Author: zachi

The 411 on Smart Lock Technology

Smart Lock Technology is here

Mobile Smart Lock technology is sweeping the nation and will most likely be the standard of car and home security within the next decade.

While it may be more convenient to simply use your phone to unlock your house or car, how safe is it really when any criminal can use the same app to unlock your door as well?

You’ll want to consider the difference between ultra-convenience and safer, more secure alternatives.

Smartphones do so much already, so this is not a big step into the future, but it is worth considering how safe your car or house actually is with this new technology on the horizon.
Here are some of the reasons we are moving toward this growing trend.

Home Security Apps

With the help of security cameras, we now have applications on our mobile phone that allow us to check our home’s security no matter how far away we are. We can unlock doors remotely and control our entire security system from the touch of a button. And the trend continues to push us to rely more and more on A.I. to make our lives more convenient and exchange autonomy for convenience.

Things we used to do ourselves are now being done entirely by machines. Therefore, will this trend continue and leave homeowners and car owners vulnerable to theft and burglary? Only time will tell.

Car Unlocking Apps

There are more and more apps on the market that make it easier to control your car than ever before. For example, there are apps on the market now that allow you to start your car’s ignition with the touch of a button, or even apps that let you unlock any door in your vehicle from a certain range (as far as 350 feet from some reports). Apps like these may be convenient, but consider how easy it is for criminals to exploit this technology and leave a growing number of car owners vulnerable to theft and vandalism.

Security Implications

What will this smart lock technology boom mean for security in the future? Well, for one, it means that we will rely more and more on technology to make our lives easier and, by extension, keep us safe. For example, the Tesla Model 3 lets you enter the vehicle without ever having to open it with a key.

Therefore, we have to ask ourselves, how much trust are we willing to give these machines, or A.I. (artificial intelligence), at the end of the day, and where will we draw the line in the sand?

Key Takeaways

Let’s face it, smart lock technology is taking over the residential and commercial markets by storm. Indeed, most new car buyers already expect to buy vehicles with a push-to-start feature, making keys more and more obsolete as time rolls on.

If you’re having problems with a smart lock on your house or car, don’t hesitate to give Safes & Keys Services Santa Monica a call. We deal with all the newest smart locks on the market, such as the August Lock and the Ring security system, so contact us today!

5 Holiday Home Security Tips To Secure Your Home

holiday home security tips5 Holiday Home Security Tips To Protect Your Home This Holiday Season

A burglary is horrifying and leaves the premises owner disturbed by the incidence. And it doesn’t matter whether the burglar was successful in his attempt or not.

So what are some of the basic things you should consider to protect your property from burglaries this holiday season? Here are some safety tips for protecting your home over the holidays.

  1. Consult a Professional Locksmith to Inspect and Identify Weak Points

Don’t take the matter by yourself if you are not a trained locksmith. Hiring a professional locksmith will help you identify possible weak points on the main entrance and also other areas you intend to protect.

This is because professional locksmiths come with lots of experience gained over the years of handling burglary incidents.

In addition, the training focuses on ensuring improved security features for use at home and business premises. To ensure your home and business premises are secure over the holidays, contact a professional locksmith for qualified guidance.

  1. Consider Installing Security Cameras and Access Control Systems

Advanced security cameras also help in ensuring top security for your property. These home security cameras make use of the latest technology which is designed to support remote surveillance. Thus, wherever the holidays take you, you have the control of who enters your business premises and at the same time can see what is going on back at home.

For most of these systems, you will need to consult an expert who will ensure they are functioning optimally, and securing your home while you are away.

  1. Install High Security Locks

High security locks are also important in protecting your property. Don’t underestimate the importance of these locks just because you already have security systems installed in your home. Therefore, consider replacing your old fashioned locks (they usually come with home breakers), with high security locks instead.

  1. Install a High Security Safe with a Fire Rating

A safe will also protect your valuables if you’re looking for more secure options on the market. Therefore, on top of installing new security cameras and high security locks, you will need a safe where you will keep your valuables. Consider that a safe will protect your valuables from fire also.

Thus, in case a fire breaks out while you are away, your valuables will remain intact, hence avoiding losses. In addition, the safe should be installed by a trusted professional locksmith.

