The question comes up every time someone considers upgrading their front door: can smart locks be hacked? It sounds alarming, and the short answer is yes — technically, they can be. But stopping there would give you a very incomplete picture of what your actual risk looks like.

Researchers have studied smart lock security seriously over the past several years, uncovering real vulnerabilities in specific products and communication protocols. At the same time, those same studies reveal that pulling off a successful smart lock hack is far more resource-intensive than most people realize — and that the far more common threat is someone simply kicking in a door. This article walks through what the research actually shows: how smart lock attacks work, how likely they are in practice, and what design features separate a secure lock from a vulnerable one.

The Honest Answer: Yes, But Context Matters

Smart locks are internet-connected or wirelessly paired devices, and like any connected device, they carry some degree of digital risk. Academic research published in Wireless Networks (Springer, 2024) confirmed that vulnerabilities exist in smart lock ecosystems — particularly in Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication and in companion mobile apps that are not properly secured. A 2025 IEEE study evaluating 18 commercial BLE smart locks found that 14 remained vulnerable to various attack types.

That sounds concerning. But "vulnerable" in a lab setting and "likely to happen to your home" are very different things. Understanding the gap between the two is the most important thing you can take away from any honest discussion of smart lock security.

How Smart Lock Attacks Actually Happen

Security researchers have identified several categories of attack. Each one comes with its own set of requirements — and its own practical limitations.

1. Wireless Signal Interception

Smart locks that communicate wirelessly can, in theory, have those signals intercepted. In documented research, attackers have used tools like Wireshark and a Bluetooth sniffer to capture communication packets between a lock and a paired smartphone. If the lock's encryption is weak or improperly implemented, a captured packet could potentially be replayed to trigger an unlock. Relay attacks — where specialized hardware bridges the gap between an authorized phone and a distant lock — have also been demonstrated in lab conditions, with researchers bridging distances of roughly 65 meters in controlled tests.

The important caveat: these attacks require the attacker to be physically nearby (often within Bluetooth range), to have specialized hardware and technical skills, and to target a lock with known weaknesses. They are not the kind of spontaneous, drive-by crime that describes the vast majority of break-ins.

2. Companion App Vulnerabilities

Research published through Springer found that many vulnerabilities in smart lock ecosystems originate not in the lock hardware itself, but in the companion mobile app. An app that is not properly obfuscated, that stores credentials insecurely, or that connects to cloud services without strong authentication can become an entry point for an attacker. From a greater distance, a motivated attacker could attempt to compromise the app on your phone rather than the lock on your door — particularly if the app and your phone's operating system have not been kept up to date.

In 2024, researchers disclosed multiple CVEs affecting smart locks built on Sceiner firmware (used in Kontrol Lux and Elock devices), including issues with non-unique AES keys, unauthenticated firmware updates over Bluetooth, and the ability to impersonate a gateway device. The CERT Coordination Center at Carnegie Mellon University issued an advisory confirming these flaws. Critically, these vulnerabilities were tied to a specific firmware ecosystem — not to smart locks as a category.

3. Physical Tampering

Not all smart lock attacks are digital. Some smart locks are physically installed on the exterior of a door in a way that exposes circuit boards or debugging ports. Security audits by hardware researchers have found that, on some models, disassembly can expose UART interfaces or debug ports — though well-designed locks protect and disable these. Physical tampering is an often-overlooked vector because it blends cyber and physical access, requiring an attacker to spend time working on your door undetected.

4. Weak Passwords and Brute Force

This is arguably the most realistic threat for everyday homeowners. Hackers can exploit weak passwords, outdated software, or insecure networks to gain unauthorized access — not through sophisticated cryptographic attacks, but simply because the door was left open by poor security hygiene. Short PIN codes, recycled passwords shared with other accounts, and unpatched firmware are the lowest-hanging fruit for any attacker. Some locks also allow unlimited PIN attempts without lockout, making brute force guessing practical when the keypad code space is small.

Real-World Perspective: Hackers vs. Burglars

Here is something the headlines rarely mention: the typical burglar is not a hacker. FBI burglary data shows that most break-ins involve forcible entry or unlawful entry through unlocked or easily defeated access points. Most burglars still rely on kicking in doors, breaking windows, or simply trying handles — not bypassing encryption. Research on burglary behavior consistently shows it is an opportunistic activity. An attacker is unlikely to have planned to defeat a smart lock's encryption algorithms when forcing a door takes seconds.

