimmicky? Let us find out. Resources: North Glenn Locksmith Kwikset.com homedepot.com
How does it work?
Let us face it. Locks are meant to be unobtrusive devices that do not draw attention to themselves. In that sense, Kwikset Kevo does a commendable job despite its obvious cutting edge design. While it is sleek and elegant, it looks no different that any other deadbolt. It’s space age truly announce themselves once you tap upon it, as its ring shaped LED light will glow to decide whether or not to unlock itself.
The color coded LED lights are a clever design feature of the Kwikset Kevo, ensuring optimal security. The light would turn green once the smart deadbolt detects your smartphone or the key fob with you, allowing you access. If the smart deadbolt decides you are not standing in close proximity, the LED light would flash a magenta colored ring, indicating you to move further close and tap again.
The importance of the magenta LED light should not be dismissed as a gimmicky feature. The deadbolt would never flash the magenta light in the event you are inside your apartment. Why’s that important? This is because if magenta light were to go off, then anyone outside your house could tap the deadbolt to know you were present inside. That would be a clear and glaring privacy and a security flaw. The Kwikset Kevo is mighty impressive in not only anticipating this problem but cleverly eliminating it.
Smart lock app
The Kiwkset Kevo would not be half the smart lock it is without the app it comes with. It is through this app that you can generate eKeys to send over to your family and friends. There are several benefits of this eKey feature besides the fact that you do not have to be physically present to hand over the keys to someone. For example, the app allows you to see when someone entered and left your apartment.
In the case you are worried that you might have sent the eKey to someone you did not want entering your apartment, the app allows you to cancel it anytime you wish.
The app itself is fairly stylish and intuitive. All the icons and navigation is rather self explanatory and that makes it supremely handy to those among us who aren’t truly at ease with technology.
However, there are two sticking points with this lock. Firstly, the Kiwkset Kevo deadbolt is not internet enabled. Which means that you cannot use the app to lock or unlock the door for your friends or family. You have two options here, either be physically present or generate an eKey, which costs money. On the other hand, if your friends do not have a smartphone with Bluetooth 4.0, then even an eKey would not work.
Secondly, the Kwikset kevo only works with smartphones incorporating the Bluetooth 4.0 technology. Since a vast majority of Android devices do have this technology, a lot of them simply cannot avail of a lot of the features this lock offers.
Maintenance and battery life
The Kevo lock is powered up by four AA batteries that typically last a year. Once the batteries start running low, the deadbolt would flash a red light to let you know. You will also get notification through your app.
Loss of your phone and its misuse by others is a clear security risk, and, thankfully, makers of Kevo lock have provided against this. You can simply log on to their website, and delete your details online. You can also do this task physically.
For people who are long used to deadbolts costing no more than $30-40, the price of the Kevo would appear excessive. However, as mentioned above, the unique selling point of Kevo lock lies in the genuinely helpful ways it conveniences its owner. There is no doubt that with a kevo lock, your life would be both more convenient, and more secure. That is something we cannot put a price on!
What is Lock Bumping? Lock Bumping is a technique of picking a lock cylinder through the use of a specially cut key and a hammer or other striking device. The would be burglar inserts the key into the lock cylinder and then by using a significant amount of dexterity and skill he hits the bow of the key until it essentially picks all of the tumblers and he gains access.
Lock bumping creates a significant amount of noise for the perpetrator must repeatedly hit the bow of the key which is inserted into the lock mounted to the door. Thus, every time that the key is struck the sound reverberates throughout the house or building. Let’s face it, if the burglar is not concerned about making a raucous, then it would be both faster and easier just to pick up a rock and break a window.
Second, lock bumping is a lock picking technique thus it does take some amount of skill and practice to do it efficiently. If someone is motivated to pick locks by the use of a bump key they may as well just learn traditional picking techniques. In fact, do to the amount of noise that bumping produces it would be more prudent for a burglar to pick the lock, not bump it.
Lock bumping is a popular technique that you can use to open your lock if you lost your house keys. Here you need to insert a cut key into the lock and then bump it using a mallet or screwdriver. Doing this forces the pins in the lock to turn which results in an opening of the door.
