Review of the August Smart Lock 1/5 Stars | Penetration Expert Blog
I purchased the August Smart Lock a few days ago and I was quite eager to see the improvement that they made to the product series when compared to the previous models. After testing the device however I have to say that I’m not impressed at all with it, because even if they did fix a critical security issue, the functionality hasn’t improved that much and it just doesn’t offer you the great results you would like from such an expensive tool.
The security flaw I mentioned earlier allowed intruders to use a hacked mobile app, find an August Smart Lock and unlock it, all with the help of an identification number offered by the Bluetooth device. Thankfully, the issue is now solved but this doesn’t really matter that much because the features offered by the August Smart Lock model aren’t that groundbreaking, something that makes the device less of a smart investment and more of a nuisance to be honest.
The issue is that many of the electronic deadbolts that you can find right now in the electronic and hardware stores are bringing in security flaws, so even if you might think that you invest in protecting home, there are situations in which you are actually placing your home in peril.
The August Smart Lock does have some much-needed upgrades, but even after testing it for a few days I can safely say that unless you do need to create a home automation system and use this particular feature offered by the device, you should try and stay away from it. Instead, a quick talk with the local locksmith might offer you a more durable, professional way to deal with home security!
You install this on the inside of your existing deadbolt, and you need to have that in the open position for the device to work properly. You have 3 adaptors which make using it very easy, however the software installation process can be a little tiresome, since it comes in multiple steps and it’s quite confusing. If the screws are too short, you need to call them and they will send the screws, something that might prolong the entire process quite a bit, but hopefully that’s not the case in most situations, at least it wasn’t in my case.
Calibration is a fast process, but the reality is that the device doesn’t really offer any security, and the price of around $300 definitely doesn’t justify the investment, that’s for sure.
All in all, I find the August Smart Lock to be an interesting innovation, but not something that’s fully usable and which might be adding security to your home. If you want the proper security, just call your locksmith and you will get a much better option instead of this, and at a more decent price, that’s for sure. The August lock did not survive long enough to finish the video.
I am creating more reviews in which I will tackle one electronic lock that actually works amazingly well and which I might install in my own home, so stay tuned to mrlocksmith.com, more great content is coming soon!
August Smart Lock