Maybe you’ve already installed a wyze smart lock in your house. Or are thinking of making a purchase and the though can wyze locks get hacked crossed your mind.
It is possible in theory to hack a wyze lock since all device is built on technologies that could have vulnerabilities and exploits that are unknown to the manufacturer. However regular security patching and updating your wyze lock and reduce the risk of a hack taking place. That being said, there is no evidence to suggest that wyze is any less secure than its competitor brands.
That being said, let’s dig a little deeper into the possibility of why Wyze lock can be hacked, what you can do to make it more secure and how this smart lock works as well as some of its features that make this one a bang for the buck…
Wyze Locks Getting Hacked – A Possibility
Smart locks have become a necessity nowadays with people trying to add more security at home. There are a lot of advantages to having them but with all the available ones out there, it can be a bit confusing.
But if you are shopping for a smart lock that costs less than a hundred bucks, then Wyze locks is your answer.
Wyze locks provide an extra layer of security using your existing deadbolt locks. It is not a replacement but it will make your ordinary deadbolt a smart one.
It can be operated through your phone using the Wyze App or a keypad (sold separately). The lock is powered by four AA batteries which are replaced at least three times a year.
Since it is one of the affordable smart locks around, many wonder about its security. And if you are one of the many people wondering if Wyze Locks can get hacked, the answer is yes it is possible. Especially since this lock relies on Bluetooth and the Internet which is vulnerable to hacking.
Here are some of the possible ways for this smart lock to get hacked:
Fuzzing
Fuzzing is the process of automatically throwing in random codes or data into a program until it identifies a flaw. The hacker may use this flaw to write their own command (code execution) to trick the program to do what they want to do.
Decompiling APKs
An APK file is an application package used on Android devices to run and install the software.
Decompiling means hackers will download the APK from the Android device, recover the code, look for any information they can gather, or edit the code itself and recompile them.
Through this, they can have access to the system.
Device Spoofing
In device spoofing, the hacker will emulate the smart lock through the network to gain access. Several tests were done on different smart locks by Anthony Rose back in 2016 using device spoofing.
It tricked the cloud server to provide the tester the password which he entered into the smart lock and it unlocked the door.
Phone Theft
Wyze Lock is app-reliant if you do not have the keypad. And if you lose your phone, anyone who has it will have the chance to access your home.
One of the features of Wyze Lock is the auto-unlock which activates once it detects that the phone is within a specific range.
Still Want It? Here’s What You Will Get
Not only is Wyze Lock easy on the pocket, but they are also easy to install. You will only be needing your trusty Phillips screwdriver and probably about 15 minutes to do the installation.
The lock works with most types of single-cylinder deadbolts or the ones with a thumb-turn style lever. It’s not compatible with Integrated Lock & Handles, Mortise, and Rim Cylinder.
Wyze locks have a lot of good features such as auto-unlock once you’re within the 200-meter radius (perfect when your hands are full), auto-lock when you are inside your home, voice control through Alexa (Google Assistant integration is in the works), view lock and unlock history, remote access through the Wyze App, door position detector through Gyroscopic Sensor, trash mode, and sharing access to your family which you can grant or revoke anytime using the app.
As I mentioned, this smart lock has remote access where you can control it anytime, anywhere. You can download the Wyze App in Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
To run this app, you need to have Android 5.0+ and iOS 9.0+. To configure the settings, you have to connect the smart lock with the Wyze gateway that comes with the package. This gateway will connect to your home network and pair it with the smart lock.
To set up your Wyze Lock with the app, open the app, and enable Bluetooth on your mobile phone. In the app, tap the + sign then tap “Add Device”. Look for the “Wyze Lock” then select the gateway you want to connect the lock to.
Pair it with your Wyze Lock by pressing and holding the pairing button in the lock until it beeps. You can now start calibrating and setting up the lock.
When you successfully paired it with your account, the Wyze Lock cannot be set up for other accounts. This will prevent anyone to accidentally configure the lock to their account.
You can still share it with others, but they won’t be able to set it up on their own account as a new device. With that being said, make sure you only share it with people you fully trust since they can have unlimited access going in and out of your house.
From the Wyze App, you can easily lock and unlock with just one tap. Enable your wifi, Bluetooth, and location services to make sure that the auto-unlock feature works seamlessly.
The Wyze App needs to work in the background, so make sure you disable the battery-saver settings or add the app to the whitelist.
You can also set the following features through the app: Trash mode if you need to step outside for a few minutes without worrying that you’ll get locked out or set off the alarm if there’s a door jam or the door is left ajar,
Secure Locks For A Secured Home
There are no perfect locks, whether that’s a physical or a smart lock. There will always be something that will unlock them one way or the other. I’ve read that two months prior to Wyze Lock’s market release, there was a huge data breach in the company.
The data breach affected the Wyze Cam and most of the sensitive details were captured by hackers. Wyze has taken all the necessary steps so things like that won’t happen again.
Though this has already been resolved, there are still some people who are very skeptical about buying this product.
So with security in mind, Wyze Lock is built with an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 128-bit encryption, which is a global standard when it comes to securing sensitive data.
And for the keypad, it has a unique feature called Security Code Entry. You can enter up to 20 different number combinations as long as you enter the correct access code somewhere in between. For example, your access code is 1459, you can enter 013501459002. Pretty neat!
Also with the keypad, you can set guest codes for a specific time frame without compromising your security. You can set codes for the following:
- Always – Best for people you fully trust to give them 24/7 access.
- Recurring – Best for babysitters or dog walkers where access is set on regular and specific times.
- Temporary – Best for other guests who will only stay for a few days or house-sitters while you are away for the weekend.
- One-time – Best for one-time guests like electricians, plumbers, etc.
To keep your account secure, it is advisable to enable the Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). You can configure the settings in the Wyze App so that only the authorized people can use Wyze Lock.
They have two secondary authentication methods: via text message where they send a code to your phone and the authenticator app. You can download either the Google Authenticator or Duo Security for this process.
Remember, once this is enabled only you can modify it within the Wyze App. And if you lose your mobile phone with the number used in 2FA, you will have to create a new account.
Make sure you keep the software updated. And lastly, probably the most important and most basic, use a unique and strong password on your Wyze account. Do not use the same password from other accounts.
Conclusion
After researching Wyze Lock’s security, I came to the conclusion that smart locks are possible to hack. Hackable but definitely not that simple.
Burglars and hackers will have to go through a lot as well as spend money to crack this one.
And with that being said, they will probably let it go and do it the old fashioned “breaking the window” way. So, make sure you al
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