Since it’s easy to access the bump core and the technique doesn’t require special skill, burglars usually use it to get access to your house. Due to the threat, it’s wise that you stop lock bumping in your house. Here are some of the ways in which you can stop hitting from taking place, thanks to the guys at southglennlocksmith.com:
Invest In a High-End Lock
Many people use cylinder locks which are very easy to bump. To keep your home safe, you should invest in a high-quality lock. High-end locks usually use complex locking mechanisms which make it tough for pumping to take place. One of the best locks that you should consider investing in is a slide-bolt lock.
Modify the Existing Locks
If you don’t have money to invest in new locks, you should ask a locksmith to help you in modifying the existing locks. Here you need to add additional pins into the locks. While this won’t make the locks immune to lock bumping, it makes the process more difficult which will repel most burglars.
Install a Home Security System
These are systems that detect when the door is opened. When the door is opened, the system will set off an alarm. In other cases, the system will let you or security authorities know that someone has accessed your building.
Add Chain Latches
If you don’t have the latches already, you should consider installing them. While the locks won’t affect the susceptibility of the lock to bumping, they add barrier which makes it hard for the thief to access your house.
Get a Dog
Burglars like doing their work unnoticed; therefore, when you have a dog, they will be afraid of getting into your house as they will be scared of the dog’s bark.
These are some of the ways in which you can prevent your locks from getting bumped. To ensure that you are safe if a thief accesses your home, you should review the insurance policy of your home and ensure that you will be covered in case of burglary.
Choosing the best professionals is not easy because the service provision industry has been invaded by both impostors and quacks. Painstaking legwork is therefore necessary as you tooth-comb the service provision industry for the most reliable specialists for your assignments. The same applies when looking for seasoned locksmiths. As such, this article explores a few tips that to bear in mind as you look for experienced and competent locksmithing services. Continue reading to discover the 6 top tips on how to find good locksmiths. Resources: www.auroralocksmith.org locksmiths-search.com wikipedia.org
Experience
First, you should pick experienced professionals who have severally handled similar locks issues before. Although this does not mean that you cannot hire promising starters, picking old hands who with a remarkable wealth experience in handling locks increases your chances of enjoy top notch services. To prove that a certain locksmith is indeed experienced, ask them to give you a list of the clients they have served before. Call the clients personally to verify that they were actually served by the locksmiths in question. This helps you verify that the locks professional you hire has satisfactorily served other people before.
Reputation
A service provider who doesn’t have impenetrable integrity cannot be trusted to faithfully perform work a decent job. There are some fraudulent locks specialists who even take client’s money and disappear. As such, go for individuals or companies whose track record is unquestionable. If they have a website, go over the client reviews posted by others to make sure that the locksmiths you hire discharge their responsibilities with unimpeachable integrity and with a strict adherence to the terms of engagement agreed upon. However, be careful because some of them may fake their own client feedback and purport that the same were written by ostensibly satisfied past clients. Any genuine customer review should include some important details such as the client’s image or their physical/email address.
Communication Skills
Although some locksmithing professionals may have the capability to undertake your project, you should not hire them if they have communication problems. This is because you need to be communicating with the locksmiths every once in a while as they continue working. Sometimes, you may not be around the working area but you need to be constantly informed about their progress. There some professionals who do not understand the importance of regularly updating their clients about how the job is getting. Avoid such locks service providers and go for those that seem to know the essence of contractor-client communication.
Qualifications and Registration
To avoid being swindled by impostors, go for locks experts who are both qualified and registered. Do not settle for mere verbal claims that a certain individual is qualified or registered. Insist until they show you the documents that attest to their qualifications and registration status. Follow up to confirm that the credentials were issued by recognized institutions or chartered statutory bodies that regulate service provision in the industry. Dealing with registered experts cushions from being mishandled by indiviuals who who are not recognized by the law and gives you an upper if the deal does not go as planned.
Referrals
Referrals are also very important when looking for the best locks handling technicians to repair or destroy existing locks. Of course, you are not the first person to look for locksmithing services in the area. As such, ask your neighbors, friends, and colleagues to suggest a few names of reliable locks service providers in the area. Come up a list of about 5-10 competent locks technicians and then whittle down the long list to about three or four names; and then finally pick the most promising locksmith.
Cost
Although it is universally accepted that the cheapest is not necessarily the best, be on the look-out to avoid being overcharged by unscrupulous locks repair technicians while you could have paid less. Do not settle on the very first locksmith you come across. Instead, consult various specialists and ask for quotes for a final comparison to ensure that you nail the most favorable deal. However, be careful not to prioritize cost over the quality of the locksmithing services offered. Because most of these technicians will not quote a final price at first, use your negotiation abilities to talk down the charges as much as possible.
