Have you heard about garage door hacking? Every once in awhile, it’s mentioned in the news, resulting in a wave of concern from homeowners across the country. You should know that garage door hacking isn’t a common occurrence, but there are still ways to protect yourself if you’re concerned about it.
What is garage door hacking?
Garage door hacking happens when someone hacks into the electronic and/or digital system of your garage door. Like any other electronic device, modern garage doors are vulnerable to some types of attacks. Garage doors that are connected to the internet may be more vulnerable to attacks from people with sinister intentions. Many people keep plenty of valuables in their garage. Plenty of people don’t bother to keep a secure lock on the door that connects the garage to the rest of the home, so if a thief is able to open the garage door, suddenly they have access to the entire home. If you’re concerned about the possibility of someone hacking your garage door, there are ways to protect yourself and your home.
#1 garage door security tip
Does your garage door use fixed-code dip-switches? If your garage door was made before 1993, then it probably doesn’t, but you should definitely check because some modern models still use them. Open your garage door remote and if you see switches, then it’s essential that you upgrade or replace your opener ASAP. Any kids with an internet search engine and a $99 Mattel toy can open your door in no time.
Smart? Maybe not.
While opening your garage door with our smart phone or other internet-connected device is certainly convenient, you may be leaving your home open to hacking. If you have a smart garage door opener, there are ways to make it much harder for intruders to access your garage door. Make sure that your internet connection has a decent firewall. Also make sure you pick a high quality router from a good manufacturer to prevent hacking of your garage door opener.
What else do you need to know?
Bottom line, as previously mentioned, the likelihood that your garage door will be hacked is highly unlikely. But the probability is not zero, so it would be wise to take some steps to protect yourself from garage door hacking. But if you’re concerned, call Carroll Garage Doors at 1-888-578-2360 and we’ll be happy to provide you with expert tips to prevent this from happening to you. We only sell high quality garage doors, openers, and remotes from top manufacturers that have a proven track record for excellent performance. Let us tell you about ways you can improve the security of your garage door system and therefore, your entire home. We’ll be happy to give you a free in-home consultation and estimate for all recommended updates when you call 1-888-578-2360 for an appointment.
