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Unlock Your Doors With a Knock Code

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the still-a-key-just-much-bigger-and-more-expensive dept.

Erica Campbell writes to tell us IsraCast is reporting that E-lock has developed a new kind of lock technology designed to open a door based on a "knock code." From the article: "This innovation is based on patented technology which uses a series of quick knocking sounds. The discrete mechanical knocks open the lock and are produced by a small device that can be carried by any authorized person. The device which opens the lock needs to touch the door (which can be made out of any material such as metal, wood, plastic or glass) to cause the lock mechanism to open. Since there is no keyhole or contact point on the door, this unique mechanism offers a significantly higher level of security then existing technology."

7 of 408 comments (clear)

  1. Higher security? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Yeah right. I think my PKI enabled smartcard offers a lot more security than this device.

    No keyhole or lock either. The worst anyone could do is bash the reader but that ain't gonna open the door. And no, you can't just cross some wires and make it open. We're talking a full authentication session here (think ssh and similar).

    1. Re:Higher security? by MichaelSmith · · Score: 2, Interesting
      A steel door with steel frame will typically survive a good hearty kick

      I bought my current house from a dogy character. He had a deadlock in the front door about one foot off the ground. I supose the principle is that if somebody tries to kick their way through the door it is going to be a lot harder if they are kicking between two good locks.

      --
      http://michaelsmith.id.au
    2. Re:Higher security? by famebait · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Anyway, point is, the strongest PKI based lock is pointless on a hollow core door with 1ply and cardboard, or even on vastly stronger doors if it is in a position to have heavy objects rammed at it.

      I wouldn't say pointless. Sure, you always need to be aware of what the weak link is, but for less than high-security applications there are still some important differences between a traditional lock and a door you have to bash open, even if the brute force route is available to anyone:

      - detection during attack (breaking in is noisy, picking is not)
      - detection after attack (if the lock is picked shut again, you probably won't know unless you already suspect something and examine closely)
      - pshychological barrier (bashing in a door will for most people require a little more motivation than fooling or even breaking a lock).

      --
      sudo ergo sum
  2. Re:this knocking sequence seems too easy to copy by __aaxwdb6741 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Two words: Reverse engineering.

    What methods have they developed to make the next sequence purely unpredictable? If the next knock sequence is computed from the old one, then the "listening" method is still valid. And if it isnt, one could replicate whatever variables either of the devices (Door or key) make use of to generate the next key.
    And then, we're back to square one. Stealing the key is just as easy as stealing todays regular lock keys.

  3. Re:this knocking sequence seems too easy to copy by YouTalkinToMe · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Sigh. In the article (which you didn't read) they say this will not work, because the knock code "changes each time". Probably some combination of your "personal key" (PIN) and date/time/etc.

    What I don't see is why this is any more secure than a smart card. If it is such a big deal not to have a reader "on the surface", then just have a reader embedded in the door (i.e. induction-based). There are already smartcards that also change their code with each use (eg for remote logins to secure networks). The "knock" aspect screams gimmick to me...

  4. Keyless locks - not that new... by surprise_audit · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I have a padlock that's at least 20 years old, with no external holes, other than where the loop comes out of the main body. The key is a flat metal plate about an inch long, with a number of magnets built into it. Place it against the side of the lock and the loop can be pulled up. No batteries, but I imagine it could be rendered unopenable by a sufficiently hard whack with a hammer. But then again, so would most locks...

  5. Ever tried breaking into a building/room? by bradleyland · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Working in bankruptcy, I've had the opportunity to break into a larger number of buildings and rooms. The reality is that locks are for honest people. Short of a vault, the vast majority of door lock mechanisms can be defeated with a crowbar, bolt cutters, or leverage bar. Our arsenal includes:

    * 25 lb, 66" pinch point crowbar
    * 44" bolt cutters
    * Standard crowbar

    The pinch point crowbar has a knock-knock that no door can resist.