Security is a standout amongst the most essential worries of every individual. Nobody likes intruders and all things considered, we attempt as much as we can to keep ourselves and belonging safe from thieves, and this is the reason houses are constructed and fitted with lockable entryways. You need to guarantee that no robber enters your home at any one time and that your well-being and the security of your family is not bargained. Individuals frequently introduce twofold bolts on their entryways with the aim of keeping their homes more secure particularly as most thefts happen amid the day. One is required by construction regulations and insurance agencies to have a double lock on each entryway that has direct access outside the building. Actually, we trust that these efforts to establish safety keep us safe. Be that as it may, does it make sense have two locks on the door? We’ve asked Paradise Valley Locksmith Pros this very question.
Yes and yes. It makes sense to have double locks particularly on the off chance that you live in a high or moderate-wrongdoing range. Numerous thieves break into houses either through the entryway or the window. Presently expecting that your windows are locked and not promptly accessible, the criminal will probably make a constrained passage through the door. Having double locks gives included security as it requires more investment to pick or break two locks thus giving your additional time point of interest. In any case, on the off chance that you have double locks on your door, it really bodes well to keep your windows shut and secure too.
The additional security that you will get from introducing two locks will just rely on upon the nature of the locks utilized and how legitimately they have been introduced. Most thieves are not as advanced as depicted in the motion pictures and realize that it is not exactly as simple to pick complex locks. The odds of a robber constraining passage into your home will diminish altogether if your door are fitted with original locks. These deadbolts are typically made of solidified steel and relying upon the class utilized and how well they are fitted; they can make it extremely troublesome for the normal thief to get into your home.
Most protection suppliers oblige property holders to introduce double locks . On the off chance that, your house is broken into, and your property is stolen by a robber, the insurance agency will probably repay you on the off chance that they check that you had gone the additional mile to secure your home. You additionally get the chance to pay generally bring down premiums.
In spite of the fact that individuals frequently gripe that double locks are more risky than they are advantageous, it is beneficial to introduce them as they speak to a more elevated amount of assurance than standard single locks do.
The flame dangers can be diminished by introducing single-jolt locks that just require a key to bolt from the outside yet can be locked and opened naturally from within utilizing a turn doorknob. While you might run the periodic danger of locking yourself outside, introducing such secures all way out entryways gives more security to your home furthermore permits you to leave the building effectively if there should be an occurrence of flame or some other crises.
There are distinctive sorts of double locks that work best for various individuals. On the off chance that there are little windows in the doors that can be broken into or escape clauses that make single-jolt twofold bolts incapable, it will be more fitting to utilize twofold jolt locks. On the off chance that the double locks jolt framework is undesirable, supplanting and getting one that is intended to security components, for example, strengthened glass will be the best choice. This will discourage or slow down a thief from effectively getting into your home.
At last, locate an expert locksmith at whatever point you need to change your locks or even to replace your keys. Keep in mind that you are giving an aggregate more interesting access to your home and believing him with your security. There are numerous sketchy locksmiths who might give you a substandard employment or more awful still make a duplicate of your keys and team up with criminals to take from you.
It is critical to do your examination well before picking a locksmith to introduce those double locks . Make an inquiry or two for proposals from loved ones. You can likewise discover proficient locksmiths close to you by checking the Better Business Bureau, with regards to your security, you can’t be excessively cautious.
As technology continues to impact every aspect of our lives, security remains one of the most affected sectors. Biometric fingerprint lock is one of the most advanced forms of security that every company should invest in. Basically, this technology operates by using the thumb print to identify and verify an individual before one is allowed to access a building, office, home or locker. Think of this scenario, you have misplaced your office key while everyone is waiting for you to unlock the door. Other than time waste, confusion and the cost incurred in paying a locksmith to unlock and replace the door, there is the extra cost of missed opportunities in terms of customer calls and inquiries that go unanswered while trying to resolve such a mess. This is just one case that a biometric fingerprint lock can resolve. Thanks to the guys at www.apachejunctionlocksmith.net for the useful information.
