Various kinds of locks

Locks are varied; about as varied as food, birds, and flowers. Your standard lock and key image is usually of a padlock and a traditional looking key with a rounded handle and jagged or notched blade that inserts in the keyhole. While those typical locks and keys are still around, in the modern world we can use locks, keys and locking mechanisms that folks just a few years ago would fail to recognize or even comprehend. Here at Trusted Locksmith Peachtree City, we sell, install, service, and maintain locks and keys of all types. Our locksmiths stay up to date in the latest developments in locking hardware and methods of installation and usage. We pretty much have to do this as it’s our business to know and to advise the very best ways to secure your property. You certainly don’t have to live here in Peachtree City, GA to find out more about the various kinds of locks available to you; you can consult with a trusted, full service locksmith shop in your town or neighborhood or do some simply easy research on your own.

Why so many locks?

Locks come in many forms, materials, sizes and functions. They can be small like diary locks or quite large like combination dials on a bank vault. Some locks offer minimal security and are more for the illusion of security than real protection. Others, offer time tested security that is much harder to bypass whether you are a seasoned criminal or a mischievous teenager. It’s smart thinking to consider the type and quality of the lock(s) you are considering. Be careful to match the lock type to the security need that you now have. Doing so will result in better protection for your valuables and property.

One tip we always pass on to our local customers is to always use quality locks and locking hardware. The only benefit cheap locks have is that they give the impression that you are protected and that your property is secure. A cheap lock is easily bypassed and you don’t need to be a newly released convict from Attica prison to know that. Teenagers and low-level crooks are known to smash, pry, pick and bump open locks of all kinds and being poorly constructed of cheap materials actually helps the process. It’s always a good idea to use quality locks when protecting family members, employees or valuables. Choose and work with quality lock brands that have proven the tests of time. Some of these include Baldwin, Medeco, Abloy, Schlage, Kwikset, Master, American, Sentry, Von Duprin, Yale, Dexter, Fichet, Ace, ASSA, Llco, InstaKey, Primus, BiLock and others of equal quality and reputation.

Deadbolts Locks

One of our favorite kinds of locks is the old fashioned but very reliable deadbolt. These locks when properly installed can provide your property with discreet and solid security by acting as a second line of defense. If a burglar was to manage to pick or bypass your main door lock, a well-installed deadbolt lock can thwart his actions by causing frustration, fear and lack of resolve. It takes additional time to now get past your deadbolt (assuming you locked it, of course!). Every second of this time increases the risk that the homeowner is either calling police or reaching for a gun. Most crooks will simply move on to easier pickings as the ‘low hanging fruit’ is what they had in mind, most times.

High security locks

These specialty locks are highly recommended by our locksmiths. They are built solidly and consist of better parts and construction. While most ‘regular’ locks are made of tin, high security locks are constructed of solid steel parts that allow them to become labelled as pick proof, pry proof and smash proof by industry experts. Surprisingly, you won’t pay a fortune for these useful hardware options as many locksmith shops offer them at affordable rates, including ours.

Padlocks

Padlocks are affordable, easy to use and portable. They come in many sizes and offer multiple options for locking and unlocking. You can use padlocks with keys, key codes, combination dials and a combination of the above. These useful locks can be used to secure gates, lockers, storage rooms, cabinets, sheds and lots more. People have been successfully using padlocks for several hundred years with varying degrees of success. Their portability and versatility make them useful in locking applications from jails to schools.

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What to do when transponder key is lost

Losing one’s property is always unpleasant. The fact that the lost item is yours makes it hard to accept that it is missing or even gone forever. The item may have sentimental value like a child’s drawing or a locket from a loved one. It may be a needed item like a watch or a winter coat. In the case of a missing transponder key, it is a needed item whose absence now causes great inconvenience as well as a sizeable expense. If you’ve ever lost a transponder key or had one stolen from you, you understand what we mean.

Do you remember the feeling you had when you realized that your key is gone? Did you panic and wonder how you could be so absent minded? Did you suspect a certain person of taking it? Were you wondering how to best replace the key or if someone now can drive your car and even steal it from you?

Transponder keys; pros and cons

There are many good things about the modern use of transponder chip keys. They are almost exclusively used by auto makers as they have been so instrumental in cutting down the rate of car theft. By making these specialized keys so hard to duplicate (and expensive) it has helped to lower the incidents of car theft as thieves cannot simply have transponder keys copied as the duplicate will not have a transmitter chip inside the head that can communicate with your car and allow it to start. This pro also happens to be a con as only certain car dealers were authorized by the auto makers to duplicate these keys. The process is pricey, time consuming, and very inconvenient as it often involves tow fees as the car usually has to be brought into the dealer service area in order to properly match the new key to the car’s computer.

