electronic lock : Computer Hardware Buyers’ Glossary
- electronic lock
A lock that is opened by a command from a computer. The computer decides whether to
open the lock by reading a key card, having a pass number entered, validating a
private key on a USB (Universal Serial Bus) flash drive, by recognising a
fingerprint or iris scan. They are often used in hotels. The big advantage there is
the key card stops working the instant the guest checks out. Advantages of key cards
- It is possible to deny access instantly. You don’t have to retrieve the
- You can lock out one card without affecting any of the others.
- It is not possible to mechanically pick the lock. There is no keyhole.
- It is possible for a single key to give access to many different doors.
- Each keyholder can have a unique set of rooms they have access to.
I would hope someday we will have a universal ID/key that is used for commerce
and allowing access to home, office and anywhere else, such as a theatre after you
have paid your ticket.
- The is a lock in vulnerable along the entire route from the reader to the
computer to the lock.
- If the messages betwen reader and computer and computer and lock are not
encrypted, they can be faked by wiretapping.