Advantages of a Biometric Fingerprint Lock
Key less door
Having a key less door is one of the major advantages of a biometric fingerprint lock. Operating a key less door allows you to avoid inconveniences like losing your keys, locking your keys inside the house, or forgetting your office keys at home thus having to rush back. Apart from inconvenience, there is a major security threat when using keys due to override. Cases or robberies by people with lock picking abilities are on the rise as criminals keep getting smarter every day. However, with biometric fingerprint locks, your fingerprint is the only thing that can be recognized and authorized to gain access. The use of fingerprint, being the most unique part of human body, makes it impossible for such criminals to gain unauthorized access to your home, office or business.
Cost effective
Most people shy away from investing in a biometric fingerprint lock due to high initial cost. However, in the long run, this technology is cheap as compared to traditional locks. With a manual lock, you will incur numerous costs on repair the traditional lock every time it breaks down. However, this is not the case with biometric fingerprint lock. It is made from high quality durable material using the latest technology to not only makes it long lasting but also more efficient.
Possible to keep records
If you want to keep track of all the people who gain access to your office, home or business premise, then this technology is ideal for you. When an authorized person gains access by pressing a finger on the finger print scanner, all the details such time of entry and the fingerprint records are stored in the data base for retrieval or monitoring purposes. Further, the technology does not allow a fingerprint to be recreated thus eliminating privacy concerns and cases of fraud.
User-friendly
Simplicity is another major advantage of a biometric finger lock .This technology is user-friendly both to the users and the administrators. All that is required is to scan the fingerprints of the authorized personnel and store in the data base. The authorized persons are required topes on the lock before gaining access. Users don’t require any special skills to gain entry as long as their fingerprints match that in the data base.
Hence, if you are looking for a worthy investment in terms of security, then biometric fingerprint is the best choice.
Let us face it. Locks are meant to be unobtrusive devices that do not draw attention to themselves. In that sense, Kwikset Kevo does a commendable job despite its obvious cutting edge design. While it is sleek and elegant, it looks no different that any other deadbolt. It’s space age truly announce themselves once you tap upon it, as its ring shaped LED light will glow to decide whether or not to unlock itself.
The Kiwkset Kevo would not be half the smart lock it is without the app it comes with. It is through this app that you can generate eKeys to send over to your family and friends. There are several benefits of this eKey feature besides the fact that you do not have to be physically present to hand over the keys to someone. For example, the app allows you to see when someone entered and left your apartment.
Many people use 
Burglars like doing their work unnoticed; therefore, when you have a dog, they will be afraid of getting into your house as they will be scared of the dog’s bark.
To avoid being swindled by impostors, go for locks experts who are both qualified and registered. Do not settle for mere verbal claims that a certain individual is qualified or registered. Insist until they show you the documents that attest to their qualifications and registration status. Follow up to confirm that the credentials were issued by recognized institutions or chartered statutory bodies that regulate service provision in the industry. Dealing with registered experts cushions from being mishandled by indiviuals who who are not recognized by the law and gives you an upper if the deal does not go as planned.
Although it is universally accepted that the cheapest is not necessarily the best, be on the look-out to avoid being overcharged by unscrupulous locks repair technicians while you could have paid less. Do not settle on the very first locksmith you come across. Instead, consult various specialists and ask for quotes for a final comparison to ensure that you nail the most favorable deal. However, be careful not to prioritize cost over the quality of the locksmithing services offered. Because most of these technicians will not quote a final price at first, use your negotiation abilities to talk down the charges as much as possible.
Yes and yes. It makes sense to have double locks particularly on the off chance that you live in a high or moderate-wrongdoing range. Numerous thieves break into houses either through the entryway or the window. Presently expecting that your windows are locked and not promptly accessible, the criminal will probably make a constrained passage through the door. Having double locks gives included security as it requires more investment to pick or break two locks thus giving your additional time point of interest. In any case, on the off chance that you have double locks on your door, it really bodes well to keep your windows shut and secure too.
At last, locate an expert locksmith at whatever point you need to change your locks or even to replace your keys. Keep in mind that you are giving an aggregate more interesting access to your home and believing him with your security. There are numerous sketchy locksmiths who might give you a substandard employment or more awful still make a duplicate of your keys and team up with criminals to take from you.
Having a key less door is one of the major advantages of a biometric fingerprint lock. Operating a key less door allows you to avoid inconveniences like losing your keys, locking your keys inside the house, or forgetting your office keys at home thus having to rush back. Apart from inconvenience, there is a major security threat when using keys due to override. Cases or robberies by people with lock picking abilities are on the rise as criminals keep getting smarter every day. However, with