We feel that this is one of our more applicable and import articles, as everyone out there should know something about garage door security. We’ve touched on this topic briefly in our article on a bypass technique commonly used by criminals, but today we’re going to expand on that to look at garage door security as a whole. Garage doors are a common weak point when looking at security in a whole-home approach and an easy target for thieves. Garage door are not only a weakness, but provide criminals a shelter once inside. To the casual passerby an open garage with a work truck pulled up to it doesn’t look out of place or scream break-in. Securing your garage door doesn’t just mean the roll-up door; as you’ll read in the article below, you have to look at every entrance point as a vulnerability. Not that any loss to your family isn’t devastating, but one that occurs through a preventable measure just shouldn’t happen. Here are the 12 most important things you can do to secure your garage.
Let’s briefly talk about the history of these devices so you can get an idea what we’re talking about later in the article. When the first generation of automatic openers came out they all featured the same code. You can imagine the security risk by having one of these openers. Thieves could just drive a neighborhood pushing their purchased transmitter and if you had the same brand as they did; The second generation of openers increased their security by featuring dip switches that could be set by the owner to a unique combination. While this did increase security, most owners would leave the default setting on and guess what? Another security risk of the second-gen openers is that a code grabber could be utilized to gain access to your system. A code grabber device works by locking onto your signal and memorizing it. Then, all a thief would have to do is re-transmit the code and they were in. Modern automatic garage door openers now feature rolling-code technology, where your remote will transmit a brand new security code each time you press your remote.
There are over 100 billion codes, so the likelihood of a code grabber working are very slim. Be sure that your opener features this rolling-code technology! If you use Lift-Master for instance, look for their Security+ line that features this technology. Essentially the same as war gaming a situation, Red Cell is a term we throw around here when we’re discussing testing security by putting yourself in a criminal’s shoes. How would you break in to your garage? What are the weaknesses of your security system? Do you have an external keypad? try removing it and taking out the batteries out, can it be manipulated to open your door? How can you be sure if you don’t try it out? This is pretty extreme, so don’t take it out of context, but if you’ve got the cash, desire and time to make the repairs; kick in your own door. Have you ever kicked one in? Do you know how easy it really is? It will definitely make you rethink your security. Keep drilling these ideas into your head and we can’t say it enough…
Test your system for vulnerabilities! Please also take a few minutes and share this with your friends and family! Don’t be the victim of a garage door break-in this holiday season! Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads. 127 posts, read 353,861 times 502 posts, read 1,292,126 times 1,569 posts, read 1,680,378 times 2,887 posts, read 3,795,367 times 3,252 posts, read 5,094,382 times 2,142 posts, read 3,125,197 times Originally Posted by SuperSparkle928 True, if there is a power outage I wouldn't get in, however..! For the few times in a lifetime that I might lock myself out, happen to coincide with a rare power outage, I guess I'm screwed. I'm guessing the odds are better that I win the lottery twice before that happens...
17,986 posts, read 48,925,464 times 20,774 posts, read 11,234,710 times Originally Posted by Coldjensens Terrorists sometimes use them as triggers for IEDs. If there is a terrorist in your garage, you may set off the explosion prematurely. Terrorists use cell phones. A 14-year old can wire one. Actually, a GPS is even better. As far as safety from burgulary. No. A garage door opener is not a security device. It is not meant to be. If you do not lock your garage door, your things will be no more or less safe with or without any particular kind of opener. If you leave your door secured only by an opener, I can get itno your garage in less than a minute and I am not even a theif. Enlighten all of us, as how you would do that, when we have rolling-code openers. Actually, doesn't matter to me, as the motion-sensing camera in the garage will send live video to me in seconds, on my cell phone. Me thinks you would not want me at home when you start grabbing stuff out of my carriage house.
A good thief will be faster. If you do lock your garage door, you will need to unlock it beore the opener can function. At that point, you may as well just open the door. You can get some health benefits from this as well. One thing that is funny is that some remotes for gargage door openers will open from CB radio waves or light patterns for IR remotes. It is not unusual for remote openers to trigger at random and owners to come home and find their door wide open.Rolling-code RF encryption remotes obviated that behavior a long time ago. Sort of eliminates the 'eavesdropper' capability as well. This IS the 21st century (though I can grab a device in my basement that will tell me what FM radio station you are listening to, when I am sitting in the street outside your house. ) Is your safety concern that the wireless waves will give you brain tumors? That urban legend has been debunked along with cell phones or ear buds causing cancer. Probably no danger there. Nothing personal, but this is the most ridiculous post I ever saw.