Even modern garage door openers can be hacked. Burglars and thieves looking for valuables often look to the garage door for a way in. Hidden vulnerabilities in your garage door opener mean physical force isn’t necessary. While older systems are easier to break into, a rolling code can be hacked as well. Another garage door hack is to access a home Wi-Fi network.
Why Are Older Garage Door Openers Easy to Hack?
A fixed code opener uses a wireless remote transmitter that operates at a single frequency of between 300 and 400 megahertz. This is a common frequency range used by radio stations. A fixed code garage door opener is easy to hack into just by using a computer or transmitter that cycles through the code combinations.
The electric garage door opener was invented in 1926. As wireless technology was developed, so were ways to exploit it. While a remote with multiple switches could have thousands of combinations, a computer could cycle through these in less than a second, allowing a thief to open the door by transmitting every combination at once. Burglars could also use a device known as a code grabber, leaving it hidden nearby. When an unsuspecting homeowner used their garage door, the device would record the code; the thief would pick it up later and open the door with a press of the button.
Can Rolling Code Garage Door Openers Protect Your Home?
A rolling code garage door opener uses what is called a hopping code, which changes every time someone uses the remote control. Rolling code technology makes it more difficult to break into your garage, but not impossible. A hacker can use a radio to transmit jamming signals and prevent the code from changing, making it easier to steal.
Manufacturers have developed solutions to try to outsmart hackers. Some smart garage door openers include remotes with codes that expire in less time, or choose from billions of combinations of codes. Some systems will only respond to the same code once. But no matter what type of system or technology you use, the best way to protect your home is to follow some basic garage security tips.
How to Protect Your Garage Door and Home
The sobering truth is any garage door opener technology can be hacked. Nonetheless, there are ways to protect your home and reduce the risk of break-ins, such as:
- Never leave the garage door remote in your vehicle; this is a common reason thieves break into cars, especially if the remote is visible from outside (thieves also know common places people leave remotes).
- Keep your garage door closed at all times and never leave it open unattended, even if it’s to do chores outside.
- Install a heavy gauge inner garage door with an anti-kick device and deadbolt.
- If you have an attached garage, the door between the garage and the rest of your home should always be locked.
- Install motion sensor lights in front of your home, near the garage, so any activity triggers the light, providing more illumination and adding security.
- Consider other security accessories such as deadlocks, video recording cameras, or a radio. If music or other sounds are playing inside, a potential thief may think someone is home.
Contact Precision Door Service of Las Vegas
Choosing the best garage door opener can be tough, but our professional installers can help find the safest, most suitable one for your home. Our Las Vegas garage door service company provides everything from garage door repair to garage door opener installation, to comprehensive maintenance. We are providing no contact service with social distancing and sanitizing to protect our customers and technicians during the coronavirus pandemic. Schedule service or a consultation by calling 702-637-2700 today.