TAPP: The World's First Smart Fingerprint Padlock

[edy]

I noticed this recently on IndieGogo.... TAPP: Fingerprint padlock with BlueTooth and various other features:

INDIEGOGO page:  https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/tapp-the-world-s-first-smart-fingerprint-padlock#/





Look at this impressive set of features:



Do they really think they can take this into production with $40,000, or are they just repackaging some existing product? They have 26 days left on their campaign, so who knows how high they can get. Any thoughts?

[Rerouter]

First thought, how to unlock if the battery goes flat, Next up, Bluetooth, seems like a nice big security vulnerability.

[Falcon69]

The concept and idea is great. I hate fumbling through my key-ring to find the right key to open said lock.

However, just like everything else in life, this will just keep out the honest people. The criminals will find away to get past this and get your junk anyway.

[ataradov]

However, just like everything else in life, this will just keep out the honest people. The criminals will find away to get past this and get your junk anyway.

And that's actually a selling point. If this is only from honest people, then might as well go for convenience over "total" security.

I have serious doubts about claimed battery life though.

[miguelvp]

First thought, how to unlock if the battery goes flat, Next up, Bluetooth, seems like a nice big security vulnerability.

You can charge it if the battery goes flat, probably doesn't need much of a charge to get it open.

[crispy_tofu]

Wow, that's pretty cool! 

[mikeselectricstuff]

Neat idea, not sure about Bluetooth though.
Agree that 40K is way too low - I'd be surprised if it's anywhere enough for tooling
"you can grant access from anywhere in the world" - presumably you send them a token that their phone sends to the lock via BT.
But it also sort-of implies that you can revoke remotely, which of course could only be done locally to the lock.
Adding a phone charger is stupid feature-creep and introduces a way in for water etc.
Looks like you need a phone to store your print - this is a bit of a fail as it ought to be possible to have a standalone 'learn' mode.

But IMO it's a gimmick and just gadget-fan bait - a normal key or combination lock works just fine, why add unnecessary complication?

[HighVoltage]

But IMO it's a gimmick and just gadget-fan bait - a normal key or combination lock works just fine, why add unnecessary complication?

+1
Still a nice idea!

[wraper]

From it's appearance, won't last 30 seconds if someone wants to open it. And if you'll lock a bike where I live, I predict <5 seconds of protection.

[cloudscapes]

why the hell does everything need to be made "smart", now?

also, bolt cutters? hello?

[HAL-42b]

why the hell does everything need to be made "smart", now?

Because I want my GSM operator to have an up to date version of my fingerprints. Otherwise they could mistake me for a terrorist or something. Duh.

[Xenoamor]

In all seriousness isn't an electronic lock going to invite thieves to break it.

It's like those high tech door locks people have on their houses. They just scream "I spend money on valuable possessions, I'm worth robbing"

[bitwelder]

Apart of attempts to hack the 'smart' lock to open, would a good solid whack on it cause to remain permanently closed (also for the legitimate owner)?

[ataradov]

Apart of attempts to hack the 'smart' lock to open, would a good solid whack on it cause to remain permanently closed (also for the legitimate owner)?

A dab of superglue will have the same effect on any mechanical lock.

[Xenoamor]

Apart of attempts to hack the 'smart' lock to open, would a good solid whack on it cause to remain permanently closed (also for the legitimate owner)?

A dab of superglue will have the same effect on any mechanical lock.

I think what he's trying to get at is if someone tries to break it and fails it's then broken shut for the owner. Not that someone is trying to lock the owner out.
With a lock and key there's a good chance if someone can't break it you can still open it

[Refrigerator]

Looks like a shim might pop it right open. You could get a better lock with 40 bucks but it wouldn't looks as cool i guess ?

[nwvlab]

Nice...

However, at least here in Italy, it would last only less than half a second...

It would be much more effective if it exploded in case of theft 

(by the way I'd rather cut the bike and steal the lock, to tear it down )

[rob77]

Looks like a shim might pop it right open. You could get a better lock with 40 bucks but it wouldn't looks as cool i guess ?

that was my very first thought as well... they're overly focusing on the electronics and features... and most probably the locking mechanism will be shim-able

[Marco]

You could in theory make a high security high reliability electronic padlock. Use encrypted RFID with a byzantine path to get the signal into the innards. Use magnetic resonance to do a full charge and put on a rotating ring with magnets you can give a quick sweep to give it some power just to open it quickly.

Of course a large bolt cutter or battery powered disc cutter gets anything open quickly, high security is a bit of a misnomer for any padlock.

[station240]

However, at least here in Italy, it would last only less than half a second...

It would be much more effective if it exploded in case of theft 

That doesn't work, see video with smoke bomb, yes he still stole the bike.

[ConKbot]

Looking at the cutout on the shackle, no need to worry about cutters, a simple shim would have it open just as fast as the fingerprint reader :p

[MadTux]

Certainly a smart idea to put it onto your luggage. Just to make sure that every potential thief knows you're a rich idiot and there is high potential in finding expensive Macbook and other rich idiot toys inside.

[Stonent]

Looks like a shim might pop it right open. You could get a better lock with 40 bucks but it wouldn't looks as cool i guess ?

that was my very first thought as well... they're overly focusing on the electronics and features... and most probably the locking mechanism will be shim-able

Yep, and the shackle looks thin. Most likely not Boron Nitride Steel so you can cut it with a hacksaw or bolt cutters easily.

[cloudscapes]

Just seems to me the inventors of this padlock live in a fictional world where thieves are actual literal movie lock-pickers, with the slim metal instruments and hooks, and start picking away at the keyhole.

In the real world, for 99% of locks, bolt cutters and hammers just don't give a shit about the keyhole.