No matter if you’re a homeowner or a business owner, ensuring your valuables are protected is of the utmost importance. However, many would probably assume that purchasing a safe that features biometric protection would be the best, most secure option. What if we told you that’s a myth?
There are many pros and cons to biometric safe technology, and we’re here to uncover them for you. The many pitfalls of biometric safes are the reason American Security focuses on providing customers with mechanical or digital keypad locks. These traditional options deliver a higher level of reliability and security. Ready to see why? Keep reading and we’ll give you the details.
Understanding Biometric Safes
Biometric safes are constructed with a locking system (lock & keypad) that relies on your personal biological features and uses technology such as fingerprint scanning to open the safe. By recording patterns of your fingerprint, it can open by your interaction alone and remain locked if another individual tries to access the safe. This option is quite popular as it offers convenience by providing quick access for the safe owner. In fact, 81% of consumers assume that physical biometrics is the most secure form of identification.
There are also biometric safes that allow you to set up multiple users in case you have other family members who require access to the safe. However, a safe is a large investment, and we understand that you may be indecisive on what type of locking system would be best for your situation. Let’s go over some pros and cons that come with biometric safe products.
The Perks of Biometric Safe Locks
Depending on your requirements, biometric safes do offer some perks to consider.
Eliminate the Need for a Key or Passcode
One of the main perks of owning a biometric safe is the fact that you no longer have to keep track of a key or remember a passcode combination. It’s easy to lose or forget these things, and it can be a major inconvenience to have to contact a locksmith in order to access your valuables.
Easy Access
Especially for gun owners, should an emergency arise and the individual needs to access their firearms or valuables, easy access is important.
Unique to the Individual
As you can probably imagine, biometric data is unique to the individual, which means a burglar would not be able to guess this information compared to trying to crack a passcode. The intruder would have to go to extreme measures to replicate your physical features in order to break into your safe.
The Vulnerabilities of Biometric Safes
While we covered the perks, there are some cons you need to consider before you make the leap toward a biometric safe.
Technology Dependence
By now most of us know that technology can fail. Many biometric safes allow for easy access, but there are other times when sensors could malfunction and make it more difficult to access your belongings. In addition, the battery of these locks can die and can also leave your safe exposed to potential electrical overrides.
False Positives
In certain situations, a biometric safe lock might mistakenly grant unauthorized access due to a false scan. This vulnerability introduces a significant security risk, potentially exposing your valuables to theft. Even the most high-quality biometric safes can sometimes produce these false positives, making this option less foolproof than you may initially think.
Environmental Factors
Some other physical factors could contribute to a biometric safe malfunctioning. For example, if your fingerprint is compromised in any way by cuts, or if there’s any dirt or wear and tear on biometric sensors, this could make accessing your valuables more difficult.
Inadequate Locking Mechanisms
Many biometric locks are relatively inexpensive and may feature inadequate locking mechanisms behind the lock itself. This can make them vulnerable to bypassing techniques, such as removing the covering and electrically restarting the system to open the safe. Because of this, many large lock manufacturers have discontinued their production of biometric locks due to their inconsistencies and lack of protection.
Fail-Safe Features
To address potential failures in the biometric lock, most biometric safes also include a traditional mechanical or key lock. This backup option is designed to ensure access if the biometric system fails, but it adds complexity and might not fully mitigate the risks associated with biometric technology. In fact, it could leave your valuables even more vulnerable since picking a key lock is not a difficult task.
Lacking Certifications
A majority of biometric locks are not certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek (ETL). These are reliable standards that uphold parameters that determine the level of security of a safe. Without a certification, you could be rolling the dice on a safe lock that won’t promise the protection you need.
The Reliability of Traditional Safes
The longstanding use and reliability of traditional safes is unmatched. Consider these factors before you finalize your next purchase.
Mechanical Simplicity
Traditional safes are typically constructed with mechanical locks or digital keypads. American Security provides either option, and we stand by the durability of this traditional approach. There’s less maintenance involved and these locks historically have a long lifespan.
If you go with one of our digital locks, they’re still battery-operated. However, if the battery dies, the lock still retains your passcodes and leaves no alternative way for someone to electronically override the system. Plus, the batteries on our locks are easy to replace.
Certified Quality
Most of American Security’s digital keypad locks are UL Type 1 Certified and our mechanical locks are UL Group II Certified. For our digital keypads, this means not only are your passcodes protected but they’re radiologically resistant, which protects your safe from potential threats posed by radiological devices that could be used to interfere with or compromise the lock’s functionality. As a result, the UL certifications boost a safe’s overall burglary rating and security level.
Consistent Performance
With this mechanical simplicity, comes consistency that you won’t always find in a biometric option. You won’t be fumbling trying to get your fingerprint in just the right spot, there’s simply a straightforward code you use to access the safe.
Higher Security
It’s true — traditional safes generally offer greater security compared to biometric alternatives. Mechanical locks and digital keypads are usually more difficult to tamper with, and there’s no digital technology that can be exploited or hacked.
Which Safe Lock Should You Get?
The following list covers some of the factors to consider when choosing a lock. Most industry-standard safe locks can be interchanged to suit your needs, whether you like the look and feel of a mechanical lock or want something simple like a digital lock that you or another family member can access in a duress situation. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference.
#1: Mechanical Locks
- Most reliable
- 1 million possible combinations
- Not reliant on technology or a battery
- High-quality locking mechanism
- All of AMSEC’s mechanical locks are UL-Certified
- 4-way drive cam for universal mounting
AMSEC Mechanical Spy-Proof Dial Lock
#2: Digital Keypad Locks
- Battery-operated but won’t leave your safe vulnerable if the lock dies.
- High-quality locking mechanism
- Most of AMSEC’s digital locks are UL-Certified
- Quick entry for easy access
- Auto-relocking feature
- Penalty lockout
- Mute/silent feature
AMSEC ESL20 Digital Keypad Lock
#3: Biometric Locks
- Easy access
- Typically backed by low-quality locking mechanism
- Most are not UL-Certified
- Technological inconsistencies
Key Takeaways
In the end, it comes down to the features, level of accessibility, and security you need in your next safe. However, biometric products are not always the best choice, as these safes come with some flaws you have to keep in mind.
American Security sells a variety of traditional safes that boast of quality compared to other biometric alternatives. Discover which safe is right for you and our team can also help narrow down your final decision.