What exactly are transponder keys?

Trusted Locksmith Peachtree City gets that question from time to time. People know that they are car keys but don’t often know much more. The word transpond means to transmit. This is what your transponder key does; it sends a message to your car’s computer when you turn it in the ignition. If the right key is used, the computer recognizes the transmitted signal and allows the engine to start. If another (wrong) key is used; no correct signal and no engine start!

Wait; can’t you buy transponder keys online?

Yes, you sure can. They won’t work and you have to wait for shipping to bring them but you can certainly buy one. Understand that these companies selling online transponder keys are not authorized to do so. They can’t accurately program your key’s chip, either. After you discover this, you are, of course, angry and disgusted. You’ll want your money back, but just try collecting! Many of these online firms are overseas and will either refuse to refund you or just ignore your requests altogether.

Transponder key insurance

Yes, they really do sell it and in most cases, it is can be valid. There is one drawback though; the high premiums that you pay. You have long waits between filing claims and re-imbursement and the hassles and expense are usually not worth is as our replacement method is faster, less costly and more accurate.

The best solution

You don’t have to live in Peachtree City, GA to use this replacement method; it works everywhere automotive locksmiths are located. Here’s what you do. Call a local, full service automotive lock professional and have him duplicate your transponder key, program it and make you a spare. Does all this sound expensive? It isn’t if you use the right technician. Call around and get pricing. Many shops offer free price quotes, convenient mobile service and same day appointments. As a comparison, call your car dealership and get some estimates from them, as well. You’ll be shocked at the difference. Not all lock technicians can duplicate transponder keys so use an established and fully licensed, bonded and insured location. The goal is to get quality service at a good price and NOT to just go cheap and spend as little as possible. 

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Are you having problems with your locks? Call Trusted Locksmith Peachtree City at (770) 628-0865. We offer residential, commercial and automotive locksmith services in and around Peachtree City. We have trained, certified and insured locksmiths that can handle all your lock concerns. 

We stock many top brands of lock hardware too. Take advantage of our low, low rates and our incredibly professional lock solutions. 

Not sure what service you need? You can find a list of our services at locksmithpeachtreecity.com

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Why Install Access Control

If you’re a business owner, you may be familiar with access-controlled security. When you want to be able to develop a more precise way of getting people in and out of your business, this is the way to go. With access control you can keep an eye on your business from wherever you are. You don’t have to have two sets of eyes to keep an eye on your business. You can look at what is happening at your business. You have likely noticed controlled access at public places like schools, government buildings, hospitals and universities. This allows only specific people to gain access into certain areas of the building. This is extremely important especially if you work in law-enforcement. When there is a high amount of foot traffic, it might be a good idea to have access control installed. If you have a lot of sensitive documents or dangerous chemicals, you should make sure that you have an easy and efficient way of getting everyone inside your building, out safely. Access control enables you to do this. 

If you do not want to be liable for loss of life or injury of anyone on your property, it is worth looking into getting access control. It is certainly worth the investment. This is one system that a burglar would find extremely difficult to master. That is why many of them avoid having to do so. When you have access controlled locks, they are as efficient as having deadbolt locks. Determine how you’ll protect your employees, customers and business before something tragic occurs. In Peachtree City, the locksmiths of Trusted Locksmith Peachtree City can help you get the help that you need. They have installed thousands of controlled access security. They know how to install every type of access-controlled system. Finding the right one for you is important to us. This is why we work with every customer to ensure they have exactly what they want and need. You should definitely learn as much as you can before making your purchase. Your system is sure to be far more useful to you if you do.

With an access controlled system you can get everyone in and out of your building effectively and efficiently. When you do not have to fumble around looking for a key, it is sure to speed up the amount of time it takes to get in and out. Even if your access control doesn’t enable you to enter a code, you have a fob key that will enable you to do this, no standard key required. There are yet other systems that identify physical characteristics that have been programmed to identify specific individuals. Once recognized by the system, you are able to gain access. 

If you have been considering having access controlled-systems installed in your business, you’re sure to receive peace-of-mind. You’ll get the convenience that you may have only dreamt of. If you’re on the fence about whether or not this is a good fit for you, perhaps some of the following feature will convince you one way or the other.

