Kwikset's SmartKey gives lock bumpers a whole new challenge
No, we don't recommend testing out your lock bumping skills on any building which you don't own, but just in case you've fallen victim to a bumper in the past, Kwikset is out to put you back in charge of whatever's behind door number three. Available in handsets, deadbolts, knobs and levers, the SmartKey technology effectively eliminates the possibility of using a rigged key to exploit the lock, and better still, the included Learn Tool enables owners to re-key a lock in under half a minute if necessary. Reportedly, the side-locking bar deadbolt system features ANSI Grade 1 certification and has passed "the most stringent lock picking standard." 'Course, it's only a matter of time before the tinkerers of the world have even this all figured out, but hey, at least SmartKey puts you ever-so-slightly ahead of the curve, right?
[Via Apartment Therapy]
[Via Apartment Therapy]




















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
emdee @ Mar 11th 2008 1:55PM
Abloy has been making 100% unpickable locks for years (http://www.abloy.com/) and I really don't understand why people haven't switched to them in most of the world.
wompa164 @ Mar 11th 2008 1:59PM
No lock is 100% unpickable.
Also, anyone who's worth their salt in entry system security knows that Kwikset are among some of the crappiest locks on the market.
Ignatius @ Mar 11th 2008 2:03PM
Hey, if you can't pick the lock...
Explosives.
tekdroid @ Mar 11th 2008 2:05PM
one post championing a particular brand. Another bagging it. Yet no links to verify / unverify?
:)
Vested interests at work?
I hope not.
Anyway, what I want to know:
"It also provides you the flexibility of re-keying your own lock quickly and easily without removing them from your door."
?? what does this mean, exactly.
Nick Catalano @ Mar 11th 2008 2:23PM
http://youtube.com/results?search_query=Abloy
The youtubes beg to differ
emdee @ Mar 11th 2008 3:34PM
Ok, sorry vOv, Abloy used to make an older style security lock (no longer for sale) that takes over 30 minutes to pick if it's sitting on the table in front of you. So you know, that makes it pretty useless.
BatteryAcid @ Mar 11th 2008 5:02PM
Wow, I think they use those at my school. I guessing the keys are expensive.
@ ignatius
Definitely! Thats what termites for! I actually used it to burn through a lock once. It worked great but it destroyed the locked object.
Randall @ Mar 11th 2008 9:16PM
If you want an unpickable lock, you go with Medeco. Seriously, those guys have thought at least three steps beyond the average lock-picker.
vo @ Mar 12th 2008 10:49AM
Actually, Medeco is a brand owned by Assa Abloy.
SundayDriver @ Mar 11th 2008 1:56PM
I just installed these on my house last night. Pretty slick.
zelet @ Mar 11th 2008 2:00PM
I knew there was a reason I replaced all my locks with these.
syadasti @ Mar 11th 2008 2:04PM
Is this lock completely mechanical?
Mentions a SmartKey reset tool - sounds like a secure risk unless its certain you can't use that until the cylinder is removed
lanoitarus @ Mar 11th 2008 2:19PM
According to the manual (PDF at bottom of main read link), the reset tool only works when the cylinder is already turned halfway by the correct key. Seems like an interesting idea, but I really cant think of many situations where it would be useful to be able to reset a lock THAT easily.
Paul Rivers @ Mar 11th 2008 2:39PM
I used one recently (at least I think it's the same as the one in this article). You put the original key in, then put in the "reset the lock" tool, then put in the new key. In other words, in order to rekey the lock you need the original key. I'm sure the idea is that by the time you can rekey the lock you've unlocked the lock. It would make a funny practical joke to change the locks, but it sounds alright to me.
syadasti @ Mar 11th 2008 2:21PM
Well on the website it mentions if you lose the key you can remove the cylinder from the door and bring it to a locksmith to use the reset tool. Maybe someone will figure out how to do that while its still in the door?
yelohbird @ Mar 11th 2008 2:06PM
Handlesets, not handsets...for a moment, I thought this was available for cellphones too...
turtle777 @ Mar 12th 2008 12:51AM
Duh, your insurance won't pay if someone uses a bump key to break in.