That doesn't mean digital vulnerabilities can be dismissed entirely. But it does mean your security calculus should reflect actual threat probability. A smart lock with solid encryption, local data storage, and regular firmware updates is not meaningfully more vulnerable to the average break-in attempt than a traditional deadbolt — and it offers meaningful advantages a traditional lock cannot, like access logs, auto lock, and the ability to revoke access immediately without rekeying.

What Actually Makes a Smart Lock Secure

Not all smart locks are equally protected. Here are the specific features that separate a well-designed lock from a vulnerable one:

• AES Encryption: AES-128 is the industry standard for securing communication between a lock and a paired device. AES-128 uses a 128-bit key and has no known practical vulnerabilities that would allow it to be bypassed without the key — all successful attacks on AES-based systems have exploited incorrect implementation, not the algorithm itself. Reputable smart locks use AES encryption across all wireless communication.
• Local Biometric Storage: Locks that store biometric data such as fingerprints on the device itself rather than uploading it to cloud servers remove an entire category of risk. There is nothing on a remote server for a hacker to steal. This is especially relevant for fingerprint-enabled locks, where your biometric data should never leave your front door.
• Firmware Update Practices: Locks from manufacturers who actively release security patches and require authenticated firmware updates are significantly more resilient than those that do not. The Sceiner vulnerability disclosures highlighted this specifically — firmware updates delivered over Bluetooth without authentication are a serious weakness.
• Auto Lock and Lockout Protections: Auto lock ensures the door is never accidentally left open. Automatic lockout after repeated failed PIN attempts blocks brute force attacks on the keypad.
• ANSI/BHMA Certification: Physical construction matters too. ANSI/BHMA certification ensures the lock hardware meets tested standards for residential use — Grade 3 is the established benchmark for residential door security.
• First-Party vs. Third-Party Firmware: Locks built on widely licensed third-party firmware shared across multiple brands create a larger attack surface, because a vulnerability discovered in that firmware affects all devices using it simultaneously. Manufacturers who design their own firmware have a narrower, more controlled security footprint.

How Veise Approaches Smart Lock Security

Veise is a vertically integrated manufacturer — the company designs, engineers, and produces its own locks rather than reselling products built on shared OEM platforms. That distinction matters for security. Because Veise controls the full product stack, its security design decisions are not shared vulnerabilities spread across dozens of other brands using the same underlying firmware.

All Veise smart locks are ANSI/BHMA Grade 3 certified, which is the recognized residential standard. The Grade 3 designation is not a compromise — Grades 1 and 2 are built for high-traffic commercial settings like office buildings and hospitals, not for the typical home door. Veise locks also use AES encryption across wireless communications, and fingerprint data is processed and stored directly on the lock's onboard AI chip. No biometric information leaves the device, and no cloud account is required for fingerprint unlock to work. That local-storage approach eliminates the cloud-breach risk entirely for biometric data.

Veise also builds in defenses aimed squarely at the most realistic everyday threat — PIN guessing. After 10 wrong attempts, the lock automatically pauses for three minutes, so repeated guessing isn't practical; this lockout is on by default, not a setting you have to switch on. Anti-peep code entry lets you pad your real PIN with extra random digits before or after it — the lock still opens as long as the correct sequence appears somewhere in what you type, so an onlooker can't read your code over your shoulder.

Veise's smart lock lineup covers two connected categories, each with different connectivity architectures. Smart Locks w/ G1 and Smart Locks w/ G2 use a paired gateway to bridge the lock to a mobile app, enabling remote access and entry history review from anywhere with an Internet connection. Wi-Fi Smart Locks have built-in Wi-Fi and connect directly to your home network for app control and voice commands via Alexa or Google Assistant (the Wi-Fi connection enables voice commands directly; Smart Locks w/ G1 and G2 require the gateway to be in place for voice assistant integration). Even if your Internet connection goes down, app control continues to work locally as long as you're within short-range wireless distance of the lock.

For households where remote monitoring is the priority — parents tracking when kids arrive home, or property owners managing a short-term rental — a connected smart lock provides access history that a keypad deadbolt or keypad latch lock cannot. For those who want the simplest possible setup without app control or remote features, Veise's keypad deadbolt and keypad latch lock lines offer reliable keyless entry with a physical key backup and no Internet connectivity required — which also means no network-based attack surface at all.

Fingerprint enrollment on Veise locks captures the finger eight times to build a reliable template, and recognition processes in under 0.3 seconds. Fingerprints are stored on-device with no cloud dependency, giving the lock a meaningful privacy and security advantage over designs that transmit biometric data externally. Auto lock is configurable between 10 and 99 seconds on the keypad deadbolt and keypad latch locks, and between 10 and 180 seconds on the connected models, ensuring the door locks itself even when residents forget. All of this comes at the $30–$180 price range, installs in about 15 minutes with a screwdriver, and requires no subscription fees.

