Originally Posted by
erig007
From the nytimes article above some of those hacking devices simply amplify the signal of the lock allowing the later to connect with the unlocking device of the rightful owner without him/her knowing. Unlocking device which then unlock the lock. Not sure nfc would prevent that. In the article it was teenagers using the device to steal a car. Not sure if or when this will translate into bike theft.
Also picking a lock requires some skills you certainly reduce the number of potential theft right there when picking locks is required (bic pen aside). Same goes with electronic hacking devices. Though if it just involves buying some black box at the black or grey market anyone can do that but not everyone will do it. Wait and see.
Way beyond the patience of typical thieves. Of veteran and dedicated thieves, no lock will protect you.
Originally Posted by
Maconi
U-Locks can be defeated the same as any lock.
http://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...ocus-bike.html
Honestly I'd be fine with some kind of NFC lock (where you have to hold the "key" near it to unlock it). There'd be no lock to pick and no long-range wireless signal to intercept. The only thing you'd have to worry about is the battery (which should last a super long time as NFC uses barely any power).
Exactly. No big deal defeating any lock.
Originally Posted by
erig007
And then 74% of stolen vehicles in France are stolen using electronic devices. And it's not just in France by the way this wave of thefts via electronic devices is happening as well in UK, in US... Should be what to expect when electronic ulocks will arrive in big enough number.
Here for instance in Los Angeles
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/16/st...eves.html?_r=0
Also from the article above (the most plausible answer) it's not about figuring how to hack something but just about buying the proper device and using it. That anyone can do that.
There is a much larger economic incentive to steal cars. Typical thieves aren't going to go to these pains to steal a bike when they can typically do it very simply with the pathetic way people lock their bikes. A motivated and skilled thief is going to get your bike if they want it without regard to the type of lock you have. A casual thief (and the most common kind by far if you believe the police analysis), usually are doing this for instant economic or chemical gratification and will be a problem with these.
It's not going to be a problem. But you think it is, don't buy one. Pretty simple, isn't it?
This is continues to be an arms race over time. People lock their bikes, thieves figure out how to defeat them. Locks get better (U locks arrive etc...) and then it starts over again. Right now, I would think these electronic locks will provide enhanced security. When there are a lot of them, then the methods to defeat them will become common place.
Either way, your best protection is not an absolutely secure lock since no such device exists, you best protection is a bike that is a bigger pain in the a$$ to steal than the one next to it. Want to do that, then use more than one locking mechanism that requires an additional set of tools to be carried by the thief and secure the wheels, seat, handlebars with pitlocks which make it yet a bigger PITA for the thief to deal with the bike later when they have it. Do this and you will dramatically reduce the chance of having your bike stolen. That's what we've done and I'm pretty confident in the strategy because we've actually demonstrated that it works over time in a tough environment.