As far as the police and insurance is concerned, there are no signs of a break in, so they will fight you all the way.
Frank V. Roesler III @ Mar 11th 2008 2:17PM
Have any of you guy's seen the instructions on how to rekey the lock! It's a PDF file on their website and after reading it I was like "Man, this is awesome! Imagine the possibilities!" Seriously... I want like 10 of these, right now.
John @ Mar 11th 2008 2:27PM
This lock isn't that new. I bought a couple of these deadbolts at Lowe's a few months ago and installed them. BTW, the SmartKey thing is on the inside part of the door(not facing the outside) and requires the correct door key in order to use it and re-key it.
Just to clarify, unless you install it backwards, it cannot be re-keyed from the outside.
syadasti @ Mar 11th 2008 2:30PM
According to the FAQ (What if I lose my key?) from the flash website it also can be re-keyed with a SmartKey reset tool when the cylinder is removed from the door without any key.
John @ Mar 11th 2008 2:42PM
Yeah...but then of course the lock has to be removed from the door. My response was directed towards those concerned that someone could simply re-key the lock from the outside (for malicious purposes) when it was installed and locked.
beq @ Mar 11th 2008 4:03PM
Same here, I've seen the Kwikset SmartKey at local Home Depot and Lowe's stores for quite awhile and have bought them...
rachub @ Mar 11th 2008 5:28PM
I'm not sure how you secure your house, but if you look at the picture, the smart key goes in right next to the regular key. I know all my doors require the key to be inserted from the OUTSIDE to get into the house. :)
As a side note, I put these in when I bought a house a couple months ago. it's a nice feature, but I don't know how many times I'll really need to re key my locks. I could see them being really convenient for landlords who have people constantly moving in and out of their houses.
Ruben @ Mar 11th 2008 6:31PM
These locks are not that great at all. Kwikset, if memory serves me, are made by Black and Decker. They are notorious for making absolutely horrid products, and these locks are no different. These are nearly exactly the same as Weiser locks, which have the same ability, but came out a little while before these (and are supposed to be higher end). Both of them feel cheap.
Schlage locks had by far the best quality to them (for the cheaper store shelf locks), but ive personally bumped them open when a customer came in with a lock that they lost a key to (used to work at HD, Rona).
The technology isnt impressive. Taking a number of them apart after unintentionally pulling out the cylinder with a little too much strength when the key got stuck (during one of these rekeyings, because customers are dumb enough to say "well cant you just do it?" after explaining to them the procedure) isnt impressive at all to me. Thank god for RMAs.
Bloobie @ Mar 11th 2008 10:28PM
Uh, no. Unless it's a double-cylinder deadbolt, which is illegal in most places for residential entrance applications, then the SmartKey would need to be inserted from the outside of the door. Kwikset is infamous for doing this with their less expensive, hardware store residential knobsets, which can be popped off with a simple tool from the outside.
John @ Mar 12th 2008 3:13PM
Some of you need to think a little outside the box. Bloobie figured it out - I installed double cylinder deadbolts, so it is keyed on both sides. My "smartkey" slot is on the inside of the door.
Considering I have glass next to my exterior doors I found double cylinder deadbolts to be the way to go. And don't worry, there's no statute against them in my jurisdiction.
johnmsp @ Mar 11th 2008 2:27PM
Is this supposed to be news or an advertisement? This isn't a new product.
CosterMonger @ Mar 11th 2008 2:29PM
crowbar?
Jeff @ Mar 11th 2008 2:51PM
Gordon Freeman never used keys afterall.
superbeast @ Mar 11th 2008 2:41PM
Step 1: Find house with valuables locked with smartkey
Step 2: ?
Step 3: Profit!
