The 5 most common myths about smart locks and what’s really behind them

Smart locks make your everyday life easier: no more searching for your keys, flexible access for your guests, and more convenience in your daily comings and goings. At the same time, questions often arise that can lead to uncertainty. Some relate to installation, others to security or the different ways to unlock a door.

We address the most frequently asked questions from our community and show you what’s really behind them.

Myth 1: A smart lock can be easily stolen

A Nuki Smart Lock is mounted on the inside of the door. No one can tell from the outside that you're using a smart lock. This means you don’t attract any attention from potential burglars who might notice you're using a smart lock.

To remove the smart lock, someone would first need to enter your apartment or house – or force the door open. In other words: the security of your door remains fully intact – and you gain added convenience and flexibility.

Myth 2: Criminals can easily hack the smart lock

Digital security plays a major role when it comes to access to your home. That’s why we rely on strong encryption algorithms – the same ones used in online banking. Thanks to the so-called challenge-response procedure, it’s not possible to “listen in” on the data exchange or intercept commands, as you might have heard in connection with car keys.

Since the very first product generation, we’ve had our smart locks tested by independent organizations. That’s why the current models – the Smart Lock Go, the Smart Lock Pro, and the Smart Lock Ultra – carry the “Approved IoT Product” seal from a leading cybersecurity research institute. All three Nuki Smart Locks have also been certified with the AV Test seal.

Myth 3: You need a smartphone to use a smart lock

A smartphone is helpful for using a Nuki Smart Lock – but it’s not strictly necessary.

For anyone who doesn’t use or want to use a smartphone, there are various alternatives:

• Nuki Keypad (6-digit entry code or fingerprint)
• Nuki Fob (mini remote control)
• Physical key

These alternative options ensure that you can still open the door – even if your smartphone isn’t available or the battery is dead.

The Nuki Fob is ideal for children who don’t have a smartphone. And for family members, friends, or guests who only need access occasionally, a personal entry code for the Nuki Keypad is more than enough.

Myth 4: I’m afraid of having to replace the cylinder

In many cases, you don’t need to replace your cylinder. What matters is whether your current cylinder has an emergency and danger function. This function ensures that you can still lock and unlock the door even if a key is inserted on the inside. In this case, for example, the Smart Lock Go or the Smart Lock Pro can be simply mounted on the key from the inside – no drilling and no technical expertise required.

If your cylinder doesn’t have this function, you’ll need to replace it in order to use a Nuki Smart Lock. The Smart Lock Ultra comes with a Universal Cylinder included. The Nuki app guides you step-by-step through the installation process, which takes no more than 15 minutes.

Myth 5: A Wi-Fi connection is required and my data ends up in the cloud

You might be wondering if a smart lock requires Wi-Fi. The answer is: no! Our smart locks communicate via Bluetooth, which means communication happens directly between the authorized device and the smart lock – even if your internet connection is down.

Another reason to choose Nuki: you don’t even need a user account to use a Nuki Smart Lock. We don’t store any data on our servers or in the cloud. All data remains local on your devices.

You decide:

• Bluetooth only: fully local, no cloud
• With Wi-Fi for optional remote access

Learn more about our encryption concept here.

Conclusion

A smart lock simplifies your everyday life. With installation on the inside of the door, trusted encryption methods, and various ways to unlock it, access remains secure and flexible. Nuki Smart Locks work locally and can be used without a user account.

That means control over your door and your data always stays with you.