ASSA ABLOY Mobile Key

[MrRusswarez]

What do you guys think?...
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/02/assa ... r-room-wi/

[pin_pusher]

i often am afraid of trusting non-mechanical technology, or things that rely on power grids and computer systems open to user error (viruses, surges, passwords, etc. not the common key stuck in lock kind of user error) and energy failure...still more excited about mechanical locks that work independently of one another, and are not effected by grid failure or outages...or say, the random IT guy who doesn't know any better. i'm quick to assume, and maybe wrong, that these systems cost more to maintain in the long run than an already existing master key program/system.

[globallockytoo]

i often am afraid of trusting non-mechanical technology, or things that rely on power grids and computer systems open to user error (viruses, surges, passwords, etc. not the common key stuck in lock kind of user error) and energy failure...still more excited about mechanical locks that work independently of one another, and are not effected by grid failure or outages...or say, the random IT guy who doesn't know any better. i'm quick to assume, and maybe wrong, that these systems cost more to maintain in the long run than an already existing master key program/system.

I am not enamoured with electronic access control, especially wireless systems either. However one should not necessarily be so quick to pronounce negative judgement on the future of locking systems especially electronic stuff.

But combining electronics with quality mechanical products, will be the wave of the future I suggest.

To digress a little, wireless products (that require communication with a computer or wiegand controller) are prone to significant interference from other hardwired electronics already in place within a dwellings infra-structure.

It is that interference that can be "hijacked" by a would be intruder. Especially the insecure wifi or bluetooth or cell technology that is available today.

RFID on the other hand is something that I think is more reliable, although I think further discussion is meritted.

[vov35]

I'm pretty sure the most reliable combination we've got right now is pairing good electronic and mechanical systems as in standard car ignitions. an RFID tag AND a mechanical lock means pretty good resistance to attack...

[pin_pusher]

I'm pretty sure the most reliable combination we've got right now is pairing good electronic and mechanical systems as in standard car ignitions. an RFID tag AND a mechanical lock means pretty good resistance to attack...

agreed, the aesthetic of 'new' or 'futuristic' locks can overlook its practical applications during marketing and sales.

[Evan]

I'm pretty sure the most reliable combination we've got right now is pairing good electronic and mechanical systems as in standard car ignitions. an RFID tag AND a mechanical lock means pretty good resistance to attack...

That would depend on the application and what the security goals were...

Often times using both technologies and giving both an RFID access card and a mechanical key to those granted access to a secured opening defeats the purpose of access control... Lost mechanical keys would become a problem as they would operate the opening but without using an access card at the same time as the key would trigger an event log or local alarm -- mechanical keys for openings protected by access control are usually reserved for personnel with all access to the building in case of some failure in the electrical components of the access control system and NOT given to users at all...

You can design systems which use an access card and PIN code pad at the opening, one that I have personally seen was for graduate students access to a chem lab space which used an authorized card and a six digit PIN code for the specific door to be opened... The PIN code was changed at the end of every semester and you had to be entered into the approved access list by the department secretary for your card to be allowed entry to that space...

Although I am not a fan of biometrics (as I think that no one should be allowed to keep a database of personal info like how far apart your fingers are, what your fingerprint patterns are or what the pattern of the blood vessels in your eyes is) which uses your body as an authentication device for someone else's locks, if you feel that an access card and PIN is not secure enough, I am sure that some combination of those two with a further biometric level added in would be more secure...

~~ Evan

[globallockytoo]

there are multiple systems available already that combine mechanical and electronic access control. Like Cliq, Cyberlock, Bilock e-lock (using Mi-fare RFID chips).

You can have excellent phyiscal secuirty combined with access/audit control now in a standard lock cylinder, for significantly competitive prices to other fancied electronic access control solutions. (card access etc).

[Evan]

there are multiple systems available already that combine mechanical and electronic access control. Like Cliq, Cyberlock, Bilock e-lock (using Mi-fare RFID chips).

You can have excellent phyiscal secuirty combined with access/audit control now in a standard lock cylinder, for significantly competitive prices to other fancied electronic access control solutions. (card access etc).

I prefer hardwired systems which can be centrally controlled and monitored LIVE as opposed to systems where you need to visit each lock with an audit credential and data logging device...

Off-line access control systems can be abused, bypassed and probed for quite a while before such tampering is ever discovered, IF it ever is discovered... On-line access control systems can do many more things and have capabilities that the essentially stand alone Cliq and Cyberlock cylinders can never do even if they are organized into a multiple layer "system" of stand alone locks... The auditing capability is hardly ever utilized unless and until something goes missing... Lost electronic-mechanical keys are not able to be immediately deactivated by otherwise untrained personnel like missing RFID access cards can be requiring instead special equipment and administrator access, and the openings can not be "locked down" restricting access to only those few emergency response personnel during some sort of security penetration event...

In large buildings there is quite often a very complicated inter-relationship of building systems -- with the access control system interacting with the fire alarm system for life safety reasons... Those "more competitively priced" quasi-access control stand alone systems lack the ability to be deployed in such environs and require special skills and equipment available 24/7 to keep secure in the event of a missing key...

~~ Evan

[MrRusswarez]

Thank you for your opinions!!!

[globallockytoo]

Evan,
Bilock E-Lock using Mifare chips are able to be used with the Salto Access Control products easily. Salto is a brilliant and secure modern product that is RFID controlled and intranet/internet driven.

You might be really interested in their product line
Bilock heads with the mifare chip built in, offer the double use of audit trail locks at specific entry points, while maintaining top-notch high security and mechanical back up at all other less than secure entries.

The Bilock heads will also work the RFID readers too (supposedly).

[Rickthepick]

There are too many smart deviants out there for me to trust a non mechanical device.