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Flaws in Samsung’s ‘Smart’ Home Let Hackers Unlock Doors and Set Off Fire Alarms

AUTHOR: ANDY GREENBERG

Image: WIRED/SAMSUNG

A SMOKE DETECTOR that sends you a text alert when your house is on fire seems like a good idea. An internet-connected door lock with a PIN that can be programmed from your smartphone sounds convenient, too. But when a piece of malware can trigger that fire alarm at four in the morning or unlock your front door for a stranger, your “smart home” suddenly seems pretty dumb.

The security research community has been loudly warning for years that the so-called Internet of Things—and particularly networked home appliances—would introduce a deluge of new hackable vulnerabilities into everyday objects. Now one group of researchers at the University of Michigan and Microsoft have published what they call the first in-depth security analysis of one such “smart home” platform that allows anyone to control their home appliances from light bulbs to locks with a PC or smartphone. They discovered they could pull off disturbing tricks over the internet, from triggering a smoke detector at will to planting a “backdoor” PIN code in a digital lock that offers silent access to your home, all of which they plan to present at the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy later this month.

“If these apps are controlling non-essential things like window shades, I’d be fine with that. But users need to consider whether they’re giving up control of safety-critical devices,” says Earlence Fernandes, one of the University of Michigan researchers. “The worst case scenario is that an attacker can enter your home at any time he wants, completely nullifying the idea of a lock.”

Unlocking Doors

The Microsoft and Michigan researchers focused their testing on Samsung’s SmartThings platform, a networked home system that’s in hundreds of thousands of homes, judging by Google’s count of downloads of its Android app alone. What they found allowed them to develop four attacks against the SmartThings system, taking advantage of design flaws that include badly controlled limitations of apps’ access to the features of connected devices, and an authentication system that would let a hacker impersonate a legitimate user logged into the SmartThings cloud platform.

In the most severe of their proof-of-concept attacks, the researchers found they could exploit SmartThings’ flawed implementation of a common authentication protocol known as OAuth. The researchers analyzed an Android app designed to control SmartThings services, and found a certain code—meant to be secret—that let them take advantage of a flaw in the SmartThings web server known as an “open redirect.” (The researchers declined to name that Android app to avoid helping real hackers replicate the attack.)

The researchers exploit that inconspicuous bug to pull off an intrusion worse than merely picking a lock: it plants a backdoor in your front door. First they trick a smart-home-owning victim into clicking on a link, perhaps with a phishing email purporting to come from SmartThings support. That carefully crafted URL would take the victim to the actual SmartThings HTTPS website, where the person logs in with no apparent sign of foul play. But due to the hidden redirect in the URL, the victim’s login tokens are sent to the attacker (in this case the researchers), allowing them to log into the cloud-based controls for the door lock app and add a new four digit PIN to the lock unbeknownst to the home owner, as shown in this video, sabotaging a Schlage electronic lock:

That malicious link could even be broadcast widely to SmartThings victims to plant secret backdoor codes in the locks of any SmartThings owner who clicked it, says Atul Prakash, a University of Michigan computer science professor who worked on the study. “It’s definitely possible to do an attack on a large number of users just by getting them to click on these links on a help forum or in emails,” says Prakash. “Once you have that, whoever clicks and signs on, we’ll have the credentials required to control their smart app.”

Read more: Flaws in Samsung’s ‘Smart’ Home Let Hackers Unlock Doors and Set Off Fire Alarms

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Your next home security system could deploy patrol drones

Alarm.com's new security scheme uses machine learning to know when to call in its investigatory UAVs.

By: Andrew Tarantola, @terrortola

 

Security cameras are great, but only when they're actually pointed at whatever is going on. With Alarm.com's forthcoming smart security system, however, unexpected events will always be in focus, thanks to a veritable swarm of drone investigators.

Alarm has developed a machine learning algorithm, called the Insights Engine, that continually monitors sensors placed around your property to learn how things are normally run and to quickly identify unexpected events -- say, a break-in or a water leak -- when they occur. If the system spots something out of the ordinary, it will deploy a swarm of autonomous UAVs built on Qualcomm's Snapdragon Flight drone platform to investigate. These little fliers will swarm over the event site and provide live video feeds to your phone. You can also opt in to share that video data with either Alarm.com's central monitoring facility or directly with emergency responders. Finally we can stop relying on Lassie to alert us every dang time Timmy falls down a well.

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