Step 2 hint (read engadget post above this one)
Chris @ Mar 11th 2008 2:44PM
This technology has been around since the 80's, the original patent has now run out and that is why it is coming to the market again. Another solution that has been around for just as long is a product called InstaKey ( http://www.timelocksecurity.com/instakey/timelock.html )
Noah @ Mar 11th 2008 3:14PM
Remember, if you can't get through the door, try the wall.
barrywoods @ Mar 11th 2008 3:41PM
Widows are so much easier. Just ask the swat guys.
rooshma @ Mar 11th 2008 11:17PM
widows? It's go time...
kal326 @ Mar 11th 2008 3:41PM
Why spend time trying to pick a lock when there is probably a perfectly good window nearby? Seriously people, if somebody wants into something they will eventually get in given enough time and opportunity.
Most residential locks are arcadic designs at best, besides rekeying a lockset is not that hard. I used to do it in a few minutes as well as master key locksets when I worked at a hardware store years ago.
Mark @ Mar 11th 2008 5:34PM
This is why people aren't all that concerned that their door locks are insecure.
Security is only as secure as the weakest link (to butcher the phrase).
Once somebody makes stronger glass windows (screens, pet doors, etc.) then people will start to worry about the quality of their locks. Until then, who cares?
Casual thieves don't pick locks- they look for unlocked doors or windows or break them. And an unpickable lock isn't going to stop a determined thief.
L. Kraven @ Mar 11th 2008 4:42PM
Industrial users who have security issues should be looking at biometric and electronic systems.
Home users don't have to stay 100% ahead of the curve, just enough of it to bypass the typical uneducated thug likely to try to burglarize your home.
If you're fancy enough to have to worry about professional thieves, hopefully, you're not looking at engadget for security news on how to protect your Van Goghs.
g.Park @ Mar 11th 2008 4:52PM
Or you could buy a dog.
Still the best security system after 10,000 years.
PoopNinja @ Mar 11th 2008 6:05PM
I bought a Biometric Deadbolt doorlock from these guys :
www.viaetechnology.com
Best investment for my house yet..NO MORE FRIGGIN KEYS!!!.......tell em Paul sent ya and get a great deal ;)
wunch @ Mar 12th 2008 12:41AM
Incidentally, Kwikset also makes a biometric deadbolt called SmartScan.
ax0n@h-i-r.net @ Mar 11th 2008 6:52PM
There have been some posts on LockPicking101.com (I'm a reader and occasional participant there) about these. They're not pick-proof, but the sidebar keeps bump keys from working. As far as security locks go, these are trick.
Also, not all kwikset locks are crap (as evidenced here), but the kwikset locks you find at wal-mart are.
Rick @ Mar 11th 2008 8:22PM
What the hell is a lock bumper?
rooshma @ Mar 11th 2008 11:19PM
One word: Youtube
ideasbeyondborders.com @ Mar 11th 2008 8:51PM
speaking about locks...i think i will need a truly durable and sophisticated one for my car after losing my front and back car license plates a few days ago.
losing my car would be the most dreaded thing! i hope it won't happen...
Raheem @ Mar 11th 2008 2:14PM
Insured?
Joseph @ Mar 11th 2008 3:18PM
Use some carriage bolts. You might have to take apart the holders or part of the trunk lining, but thieves will go wtf? and go to the next car.
Shadyman @ Mar 11th 2008 4:24PM
Locks on your car won't help protect against license plate theft, sorry.
I don't think any kind of lock would really help, all in all, windows are still breakable.
ideasbeyondborders.com @ Mar 11th 2008 10:36PM
yes, it's so disgusting. yeah, my car's insured but i'm not sure if it's covered by the insurance (i mean, the reimbursement for a lost car). i can't read my policy as it's in a different language and the locals didn't even give me a hint that it can be. so, maybe not.
what to do is just to pray everyday that no one steals it...hehe. the problem is i don't have a devoted parking space in my place, we park everywhere the the public parking lot. :(
Bill @ Mar 11th 2008 9:19PM
The weak point in residential security isn't the lock on the door, it's the weakness of the doorframe.
Burglars don't break windows when they can simply kick in the door (much less noise than breaking a window - no risk of cuts)
If you have a typical residential wood door and wood doorframe, you need to install something like this: http://www.djarmor.com/
Roger Wilco @ Mar 11th 2008 11:11PM
The sure way to get through any door with any lock:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rpZlClVdNF4