Did you know that nearly 9% of home burglaries involve entry through the garage?! Burglars will often look for homes where the garage door was left open or appears to not be working correctly and gain direct access to the inside of the home. They also rely on outdated garage door systems that allow them to hijack codes and gain access whenever they want.
If that sparks concern about your home security, there’s good news. Connected garage doors, in addition to always practicing security basics, have changed the name of the game and have made it easier than ever to reinforce your house’s largest entry point. But some wonder, do smart garage doors present a new set of risks? We’re here to break it down so you can make an informed decision.
How do Smart Garage Doors Work?
The answer is encryption, which turns your data into gibberish if you don’t have the key. With old school garage door openers, a single code was used every time you pressed the open button, allowing potential thieves with “code grabbers” to intercept your signal. They use that signal later to quickly get into your home, no lockpicking or searching for unlocked windows required.
Today’s smart garage doors use rolling codes, which generates a new encrypted code with every button press. Even if someone were to try to snatch the code, it wouldn’t work when they went to use it since a new code will be needed each and every time.
Can Smart Garage Doors Be Hacked?
It’s a common concern, but smart garage door openers are more secure than old, outdated models. While they’re not completely immune to cyber threats, the biggest vulnerabilities come from poor user habits rather than the technology itself. Skipping updates, weak passwords, or connecting your device to an unsecured Wi-Fi network can all increase the risk.
By simply creating a strong password that you update regularly, enabling two-factor authentication, keeping your device up to date, and ensuring you are always on a secure Internet connection, you can confidently enjoy the convenience of a smart garage opener without sacrificing security.
Key Security Features
Remote Control Access
Being able to operate your garage door from anywhere using your phone is not only convenient, but it is also a vital security feature of smart garage openers. Forgot to close your garage door during your commute to work? No worries, take care of it without the need to travel all the way back home. Need to let a technician in for an appointment while you’re gone? Easy, and with no need to leave a key out that can be used by anyone. With some smart garage door systems, you can even set up custom access permissions so visitors can only enter your home during a specified time period.
Real-Time Monitoring
Of course, always knowing what’s happening around your home is a huge benefit. Smart garage doors allow you to check your garage and surroundings from your smart device from inside your home or halfway across the country. You can even set up notifications to let you know the moment your garage door is opened.
Activity Logs
Keep track of every open and close with a smart garage opener, which will make it easier to see when unusual things are happening, like the garage door opening when the house is empty.
Integration with Smart Security Systems
Complete your smart home setup by connecting your smart garage door opener with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant so you can control your garage by voice.
Ready to Make Your Garage Door Smarter?
South Dakota Overhead Doors is here to help! We offer trusted smart garage door solutions such as MyQ from LiftMaster. Contact us today to get started!