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So last week, hoping to find a device that works with the CNET Smart Home, and Amazon Echo in particular, I replaced the MyQ with the Echo-compatible, IFTTT-friendly Garageio.What exactly does Garageio offer that MyQ missed? With IFTTT integration, I can now automate the garage door using different triggers. And thanks to Amazon Echo, I can control Garageio with my voice.For instance, when I drive up to the CNET Smart Home, the garage door opens automatically -- no button presses or app fiddling necessary. I just use the geo-location tool through IFTTT, and as I approach the home, the garage opens. If I forget to close the garage door, it will close automatically when I (and my phone) go out of range. IFTTT can also text me when the garage door is opened, a feature I can activate if I leave town for a week.We've covered some of the difficulties with IFTTT in the past -- particularly noting the occasional latency problems -- so Garageio's partnership with IFTTT certainly doesn't offer security you should stake your life on.
But it's a more feature-rich opener than the MyQ.The second big addition with Garageio is Amazon Echo compatibility. Using Echo's voice control, I can check the status of my garage doors, and send them commands to open or close. These features are pretty basic, but they offer one more important step toward total home voice control -- a priority for the CNET Smart Home.Connecting a garage door opener to the Internet of Things of course poses two larger questions: Does the connection itself make a home more vulnerable to digital tampering? And does automation make a home more dangerous?The answer to the first question is yes. In addition to breaking open a door or a window, any smart lock or garage door opener gives a potential intruder another approach (security people call this an "attack vector") to getting access to the house. While I don't believe that hacking smart garage doors will replace smashing a window for the average crime-of-opportunity break-in, I can't say it will never happen.
It's just not a risk that keeps me up at night. Whether garage automation poses safety risks is debatable. Chamberlain doesn't offer the same level of automation as Garageio because the company doesn't feel full automation is safe. That's defensible: garage doors are heavy, and automating them with, say, small children around the house raises some questions. Even if you're the only resident in the home, automation could, in theory, result in accidentally opening your garage door while you're away.Keep in mind none of these openers interferes with existing garage safety precautions. If someone crosses the electric beam at the threshold of the garage while it's closing, the door will halt. Regarding accidental triggers, it's probably a good idea to practice general mindfulness with regard to any garage door automation. Don't chain together multiple triggers to open or close the door. Don't tie the opener to more devices than you can keep track of.Chamberlain and others are correct that safety and security are important to keep in mind as you automate a garage door opener.
As with the security concerns, you ultimately need to decide for yourself whether you're comfortable taking on the added risks. For me, the risks seem relatively minimal.I almost never need to open the Garageio app since the IFTTT programming and Echo integration both work relatively well. This is an unobtrusive approach to garage door openers, and I like it. For the future, though, I'd like to see a few improvements.First, the geofencing needs sharpening. Garageio usually opens the door sometime while I'm entering the neighborhood, rather than consistently as I enter the driveway. Second, Amazon Echo integration is cool, but because the Garageio skill isn't native to Alexa, voice control isn't as intuitive as I'd like. Mostly that just means I have to say, "Alexa, tell Garageio to open my garage door," rather than "Alexa, open my garage door."As the possibilities with automation and voice control continue to grow, however, I'm excited to keep an eye on garage door openers and their increasing potential.
For now, Garageio is doing good work at the CNET Smart Home. My house has a garage. The garage has a "garage opener" - so when I leave home, I press a button and the gate lowers. There's a door between the garage and house. What level of security do people usually give this door? What kind of lock do I need. Is the external garage door considered as secure as a dead bolted door? Is it unwise to simply leave the internal garage door unlocked just like any other internal door in my house? I understand that I should err on the side of caution, but I just wanted to get an idea for what the "standards" are. If your garage door opener is made in the last 10-15 years, it's almost certainly impossible to "hack" the code. Modern openers use unique codes for each remote with 64- or 128-bit keys (which allow for a ridiculously huge number of possibilities). However, it can be really easy to break into a garage mechanically, using the quick release: As others have said, once inside, someone is free to work on the door.
Often the walls between the garage and house are nothing more than drywall with insulation in it, so it's also possible to simply cut/smash the drywall and go around the locked door. A locked door may thwart a crime of opportunity (if the garage door is left open, for example) but if someone actually goes through the effort of opening the door it doesn't really seem like a really big obstacle. I think it all depends on yourself. Just remember that if someone is intruding in your garage already they can pretty much break that door without to much disturbance form outside. If your concern is slightly better security yes lock it. Only real regulatory concern that I know of is that inside garage doors (at least where I live in South Africa) need to be fire resistant. So in general they are much stronger (except for hinges and lock). I generally lock the door from inside when sleeping as it provides another barrier to entry. Most garage door mechanisms can be forced open with very little noise, so locking the inside door does provide some additional safety.
If you are concerned about break-in safety rather have a sensor fitted to the garage door and a PIR inside the garage. These are my views. Everyone will have slightly different views depending on what they see as priorities. Take the arguments and adjust to your own taste. It mostly depends on the type of garage door (composite slider, thin aluminium, or solid wood flip up etc... ) but generally the automated motors connected to your door are extremely tough at preventing a forced opening (i.e by hand) The problem comes where most garage openers have a quick release coupler which is made from plastic (i.e it can get brittle). I have seen it that my door can release the coupler with enough force from the outside. So you would need to assess your garage door first. The other issue is most garage doors can be set to back up in the event of a collision, so if there is something in the way, you may drive off and have it open up again without you noticing. Another issue is signal mirroring on your remote, Depending on the remote, some older types can be copied fairly easily (this is extremely rare)
(in the crime ridden area where I live) many hi-jackings occur when you are getting out of the car, If someone does attempt to follow you into your house, its always a good idea to have a slam-lock style gate from the garage to the house so that you can escape into the safety of the house. I recall several cases where a car was stolen from the airport long-term parking lot, the car's GPS system directed the thieves straight to the car owner's house ("Home" or "Location #1"), the garage door opener in the vehicle let them in and they used the tools in the garage to open the interior door. Load up the car with valuables then drive away. The outer garage door is the weakest entry point in most houses - it's usually a single layer of thin lumber with locks that can best be described as a speedbump. The inner garage door is basically no different than your back door, except it has a shelter around it to hide anyone working on the door. If it's daytime, the sound of power tools from inside the garage would be normal.
I've never had an attached garage but if I did, I'd have a gate latch deadbolt because I'd be too lazy to lock it every time and wouldn't want to forget. I have one installed in a common area with a stay-unlocked-lever for convenience (for taking out the trash, ect.) I'd at least have a classic deadbolt to throw when I'm home. I've driven down many an alley that had a open door, whether forgotten to be closed or opened by a stray RF signal, I'll never know... even when I've come home to find my own door open. If you live in Chicago, the answer is yes. Canada probably not, eh? Add a second remote to turn off (deenergize the outlet) your opener, after you lower your door. This will prevent an opening by a casual hacker. There are a number of remotes available for home automation, some are plug in and would not require any wiring. The Z-wave solutions come to mind(which would require a hub. I did this back in the day with an X-10 remote keyfob and a plug in switch module for a customer whose neighbor was activating her garage remote accidentally.