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This Fingerprint-Verified Smart Lock Can be Foiled by a Magnet

posted by Fnord666 on Monday April 06 2020, @04:17AM   Printer-friendly
from the not-very-secure dept.

upstart writes in with an IRC submission for SoyCow8162:

This fingerprint-verified smart lock can be foiled by a magnet:

Tapplock, a company that makes fingerprint-verified locks, has had a rough time with its locks' security. The company's flagship lock, which has been available since 2019, is apparently easy to pop open with a magnet. YouTuber LockPickingLawyer published a video last week showing how he could use a powerful magnet to turn the motor inside the Tapplock One Plus, causing it to open. The entire process takes less than 30 seconds.

The Tapplock One Plus costs $99 and features a fingerprint sensor. It also has built-in Bluetooth, so people can unlock it using an app. In response to the video, Tapplock commented: "Wow! Shout out to LPL for finding this exploit. Working on a fix with magnetic shielding, will be back."

This is a commendable reply, although it doesn't do much for people who already bought the lock. Most companies ignore bug reports or fail to fix the flaw. It at least seems like Tapplock wants to figure out how to prevent this kind of attack.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2) by kazzie on Tuesday April 07 2020, @06:33AM (2 children)

    by kazzie (5309) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday April 07 2020, @06:33AM (#979907)

    If you have an "angle grinder" (dumb name- what, it only grinds angles? Sigh...)

    It might also become the weapon of choice in the Battle for Scottish Independence.

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  • (Score: 2) by Immerman on Wednesday April 08 2020, @01:56AM (1 child)

    by Immerman (3985) on Wednesday April 08 2020, @01:56AM (#980170)

    I'd recommend an organ grinder myself. Far more frightening.

    • (Score: 2) by kazzie on Wednesday April 08 2020, @05:13AM

      by kazzie (5309) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday April 08 2020, @05:13AM (#980204)

      But then there's the danger of grinding your own organs. If you only want to hurt Anglo-Saxons, well...