Many Apple Store devices like iPhones, iPads, and Macs are known for their reliable security features. Unfortunately, not all of the tech you'll find there apparently meets the same standards, as a YouTuber showed that the Level Lock Plus smart lock might not be as secure as its €330 price tag suggests.
Level Lock Plus is a smart lock made by Level (not Apple) that is sold in Apple stores. Although it's a third-party accessory, just like Logitech's iPad peripherals, it's well-suited to Apple products as it's designed to be used with them; Level Lock Plus can be unlocked with any of the best iPhone or Apple Watch devices, even if you forgot your house key.
However, while this smart lock seems like a great pick for people looking to enhance their home security with a futuristic smart lock, YouTuber LockPickingLawyer (Opens in a new tab) posted a video showing that the device can be open in seconds. .
The famed online lock picker, who regularly demonstrates its ability to pick almost any lock to its more than 4 million subscribers, begins by praising the Level Lock Plus's fit and finish, before announcing that the current locking mechanism is flawed. important. Specifically, it can be quickly opened by two of the lower skill pick methods.
The first method you use to open Level Lock Plus is called raking. As shown in the video, the rake uses two tools: a simple piece of metal used to apply tension to the lock, and a more jagged piece of metal called a rake. While holding the lock taught, a selector rapidly inserts and withdraws the portcullis in a slight up and down motion until unlocked.
If that sounds easy enough to do, you're right. Many lock picking blogs recommend raking as one of the first methods for beginners to learn, stating that if you have the tools, the techniques can be learned in minutes and mastered fairly quickly thereafter. The only downside is that many locks can't be raked, as it's a trick that should really only work on the most basic and least secure mechanisms, not the kind you'd expect to find on sale for €330.
To add insult to injury, LockPickingLawyer used a second technique to open the Level Lock Plus called bumping. This method is based on a special wrench with a rubber ring; you squeeze it with a tool similar to the one used in the raking example, then hit the end with a hammer until it pries the lock open.
Pounding is another incredibly easy technique to learn, and just like raking, you can get all the tools you need for under $50.
If all of that wasn't enough, LockPickingLawyer even postulated that it could pick the lock because the Level Lock Plus' deadbolt is hollow – that's where the battery sits. He wasn't able to prove this in the video he uploaded, but said he might post an update to see if the even less sophisticated stealing technique can be used to bypass Level Lock Plus. .
LockPickingLawyer's video should remind us that not all home security technologies are as good as more traditional alternatives. As exciting as it is to open your front door with your smartphone, it will be much less fun if you find out that it has been forced open using tools that cost a fraction of the price using a trick that the burglar relied on in five minutes. from a YouTube video.
We reached out to Level about the issues LockPickingLawyer found in its tests, though they didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. If we hear any news, we'll be sure to update this article with his statement.