  1. Consider Hiring a Security Company

When all is said and done, having someone watch over your business premise or your home is important. You need to ensure that you hire a trained professional who will protect your property and keep record of all occurrences.

Hiring a professional locksmith will go a long away when it comes to securing your home over the holidays. Contact Locksmith Santa Monica today for professional advice on protecting your property.

The Best Fire Safe for Your Home or Office

best fire safe (424)281-7450Fire Safes offer protection from house or office fires of all kinds, and some even resist water too! While they offer fire protection, they aren’t exactly secure however, but they sure look like they could take all manner of abuse. Therefore, keep high value items such as jewelry, watches, gold, silver, etc. in a bank. And put these items in your best fire safe instead:

  • Passports
  • Social security numbers
  • Birth Certificates
  • Marriage Certificates
  • Title Deeds
  • Wills

Basically, you’ll want to put anything in there that a burglar wouldn’t immediately find valuable. And that’s why things like jewelry and money should stay in the bank just in case.

Many Standards and Tests for Fire Safety

Most house safes need to withstand fires for up to 30 minutes at temperatures of well over 1800 degrees farenheit. As such, there are many standards and tests that go into classifying the best fire safe, but we will mainly focus on fireproof safes for the purposes of this article.

Here are 5 Fireproof Safes that have passed all of the tests from UL (Underwriter’s Laboratories) and rank highly in many consumer buying guides. And I will list the pros and cons of each one for your reading enjoyment.

SentrySafe 0500 Fire Chestbest fire safe (424)281-7450

  • This sturdy safe is fire resistant and holds all of your important belongings in a very compact space for easy storage. It has a convenient carrying grip to help you move it easier and a key lock at the top of the box to keep unwanted people from opening it.
    • Pros: Fire Resistant (up to 1550 degrees Farenheit for 30 minutes), Extra small, key lock for extra protection.
    • Cons: Not fireproof, limited security

First Alert 2092DF Waterproof Fire Safe

  • Wow, a fire safe that is not only fireproof, but WATERPROOF as well. This fire safe does it all with over 1.31 cubic feet of storage space for your valuables and important documents in the house. Its fire-resistant design allows it to withstand temperatures up to 1700 degrees for up to 1 hour. And its resistance to water keeps contents dry even when it is fully submerged. However, its digital lock may be hard to program at first, making it a bit less reliable than some of the other fire safes on this list.
    • Pros: Fireproof, Waterproof, lots of internal storage space
    • Hard to program digital lock

Honeywell 30-minute Fire Safe

  • This rectangular fire safe safely stores your most intimate letter and office files for any reason whatsoever. As the title suggests, it can withstand temperatures up to 1550 degrees farenheit for at least 30 minutes and is completely waterproof as well, up to 24 hours. It even comes with a 7- year limited warranty so you can still sell it even after it’s been through a fire. However, the safe weighs nearly 47 lbs, so it’s not as mobile as some of the other safes on this list. But it will definitely keep your items secure from simple threats.
    • Pros: Waterproof Filing Safe Box, very spacious interior, 7 year limited warranty
    • Cons: Heavy (47 lbs)

First Alert 2017F

  • This incredible safe keeps the ball rolling with fire AND water resistance in a compact, interior size that’s perfect for holding small items and documents (0.19 cubic foot capacity). However, with only one set of keys for the lock, don’t expect it to keep expert burglars and robbers out forever!
    • Waterproof, Fire- Resistant, small, compact size for storing small valuables
    • Limited Security

SentrySafe SFW123DSB

  • This safe seemingly does it all as it is super fire resistant (up to 1 hour at 1700 degrees Fahrenheit) as well as surprisingly water resistant (ETL verified at up to 8 inches of water for up to 24 hours). The safe also makes this list for being decently secure with four locking bolts, a pry- resistant hinge bar, sturdy steel construction, and comes with bolts to help you bolt it to the floor or wherever it will be safe in your house/apt.

Superior Protection Against The Elements

That’s the thing about these safes. All of these fire safes will keep your belongings safe from the elements, sacrificing security for protection from things that can happen in the home. Think of the house burning down or a major flood washing away your home. If you need advice on the best fire safe for your home, don’t hesitate and contact our Safes and Keys Services Santa Monica today. Our locksmith company is here for you 24/7 around the clock and work in your local area for quick service above all else.