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.

Couldn't bear to read through the posts.......

The OP started with an overall anal concern.

Stop thinking. The thieves are one step ahead anyway. Nothing you can do. If they want it, they will get it.

My only suggestion is to park next to a S-Works something.

Way beyond the patience of typical thieves. Of veteran and dedicated thieves, no lock will protect you.

Exactly. No big deal defeating any lock.

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.

This is my thinking at the moment, too. There's been enough of these Kickstarters that it seems like we should be getting some reports from people using them instead of pooh-poohing the notion.

It's a different kind of security provided. Having an alarm system at your house is not going to make any difference to anyone getting through your window, but you will know about it.

You know how those lock picking videos are made, right? A hobbyist spends a couple big on a disc detainer lock pick tool calibrated to the lock he/she wants to defeat. Then they get a lock - one specific lock - and inspect the key. Then they practice with that lock and the pick tool, learning how to feel each disc and how far to turn it in what order. Once they get proficient with that lock, they sit down at a well lighted, comfortable bench and pretend to show how easy it is to pick the lock.

To defeat security, there's the '3T+2R' principle: Time, Tool, Training, Reliability & Repeatability. The reasons lock picking is not much of a concern for bicycle security are: it takes time to pick a lock one has never fooled with before in awkward position in poor lighting, it takes specialized tools (in the case of disc detainer locks, a very specialized and expensive tool), one has to train for some time to learn lock picking (A bike thief has the skills to pick an Abus X-Plus cylinder u-lock and a Mul-T-Lock MT5+ padlock on a hardened chain? Riiiiight.), added to the fact that the risk is the same whether the thief is successful or not.

Nope, not buying it. Bike thieves are going to snip, clip, shear, lever, bash, saw and jack locks, not pick them.