Practical Steps to Protect Your Smart Lock

Regardless of which lock you choose, the security practices you follow matter just as much as the hardware. Here is what actually reduces risk:

• Use a strong, unique PIN code. Avoid obvious patterns (1234, your birth year, repeated digits) and change codes periodically — especially after giving temporary access to guests or contractors.
• Keep firmware updated. Security patches fix known vulnerabilities. Set reminders to check for app and firmware updates, or enable automatic updates where available.
• Secure your home Wi-Fi network. For Wi-Fi-connected locks, your router is part of the security chain. Use WPA3 encryption if your router supports it and keep the router firmware current.
• Enable auto lock. This is the single most overlooked feature — it ensures your door locks itself even when you forget. Configure it for a timeframe that fits your household's habits.
• Review access history regularly. Smart locks with app connectivity let you see exactly when the door was used and by whom. Regular review makes it easy to spot anything unusual.
• Revoke access promptly. One of the biggest advantages over a traditional key is that you can delete a PIN code immediately. If a housekeeper, contractor, or guest no longer needs access, remove their code the same day.
• Choose a lock with local biometric storage. If fingerprint unlock is a priority, opt for a lock that stores prints on the device itself rather than syncing them to a cloud server.

The best lock in the world is only as secure as the PIN code you set and the network you put it on.

The Bottom Line

Smart locks can be hacked — that's a fact the research is clear about. But the actual risk to a typical homeowner is considerably lower than the headline suggests. Documented attacks require technical skill, proximity, specialized hardware, and usually a specific vulnerability in a specific product. The far more common threat is a burglar who never goes near a keyboard. Meanwhile, modern smart locks with strong encryption, local data storage, and proper firmware maintenance are meaningfully harder to defeat than the traditional deadbolts they replace.

The right response to smart lock security isn't fear — it's informed selection. Choose a lock from a manufacturer who controls their own firmware and takes encryption seriously, store your biometric data on-device rather than in the cloud, keep your software current, and use strong PIN codes. Do those things, and a smart lock is one of the most reliable security upgrades you can make to a home's front door.

Explore the full Veise lineup — from keypad deadbolts and Smart Locks w/ G1 to Wi-Fi Smart Locks — at iveise.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can smart locks be hacked remotely?

In theory, yes — Wi-Fi-connected smart locks can be targeted remotely if the companion app or cloud account is compromised. In practice, this requires a motivated attacker with specific technical skills targeting a specific product with known vulnerabilities. Using a strong, unique app password, keeping firmware updated, and choosing a lock with local data storage significantly reduces this risk. Keypad-only locks with no Internet connectivity have no remote attack surface at all.

Are smart locks safer than traditional deadbolts?

They offer different security profiles. Traditional deadbolts are vulnerable to lock picking, bump keys, and physical force — and a lost or copied key can compromise your home without you knowing. Smart locks eliminate key-copying risks, add access logs, and allow you to revoke access instantly. A smart lock from a reputable manufacturer with solid encryption is not meaningfully less secure than a traditional deadbolt and adds meaningful advantages a traditional lock cannot provide.

What makes a smart lock hard to hack?

The key factors are: AES-128 encryption on all wireless communications, local (on-device) storage for biometric data rather than cloud storage, authenticated firmware updates, and a manufacturer who controls their own firmware rather than using shared third-party platforms. Physical construction quality and ANSI/BHMA certification also matter for resisting forced entry.

Do smart locks store my fingerprint in the cloud?

This varies by brand. Locks that process and store fingerprints on an onboard AI chip — with no cloud upload — are significantly more privacy-protective, because there is no remote server holding your biometric data. Veise smart locks store fingerprints locally on the device itself, so biometric data never leaves your front door.

What should I do if my smart lock is compromised?

Immediately change all PIN codes and delete any unrecognized access credentials. Update the lock's firmware and your app password. If you believe your home Wi-Fi network was involved, change your router password and review connected devices. Contact the lock manufacturer's support team — a reputable brand will have a process for responding to security incidents.

Can a keypad lock without Wi-Fi still be hacked?

A keypad-only lock with no app connectivity and no network connection has no network attack surface. The only meaningful vulnerabilities are PIN code guessing (mitigated by lockout features) and physical tampering. For users who want maximum simplicity and no digital exposure, a quality keypad deadbolt is a solid choice.