Smart locks opened with nothing more than a MAC address

LASER_oneXM

Level 37
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Forum Veteran
Feb 4, 2016
2,516
15,625
3,578
53
Germany / Poland
Researchers demonstrated how remote attackers could exploit UltraLoq and steal access keys with minimal effort.

A smart lock sold by major US retailers could be opened with no more than a MAC address, researchers say.
Smart locks have slowly been adopted as an intelligent, Internet of Things (IoT) alternative to traditional lock-and-key methods to securing a property.

Complementing other IoT devices including wireless doorbells, smart locks and deadbolts are used by the general public to secure their homes, and they also have business use cases -- such as when properties are listed on Airbnb, as they can be remotely managed by hosts who do not have to organize a key handover on-site to guests.

While convenience is king, such connectivity can also create a new set of security problems. Several years ago, for example, a botched firmware update caused chaos for LockState customers who took to Twitter in their droves to complain they were unable to remotely control their smart locks -- and, therefore, access their properties.
... ...