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 include:

It is possible to deny access instantly. You don’t have to retrieve the card.
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.

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.

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.

USB flash drive

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